Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
The mere memory of it had him smiling, and it was this look on the billionaire's face that everyone ended up seeing for the rest of the town hall meeting. Everyone did their best to un-see it, but the image was like a nightmare imprinted on their minds.
Unfortunately for them, the subject of their disgust remained completely oblivious to how the permanent grin on his face almost had all of them throwing up, and Slade was only puzzled but not at all bothered when, as soon as Hartland's mayor concluded their meeting, most of the other members seemed to fight against each other in their need to leave first.
Glancing at Oliver, he asked, "Did I miss something?"
TODAY, I'M REALLY GOING to tell him, Kady promised herself as she brewed another batch of coffee for the customers. It had been two weeks since the relationship dynamics between Slade and her had changed, and those two weeks had been as glorious as they were confusing.
The good parts, she definitely couldn't get enough of. Slade as her wicked, mischief-loving boss had already been a force to reckon with, but the moment he became her lover, she had quickly found herself being swept off her feet with every little thing he said and did.
Beautiful. Pretty. Lovely. He liked using the words every time he talked to her. Good morning, my beautiful little chick. Where are you going, my lovely? And then there had been that one time he had been outside the cafe, chatting with Raj, the riding instructor, and seeing her walking back from an errand, he had suddenly started whistling to the tune of Roy Orbinson's Oh, Pretty Woman. It had Raj doubling over with laughter and Kady covering her face in embarrassment.
She had once come into the cafe, and Slade, who had been in the middle of a business dinner with several suppliers from Laramie, had abruptly stopped speaking and clutched his chest, saying, 'I think my heart just skipped a beat.' In another afternoon, he had caught her shyly chatting with the local priest (who was, of course, extraordinarily handsome as the rest of Hartland's menfolk) and had immediately swooped in, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind with a none-too-subtle warning. 'Hands off, Ryder. You're already promised to Christ.'
And when the man of cloth had reminded Slade that Anglican priests like him were allowed to marry, Kady's boss had promptly turned to Kady, saying, 'From now on, we're switching to Buddhism. Got that?'
It was always one outlandish thing after another, and it never seemed to matter to Slade who or how many would end up witnessing his antics. It was as if...well, it was almost as if he was genuinely proud to claim her as his, and for someone who had spent her entire life feeling like the ugly odd duckling, the amount of attention Slade devoted to her certainly made Kady feel giddy and cherished.
She had always known she was rather plain, but every time Slade told her she was beautiful, she couldn't help believe it was so.
Unlike with Eric.
The thought made her wince, and she took a deep breath. Today, she promised herself once again. The very moment we're alone, I'm going to tell him. But when that moment did come, with Slade insisting as always to drive her to Laramie, she found herself clutching the door handle and unable to get the words out.
Because what if he—-
Slade, sensing the sudden tension in Kady's frame, asked right away, "Is anything wrong?"
"I...um..."
Slade scowled. "Is it Humbug?"
Her eyes widened. How had he guessed?
The billionaire saw Kady's expression, and his lips tightened. "So is it him. He's been bothering you at uni, isn't he?"
"I—-"
"He probably tried making you feel guilty about dating me, hasn't he? He probably said something like you having no future with me, since I'm a lot older—-"
"You're not that old," Kady, sidetracked by her need to come to his defense, immediately protested.
"If he bothers you again," he said grimly, "call me, and I'll take care of it."
"But—-"
"Promise me, Kady."
She bit her lip. "I...promise." And just like that, she had lost the chance to tell him the truth.
Ten minutes later, and Slade was pulling his truck right in front of the university's main gates, and as soon as he helped her out of the truck, he had her against the door and his mouth closing over hers in a deep, hungry kiss.
Oh my.
Her toes immediately curled, and with a helpless little moan, Kady kissed him back.
When he lifted his head, Slade was satisfied to see her gaze full of yearning...for him.
Good.
He saw her hesitate before lifting her hand, and he kept still, curious to see what she planned. A moment later, and she was tentatively touching his beard—-
"It tickles."
"Does it?" He bent his head to nuzzle her cheek with it, and she giggled. Lifting his head again, he murmured, "If you want me to get rid of it—-"