Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 58952 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58952 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Interesting.
“Chase, I’d like you to meet Neil Pierson,” she said, introducing him to the gentleman standing next to her, who looked well put together in a navy business suit, wire-rimmed glasses, and appeared to be in his early twenties, close in age to Billie. “Neil, this is my brother, Chase.”
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you,” Neil said, shaking Chase’s hand in a firm grip. “Billie has told me so much about you. All good things, I assure you,” he joked with an easygoing grin.
Chase smiled back. “Good to know. Have a seat,” he said, indicating the other two vacant chairs at the table.
Neil held out Billie’s chair for her, impressing Chase with his social graces when it came to treating women with respect. She thanked Neil, a pink flush sweeping across her cheeks.
They settled in and ordered their meals, and once the waiter had delivered their glasses of wine, Chase glanced across the table at the pair, noticing the way Neil held Billie’s hand on top of the table, not hiding his affection for her.
Chase had no reason to dislike the man, but he had to admit he was feeling a bit protective of Billie. This was the first time she’d ever introduced him to a boyfriend, so he assumed that things between the two had to be serious and beyond a casual date. Which meant Chase intended to do his due diligence in vetting this guy for himself.
“So, how did the two of you meet?” he asked, jumping right into the interrogation.
Billie gave Chase an amused smile. “It’s actually quite a funny story. Neil is the bachelor you replaced at the charity auction.”
Chase’s brows rose in surprise, but before he could respond, Billie continued on.
“Neil would have been Lauren’s date to her sister’s wedding, had he not been sick with the flu and I had to recruit you to take his place,” she said, grinning. “Funny how fate works sometimes, huh?”
Another round of shock rippled through Chase. So, this was the guy that Lauren had been referring to when she’d charged into his office and said to him, “You weren’t my first choice of a bachelor, but I’m stuck with you.” She’d intended to bid on Neil, and knowing that, Chase couldn’t help feeling a little territorial, which was ridiculous. It was definitely a twist he didn’t see coming, and the thought that he might not have ever experienced being with Lauren made him realize what a gift his weekend with her had truly been.
Not wanting his thoughts to travel down that route again, he took a drink of his wine and refocused his attention on the happy couple across the table. “So, how did the two of you end up dating?”
Neil cleared his throat before answering the question. “Well, I felt incredibly bad about having to pull out of the auction at the last minute, so I showed up at the Future Fast Track offices with flowers to apologize, and a donation check. I took one look at Billie and I was quite taken with her so I didn’t hesitate to ask her out for dinner.”
Billie beamed affectionately at him before glancing back at Chase. “We discovered we had so much in common. We both love museums and Broadway shows, and while Neil might be an accountant, he loves the same video games that I do, like Super Mario and Zelda.”
Neil grimaced, appearing a bit embarrassed. “You’re making me look like a nerd in front of your brother.”
“You are, just a little bit, which I absolutely adore about you.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek, completely smitten with him. “You’re this geeky, intellectual guy by day who crunches numbers, but once you leave the office, you are so much fun to hang out with.”
Neil was smiling as he met Chase’s gaze from across the table. “Honestly, it didn’t take me long to realize that Billie is quite literally the dream girl I’ve been waiting for all my life.”
Chase was truly happy for his sister, but the couple’s infatuation with one another was almost too much for him to take. But even though their enthusiasm was over-the-top, he’d be lying if he didn’t admit that he was envious of how the two of them made being together seem so easy and uncomplicated. Billie had far from a charmed upbringing, yet here she was, embracing the possibility of falling in love.
Their meals arrived, and while they ate, the conversation revolved around Billie telling Chase that she’d met Neil’s parents and siblings over the past weekend, and how well it had gone. And how excited she was that she had an upcoming date with Neil’s sister for the two of them to go to a place called Colorful Canvas, which was a wine and design class, whatever the hell that meant.