Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 100090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
“And it doesn’t hurt that it’s comfortable,” she says with a wink. “Let’s go drool over some pretty clothes, shall we?”
“Oh, we shall.”
Ryan takes my hand as we walk out the revolving door and into an onslaught of flashing cameras.
“Wait,” he says, frowning down at my feet. “Your strap is unbuckled.”
Right here, in front of everyone, he kneels before me and fastens the strap and then presses his lips to my bare calf before standing and taking my hand once more. My entire system is on high alert, so in tune with him that I want to hurry back to our suite and make love to him all night long.
But I’ll have to settle on knowing that I can do exactly that when we return later.
“I didn’t want you to trip.”
My heart is hammering, and the paps are yelling questions, but all I can see is Ryan’s smile as he leads me out to the car, waiting for us.
“Well, that was sexy,” London says when she’s sitting across from us. “And will look fabulous in the photos they were snapping.”
My heart is still working overtime. It was the sexiest thing ever.
Today went by fast. The Chanel show was amazing, and I know I’ll have a hard time saying no to anything offered to me tomorrow.
We’ve been at a party for the past hour, and I have to admit, I’m starting to feel partied out. It’s a lot of the same faces and the same conversations, and with our time in Paris growing short, I’d honestly rather spend some time with Ryan alone.
“Your martini, madam,” the waiter says as he passes me my drink. “And someone asked me to deliver this.”
He passes me a napkin, gives me a slight bow, and then he walks away.
I turn to Ryan, but he’s busy chatting with someone I don’t recognize, so I open the folded napkin and feel my cheeks flush.
Stay away from him.
That’s it. No signature. Just those four words.
“What’s that?”
I glance up to see Ryan frowning as he reads over my shoulder.
“The waiter said someone asked him to deliver this to me. People are weird, Ryan. Unless you have a confession to make.”
He actually laughs and shakes his head. “No. Let’s chalk it up to the weird thing because you’re absolutely not staying away from me. If they even mean me.”
“Maybe they mean Drew.”
Ryan grins again. “They could mean anyone. Do you want to get something to eat?”
“Actually, would it be wrong to tell you that I’d like to get out of here and spend some time alone with you? We could get room service or take a walk and find a café somewhere…I don’t care. I’m just ready for a little quiet. This has been a lot for this small-town girl.”
His eyes warm, and he leans in to press his lips to my ear.
“I’d love nothing more. Come on. Let’s get out of here.”
He taps the screen of his phone to, I assume, call the car, and we turn to London and Drew to let them know that we’re taking off.
“I don’t blame you,” London says with a wink. “Go have some downtime. We’re not staying much longer, either.”
“I’m jealous,” Drew says and then grins at me. “I’m ready to go, too. See you later.”
We’re headed toward the door when suddenly, a woman wraps herself around Ryan.
“Well, hello, lover. I was so surprised when I saw you in the audience today, and you didn’t even call to tell me you’d be in town.” Her lips tip down in a pout, making me roll my eyes. “What a magical surprise, baby.”
She moves in to kiss him, and I decide that I’ve had about enough.
“I’d hate to get blood on this brand-new dress, but it might be worth it.”
Ryan takes the woman by the shoulders and pushes her off of him.
“Who is this tiny thing?” she asks, wrinkling her nose like she’s just smelled something from the garbage.
“I can be your worst nightmare,” I reply with a toothy smile. “Especially if you don’t stop trying to touch my man.”
“Have a good evening, Claudia,” Ryan says as he wraps his arm around me, and we turn for the door once more.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Claudia shrieks. “Fuck you, Ryan! You’re a bad lay!”
Without looking back, we climb into the waiting car, and when the door is closed, I take a deep breath.
“Well.” I let it out slowly. “That was fun.”
“I’m sorry,” he says, but I hold a hand up, stopping him.
“You fucked Claudia Dubois?” I turn in the seat and stare at him.
“Years ago,” he confirms without hesitation. “Then I realized she’s loony tunes, and I cut that off real quick.”
I shake my head and right myself in the seat. I’m not mad at him. It’s not his fault at all. Mostly, I’m…amused. I can’t hold the giggle back that escapes my lips.