Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 98652 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98652 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
“Natalia Sbagliato-Numero? Cute. Very cute. How did you even know I spoke Italian?”
Hunter offered his hand to help me up. “You were mumbling curses at me under your breath the night of Derek and Anna’s wedding.”
I didn’t remember that. Then again, a lot of the evening was fuzzy. I took his hand and stood. “What happened to Samantha? She was going to pick me up so we can run the errands for the shower tomorrow.”
Hunter flashed a boyish smile. “I offered to help with her errands.”
I knew Samantha. She might’ve looked just like her older sister, but she didn’t have her sister’s energy. In fact, lazy might be the right way to describe Sam.
“I’m sure you didn’t have to ask twice.”
“Nope. And I would’ve done them all just to get to pick you up from the airport.” Hunter grabbed the handle to my suitcase. “Do you have any other luggage to wait for?”
“No. This is it. I hate to check luggage.”
“I’m parked in short-term parking, so it’s not too far.”
We walked through the busy airport and parking area together. Hunter’s strides were longer than mine, so when we stopped at the crosswalk for the light and then started again, I might’ve had the opportunity to ogle how good his ass looked in his shorts. I bet he does a shitload of squats.
When we arrived at his vehicle, I wasn’t surprised to find a sparkling-clean, late-model black pickup truck. He pressed the button to start it and walked around to the passenger side with me. An electric step lowered as he opened the door, which I was glad for because the truck was really high off the ground. Hunter put my bag into the backseat of the cab and shut my door before jogging around to the driver’s side.
The inside was more spacious than I would’ve thought.
Hunter caught me inspecting his ride. “What?”
“This thing is so big.”
A dirty smirk crossed his face. “I’ve heard that before. Often.”
I rolled my eyes. “I meant the truck. I’ve never actually been inside a pickup.”
“Well, what’s the verdict?”
Hunter’s car was not a typical work-type pickup truck. It was more like a fancy SUV—lined in top-stitched leather, with an enormous amount of electronics and dark wood grain.
I nodded my approval. “It’s nice. Suits you.”
He put one hand on the steering wheel. “Oh yeah? Suits me? What do you drive?”
“What do you think I drive?”
He squinted as if he was going to give it some legitimate thought, then quickly put the car into reverse. “Easy. Prius. You drive a Prius.”
“How did you know? Anna told you.”
“Nope. Your friend Anna wouldn’t tell me shit about you. Couldn’t even get your last name or phone number out of her.”
“So how did you know?”
“Fits. Same as you said about me and my truck.”
Hunter pulled up to the parking exit gate, inserted a ticket into the machine, and paid forty dollars to park.
“God. That’s worse than parking at JFK.”
“Traffic’s worse, too. And home prices.”
“So why do people love it so much?”
Hunter held his hand up to the window. “Year-round sunshine. Can’t beat it.”
“I like having four seasons.”
He chuckled. It was deep and rumbly. “Anna wasn’t kidding.”
“What?”
“When we first met—she said we were opposites and might kill each other.”
Most days, I could barely remember what I’d eaten for breakfast. Yet I recalled the comment Hunter had made after Anna said that more than nine months ago. “We might kill each other, but fucking to death is the way I want to go.”
After maneuvering through the maze of LAX, Hunter pulled onto the highway. “So, Natalia Sbagliato-Numero, why did you give me the wrong number and refuse to let Anna give me the right one?”
I looked out the window. “Figured it was best that way.”
“Best for whom?”
“Both of us.”
“Both of us? So you know what’s best for me, do you?”
“Just trying to save you the trouble of a broken heart.”
Hunter glanced over at me. The side of his mouth twitched. “A broken heart, huh? You think I’d spend one night in your bed and pine over you for years?”
I turned to face him. “It’s been nine months, and here you are still chasing me after one night in my bed. And I didn’t even put out. Imagine the condition you’d be in if I did.”
Hunter shook his head. “Anna was wrong about one thing. She said we were complete opposites, but you’re as full of yourself and as big of a wiseass as I am.”
We merged onto the 405, only we were heading north instead of south where Anna’s sister Samantha lived. I was crashing at her place tonight so Anna wouldn’t see me before the shower tomorrow.
“You’re going the wrong way.”
“No, I’m not. Sam said you were running errands with her today.”
“I am. Sam lives south, not north.”
“Ah. I see your confusion. You think you’re spending the day running errands with Samantha.”