Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 155903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
And, wow, she was strong. Just as she grabbed Faith, though, the door behind her opened. An arm wrapped around Faith’s middle and suddenly she was pulled out of Kirsten’s grasp and placed firmly behind Reuben’s back.
“Reuben! Your assistant was so rude! And she refused to let you know I was here!”
“That’s not true!” Faith protested, moving around to Reuben’s side. “Okay, maybe it’s a bit true. But she didn’t believe me when I said that you were busy. She was just going to barge in. Which is very rude.”
“Faith, stop,” he said in a low, dark voice.
What? Was he really going to take her side? Kirsten sent her a superior look.
“But—” Faith said.
“Did I put you behind me?” he interrupted her.
“Um, I guess.” What did that have to do with anything?
“Then get back behind me and stay there,” he ordered.
Whoa.
She scurried behind him into his office. And then he went and shut the door. With her on one side and him on the other with Kirsten.
“Hey!” She reached for the door handle.
“I wouldn’t do that,” a voice warned.
She jumped with a cry. She’d forgotten about Reuben’s meeting.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you. We weren’t introduced. I’m Tariq.” The man stood and offered his hand. “I’m a friend of Reuben’s.”
Tariq was a handsome-looking guy with dark hair and a charming smile. She could see how women would fall at his feet.
Too bad, she seemed to only have eyes for a scowly, grumbly, dictatorial man. Not that she was looking for a man.
Nope. Not going there again.
She didn’t need that pressure in her life.
“Hi. I’m Faith.”
He smiled. “Beautiful name. Want a Scotch?”
“No, I don’t like Scotch.”
“What do you drink? He’s got a few choices in here.”
“I like jellybeans,” she said.
“Uh, the candy?” He gave her a confused look.
“Well, yes. But also the drink. Ouzo, raspberry, and lemonade.”
“Huh, sounds sweet and delicious. Just like you.”
Unfortunately, just as he said that Reuben came storming in. It wasn’t until that moment that she realized she was shaking. Maybe she was in a bit of shock. She’d never had a confrontation like that before.
“What did you just say to her?” Reuben turned to Tariq with a glare.
She wondered if Tariq had any sense of self-preservation because he just smiled. “I was merely commenting on how sweet she is.” He finished his drink. “I think I should go so you can comfort her. She looks a bit . . . fragile.”
“I’m not fragile. I’m from sturdy farmer stock.”
Both men eyed her incredulously.
Then Tariq smiled. “I’ll call you later, Reuben.”
Reuben simply grunted.
Tariq just winked at her as he walked past.
“I thought he was your f-friend,” she said as she wrapped her arms around herself. Why did she feel so shaky and weird?
“He’s a pain in my ass.”
Huh? She wasn’t following.
“Come here, Faith,” he commanded.
She shook her head even as her feet moved her toward him. Reaching out, he grasped her chin and tilted her face back.
He suddenly swore and she jumped. “What is it? Why are you mad at me? Should I have let her in?”
“Fuck, no. I’m not mad at you. I’m angry at her. How dare she treat you that way?”
“It’s really nothing . . . ” she trailed off. Even she couldn’t defend the other woman.
“It is something. Do not worry. I’ll take care of her.”
She stared up at him. “You’re scary.”
“Funny. You’ve never seem scared of me.”
“I’m a good actress,” she said as he took her hand and led her over to the leather sofa in front of a gas fireplace.
He pressed her so she sat on the sofa.
“Are you?” he asked.
“Uh-huh. I played the lead pig in the Three Little Pigs, a production we put on in the fourth grade.”
“There was a lead pig?” he asked, sounding amused. That was odd.
“Yes, and I was it! No matter what Shelby Colby says.”
“Shelby Colby?” he asked as he seemed to produce a blanket out of nowhere, tucking it around her.
“Yeah. My nemesis. She was always trying to be better than me. She never was, though. And she wasn’t the lead pig.”
“I believe you. Interesting name she has.”
She snorted. “She got married straight out of high school. Not sure if it was because she wanted a new last name or because she was pregnant.”
“What’s her last name now?” he asked as he crouched in front of her with a bag of chocolate and her drink bottle in his hands.
Where had that come from?
“Dolby.”
“She’s now Shelby Dolby?” he asked, his lips twitching.
“Why is that funny?”
“No reason. Your water bottle is full. Have you been drinking plenty?”
“Um . . . ”
He gave her a stern look.
“It’s difficult to remember to, sometimes.”
“I want you to drink more. I’m not even going to ask if you’re eating properly. I don’t think I’ll like the answer.”
She wasn’t sure why he cared. He was a very confusing man.