Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 68743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
His long tail wagged as he flipped over and stood. Nikki glanced up at Asher. “Can you go buy a bottle of water with a cap and not a squirt top? I want to give him a drink.”
He looked into her pleading eyes and couldn’t say no. “Be right back.”
As he walked to the nearest sundry shop and purchased a bottle of water and a souvenir bowl for the dog, he wondered who had taken over his body and his brain. The Asher he knew wouldn’t have bought a five-dollar bottle of water and a fifteen-dollar dish to feed a stray animal he’d never see again just so he could make a woman happy.
He returned to where Nikki had bent down again to pet the dog. “Thank you! Oh, good idea,” she said, accepting the items and filling the bowl for the pup who immediately began to drink.
She rose to her feet and brushed the sand off her legs. “He looks hungry.” She nibbled on her lower lip, her worry obvious.
Bad enough she was still in the skimpy bikini, but now Asher had to watch her slick her tongue over where she’d bitten, making him want to taste her mouth again. Not to mention other delicious parts.
He let out a groan. “Let’s grab our towels, dry off, and get something for lunch.”
“But—” Her gaze slid back to the dog. “Can we bring him back food? Please?”
Her lashes fluttered and not in a coy way, either. He saw her heart revealed in her eyes. “Okay. How about we get burgers and bring one back for him?”
“Thank you!” She squealed and threw her arms around his neck, pressing her body against his. “Deep down you’re a softie,” she said, brushing her lips over his. “Thanks again.”
She put space between them and acted as if she hadn’t just kissed him. And not on the cheek, either. She walked toward the table where they’d left their shirts and other things under the watchful eye of the owner, clearly expecting Asher to follow.
Which he did. He was learning the woman could be a force when she wanted to be. Restaurants were within walking distance of the beach and they headed to the shops and eateries.
They had hamburgers at a standing table, and as they finished, they talked about life. “Do you like modeling?” he asked, knowing he had an innate bias against the profession because of his ex.
“Hmm. I can tell by your tone you don’t approve of the career choice and we’ll get to that in a minute. But to answer your question, not really. It made sense for me to take that path. My mother had forced me into pageants, and then she wanted me to model. I didn’t particularly want to but I needed money if I was going to get away from my parents. It was something I could do in my mid to late teens to start saving.” She shrugged and took a sip of her soda. “By the time Derek moved to Manhattan, I was already traveling abroad for work, so I convinced them to let me live there, too.”
“That must have been a relief.” He couldn’t imagine how stifled she felt traveling alone, then coming home to her difficult parents with their high expectations.
“It was. But I don’t love it. It’s competitive, and the girls I’ve met are mean, manipulative, and out for themselves.”
He crumpled the paper from his burger. “Hmm. What would you do? If you had the choice?”
She looked at him as if no one had ever asked her that before. Perhaps no one had.
“I’m not sure. When my neighbor, Winter, a journalist, told me that she was interviewing your brother, Harrison, and his partners about their production company, I felt a flutter of excitement.” She shrugged and crinkled up her garbage. “I’m intrigued by what happens early in the process of movie making and what goes on behind the scenes. But I have no experience and I didn’t graduate from college so…”
“So when you go home, I’ll introduce you to Harrison and see how he can help you.”
“Really? You’d do that for me?” she asked, eyes lit up with excitement.
“Of course. You’re smart. Don’t let whatever your parents said make you think otherwise.” He had no doubt they’d belittled her and put her in a small box to try to control her.
Her eyes warmed at his comment. “They used to say it’s a good thing I was pretty because I couldn’t rely on my smarts. You know, I got the beauty, Derek got the brains.” She let out a derisive snort.
“Not true. I remember our talk on the trip here and how you quickly focused on market strategy. By concentrating on your beauty, they denied your intelligence. It’s shameful,” he muttered.
She grinned. “I like how you really do understand what my childhood was like. How it’s shaped me.” Tipping her head to one side, she studied him. “But you haven’t given me nearly as much about you. So… let’s hear it.”