Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80562 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80562 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
“Orange juice.”
The woman leaves, closing the heavy door behind her.
Jake gives me a curious look. “I was sure you were going to say tequila.”
“It’s safer if I avoid alcohol while I’m still breastfeeding. Especially since Walker wants a ‘shot from the tap’ as often as he does right now.”
“Oh,” Jake says, nodding. “Makes sense.”
I sit back in the cozy leather sofa and look around the room. “Where are we, exactly?”
“When you buy the big stuff, this is what they do,” he says. “At least, that’s what the girl told me when I called and said I wanted the VIP shit.” He chuckles a little. “I’ve never done this, either. But I figure we just play it cool and act like we know what the hell we’re doing.”
“Got it,” I say. “So, just keep doing what I’ve been doing my whole life. No problem.”
“Don’t sell yourself short. You’re kind of a badass, in case nobody has told you.”
I feel myself blushing. Jake Summers may be the only man who can make me blush. But he has a way of ensuring people never sell themselves short in front of him. I guess it’s part of that whole “natural leader” package he seemed to have popped out of the womb with. And it’s probably a big part of why people can never resist wanting to be near him. He lifts everyone around him up, whether they like it or not.
The woman returns with our drinks and a briefcase. I try not to laugh at how ostentatious this whole thing is.
“This collection came in from Italy last night. You’re the first to see it.” She sets the case down in front of us, flips some noisy metal latches, and cracks it open with a dramatic slowness. The lighting above catches every gemstone, refracting the light into a thousand little rainbows. I can’t help but gasp at the sight of it all.
6
JAKE
“You’re really fine waiting to get back home till tomorrow?” I ask Caroline. We’re in the lobby of a Four Seasons, and the woman behind the counter is finishing our check-in.
“It’s okay. Grams and Edgar may be obnoxious, but they’ve covered for me a ton by now. They can handle things for a night. And I’ll give all my guests a discount for the trauma. Everybody will walk away happy.”
“I could ask Jesse and Andi to swing by,” I suggest. “Just to make sure things are going okay.”
“Really, it’s fine.”
The private jet triggered a maintenance alarm shortly after we landed. When I called to set up the return flight as we’d planned, I was told by a profusely apologetic mechanic that the replacement part wouldn’t come until tomorrow morning. They offered to set us up with first-class tickets on a commercial flight home, but I didn’t want to drag Caroline and Walker through all that nonsense.
So, a hotel for the night seemed like a reasonable backup plan.
“I wasn’t thinking when I booked this,” I say on our way to the elevator. “I just got the one room since, well… But I realize now we could’ve tried to get separate rooms.”
“It’s okay,” Caroline says. “If we’re going to be selling this story, we should probably take the easy steps like sharing a room. After the scene we made outside Tiffany’s, I wouldn’t be shocked if people know we’re supposed to be a couple now.”
“Do you have enough stuff for Walker to make it through the night?”
“We’re good,” she says. I’ve got his fold-out crib, just in case. Now you see why I packed so much?”
I grin. “Never doubted you for a second.”
My phone has been vibrating up a storm in my pocket, but I’ve mostly ignored it. Between picking out the ring back at Tiffany’s, the bad news with the plane, and just generally trying to navigate this weird-as-hell situation we’ve found ourselves in, checking texts hasn’t been high on my priority list.
I finally steal a glance while the elevator climbs to the top floor. I’ve got texts from almost every guy on the team, including several rookies and newer players. The first text is from my little sister, though.
Andi: You better answer my calls, asshole. WHAT THE EFF? ENGAGED? I need deets. All the deets. Call me or else.
The text ends with a gun and a mind-blown emoji.
Apparently, the news is out. From a quick glance, it looks like the entire team knows I’m supposedly engaged. So much for the soft launch with the fake dating plan.
Jesse: We need to talk. Now. Answer my fucking calls, asshole.
I grimace at that one. Considering Caroline is his sister, I imagine Jesse is thinking about kicking my ass. I can’t entirely blame him. I did punch him when I found him on his stupid-ass vibrating waterbed with my sister four years ago. But he had it coming. This situation is totally different.