Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 26365 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 132(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26365 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 132(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
Of course I leave the door open and the parrot flies out.
“No!” I shout as she swoops through the foyer and lands on the white statue. She’s perched on the woman’s (or the giraffe’s) shoulder.
“Shoo!” I say as I run up the stairs and try to wave her off. “Back in your room. Please!”
She’s too high up to reach and she doesn’t seem to care what I have to say.
“Actually…” It looks kind of cool. The foyer is all white and this tropical bird is giving it a pop of color. It would make the first impression even cooler.
I’ll push open the double doors with a big smile on my face and say hello all professional-like. With the fountain and the bird and the double staircase behind me—this guy would be crazy not to buy this house.
I practice it quickly a few times as an expensive-looking black car drives up to the roundabout driveway and parks.
“Okay,” I say with my heart pumping. “Okay. You can do this, Norah. You have an ace up your sleeve, remember?”
I don’t really believe in all that, but I’m grasping at anything to get through this stressful moment.
I hear the car door close and then I grab the door handle as he makes his way up the stairs. I’m too nervous to look.
He knocks on the door and I dramatically pull the double doors open for the grand reveal.
“Hello—oh!” I say, jerking my head back when I see him. He’s gorgeous.
He’s taller than me with a muscular—“Ahh!”
I scream as the damn parrot swoops over my head, heading straight for freedom.
Austin leaps up and catches the bird’s legs in his hand.
The parrot is not happy, but she’s not hurt either, as Austin quickly cradles her body and brings her inside. I slam the doors closed, breathing heavily and feeling a little panicky as I turn around. My hair is already a mess. It might not smell like beer, but it’s not looking very professional either.
“Is this your business partner?” Austin says with a smile as he releases the bird. It flies back onto the statue and perches there, waiting for its next opportunity to escape and make me look like a fool.
“I think she owns the place,” I say as I smooth out my hair, take a deep breath, and turn to him. “At least, she acts like she does.”
Austin’s chuckle quickly fades when our eyes meet.
Whoa.
The air crackles with energy as we stare at each other for a long heated moment. My heart pounds furiously in my chest. Goosebumps tingle all over my skin. My nipples harden behind my bra.
I can’t look away.
This man is ravishing.
He’s wearing blue jeans, a casual brown sports coat, and a simple gray T-shirt underneath, but it’s looking anything but simple curved to the shape of his muscles.
His shoulders are big and broad, and he’s tall too.
But it’s his brown eyes and gorgeous face that really get to me.
I feel my cheeks blushing the longer we stare at each other. Heat is blooming inside of me and when I squeeze my thighs together, I feel wetness.
Say something. Don’t just stand here!
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Gambill,” I say as I step forward and reach out my hand for a handshake.
He swallows hard as he looks at my hand and then steps forward and takes it. His hand is so large that it practically swallows mine.
I’m very aware of my tingling skin as we shake and then let go.
Now, I’m suddenly very aware that we’re alone in this big house that has an excessive amount of beds.
Our eyes keep connecting and it’s making my blush deepen.
I had a whole intro planned, explaining the house in detail, but now I can’t remember any of it. I’m flustered with his sexy brown eyes on me. They’re so intense. I keep fidgeting and licking my lips for some reason.
I’m trying to be professional, but this guy is seriously hot. It’s making me dizzy. My brain feels like it’s working at thirty percent. Why couldn’t I have had an old senior citizen couple for my first client?
“Um,” I say, feeling flustered as he looks at me. I don’t think he’s taken a breath since we first made eye contact. “What brings you to San Antonio?”
“Work,” he says with a deep sensual voice that sounds like silk. “I just moved here.”
“Oh, cool. I mean, that’s… wonderful.”
Damn it. Stop saying cool. It’s not professional.
“Is your girlfriend or wife going to be joining us?”
I don’t know why that’s the first thing I ask, but I have to know if this perfect masculine specimen is taken.
“No,” he says with those sexy lips curling up into a grin. “I’m single. You?”
“Single,” I say with a nervous laugh. Why would he need to know that?
“Well, I have two houses in Cedar Hills for us to visit today and one tomorrow,” I say, trying to slip back into professional mode. “Oh, before I start, can I ask how you found out about my services?”