Total pages in book: 163
Estimated words: 164828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
“Goodbye, Eliza.”
“Bye.” The doors shut, and I scrunch up my face in excitement.
Oh my God. Eek! This is getting me back into the dating game with a bang.
He is gorgeous.
* * *
I sip my red wine as I stir the beef Bourguignon I’m making. The potatoes are mashed, and the carrots and string green beans are in the steamer. I rushed home from work because I wanted to get dinner cooked early so that I can call Samuel before Nathan gets home. It would be weird having him listen to the conversation.
I glance at the clock. It’s 6:25 p.m. Nathe will be home in about twenty minutes.
Shit, I have to call now or not at all.
I look desperate ringing this early, I hold his card out and stare at it in my hand.
Samuel Phillips
Oh, well, here goes nothing. I drain my glass of red wine and refill it.
What do I say? Nothing…just let him do the talking. Don’t appear too eager, I remind myself.
With shaky fingers, I dial his number.
It goes straight to voicemail.
Shit.
“Hi, you’ve reached Samuel Phillips. I’m either on the phone or unavailable. Please leave a message after the tone, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. Have a nice day.”
“Hi, Samuel… it’s Eliza.” I begin to pace. “I’ll… I’ll try again tomorrow.” I hang up in a rush before I can make a fool of myself.
Oh, man, that was dreadful. What kind of sexy message was that? I get a vision of him listening to it, unimpressed.
I flop onto the couch and sip my wine.
Loser.
I’m so out of practice when it comes to dating, I have no idea what I’m doing here. I really need to up my game. There should be an up-to-date dating manual you can download on the internet with cool things to say and do.
I hear the key in the door before Nathan comes into view wearing a crisp gray suit and cream shirt, he looks every bit the smooth doctor he is. His sandy hair is longer on top with a bit of a curl, and his big blue eyes smile when he sees me. “There’s my girl.”
“Hi.” I smile as I jump up to greet him. He leans down and kisses me on the cheek. “You didn’t go to the gym?” I ask as I straighten his tie.
“No, got held up at work.” He walks over to the oven and peers in through the door. “Not long till we get a home gym. Dinner smells fantastic.” He pours himself a glass of wine. “My favorite.”
“I thought I was your favorite.” I tease.
“Apart from you, of course.” He touches his glass against mine. “How was your day?”
I shrug. “Pretty good.” I want to blurt out that I got asked on a date but I don’t quite know what his reaction will be, so I decide against it. “Dinner is twenty minutes away if you want to take a shower?”
His ass rests on the kitchen counter, and he smiles as he sips his wine. His eyes linger on me.
I do a little jog on the spot. “Seventeen days until we go away. I’ve just got to get through two weeks at my new job first.”
“Can’t come soon enough. I need this vacation.”
“Me, too.” I pull myself up to sit on the counter beside him. “What are we going to do while we’re there?”
“Everything.”
“Like what?” I smile hopefully. “Tell me everything.”
“Sleep in, eat delicious food, lie in the sun, shop… drink cocktails.”
I tip my head back in excitement. “I just can’t wait.”
“Don’t forget we’ve got my parents’ party next weekend,” he reminds me.
“Oh.” I cringe.
“What?”
“I forgot to pick up the cake tin today. I meant to call in on the way home and I completely forgot.”
“What do you need a cake tin for?”
“I’m making your dad’s birthday cake on Saturday for his party.”
“You are not going all the way there to cook all day Saturday. I’ll buy a damn cake.”
“I am. I offered. My cakes are his favorite, and besides, cooking for people I care about makes me happy.”
He rolls his eyes as he drains his glass. “I’m taking a shower.” He saunters down the hall.
My phone dances across the counter.
It’s Samuel.
I peer down the hall after Nathan. Shit, hurry up and get in the shower. I don’t want you to hear me. “Hello,” I answer.
“Eliza, hi. It’s Samuel.”
I smile goofily. “Hi.” My voice comes out like a high pitch screech, and I push my thumb into my eye socket. I clear my throat, determined to sound better.
I can see down the hall and into my bedroom and I watch as Nathan loosens his tie.
I’ll keep an eye on him so I know if he can hear me.
“You called me. I’m impressed,” he purrs.
“I said I would.”
Nathan slides his jacket over his shoulders and begins to unbutton his shirt, I watch on.