Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 104471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Lottie: Thanks again for going to Queens with me last night. I’d love to run my vows past you tonight if you have time.
I glance toward the bathroom to see Reid in the shower. I can’t quite make out every detail of his body through the glass because of the steam, but it’s enough that my heart skips a beat.
I’m reasonably sure he’ll ask me to meet him back here after work. I want to, but I also need to fulfill my role as Lottie’s maid of honor.
Before I respond to her text, I walk into the bathroom. I knock softly on one of the glass shower walls.
It’s enough to grab his attention because he swipes a hand over the glass to clear the condensation so he can peek down at me. “Are you gracing me with your presence?”
I shake my head. “Lottie wants to meet up again tonight.”
“Go.” He nods. “I’m meeting Randall for dinner. I have a surprise for him.”
“Tell me,” I say before I realize the words have left my lips.
He pushes his wet hair back from his forehead. “I’m taking him to Italy for a few days to buy a tux for the wedding.”
I should point out that Randall’s already had a fitting for a rented tuxedo. I know because Lottie sent me a picture of it while it was happening. It looked great on him.
“I also thought he’d like scoping out his potential honeymoon destination,” he explains.
“When are you going?” I ask.
“If he agrees to it, we’re leaving the day after tomorrow.” He closes his eyes before he shifts to a spot that allows the water to stream over his hair.
Apparently, this conversation is over, so I text out a short response to Lottie.
Evie: I’m all in on that. Where should we meet up?
I wander out of the bathroom as I wait for her reply. I stop just outside the walk-in closet. I glance toward the case that holds his prized watches before my gaze settles on the bespoke suits and tie rack.
He takes such care with those things, yet there are no personal pictures in his home. Nothing speaks of his past or the people that have mattered to him throughout his life. There isn’t even a framed image of Melody anywhere.
I glance down when I feel my phone vibrate in my palm.
Lottie: Let’s hang out at my place. I’ll order take-out. Say around 7 or so?
I shoot off a text confirming I’ll be there just as I hear the shower door close. I turn around to see him exiting the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his neck.
He smiles at me, and for just a second, my heart does a little dance inside my chest. I could seriously fall in love with him. I fear I may be already, but the pain that I know he’s experienced may keep his heart out of reach of anyone, including me.
“I’m going to go home to change before work.” I glance at my watch. “I’ll pick us up coffees on my way to the office.”
He stalks toward me, his cock hardening as he does. “I’ll take care of that. Were you serious about blowing me at work, Evangeline?”
I nod. “I want to.”
He reaches up to run the pad of his thumb over my bottom lip. “I’ve imagined that for a long time.”
Feeling emboldened by his confession, I push up to my tiptoes, although it does little good since he’s at least a foot taller than me. “You’ve wanted me for so long.”
“Longer than you know,” he whispers. “Now that I have you, I’ll never…”
“You’ll never what?” I press because I want to hear what he was going to say before his voice trailed off. “You’ll never what, Reid?”
I stare at him, wanting him to say that he’ll never let me go, but that’s not what comes out of his mouth.
“I’ll never come before you.” He flashes me a wicked smile. “I’ll never leave you unsatisfied.”
He brushes past me to head into his closet as I absorb everything he just said. I should take comfort in all of it, but I want more, and it’s something I know I’ll never get.
It’s his heart.
CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE
Reid
The past two weeks have not been kind to me. I shoulder the blame for some of it – most of it, if I’m being honest. My whirlwind trip to Italy with Randall was meant to not only be a gift in the form of the trip and the tux but also a chance to talk business.
I thought after I softened him up with a great dinner and a few glasses of scotch, I’d broach the topic of buying Azelius Spas.
Little did I know that Randall mentioned our trip to Milan to a few people. When we walked into the tailor’s shop the morning after our arrival, Pete was waiting for us, as was Jimmy.