Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 100661 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100661 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
“Did you grow up around here?” I asked.
She nodded. “About half a mile up the road. I used to work at the restaurant here as a hostess during the summer. I’d ride my bike.”
“I worked in restaurants too when I was young.”
“Really?”
“My dad’s a chef and owns an Italian restaurant, so my siblings and I all worked there at one time or another. Ever been to Trattoria Lupo?”
“In Traverse City? Yes! I love that place—the food is so good. That’s your dad’s restaurant?”
“Yep.”
“And you worked there?”
“Welllll . . .” I tilted my head from side to side. “We were supposed to be working. But my brothers and I did a lot of fucking around in the kitchen. Then when the place would empty out, we’d play hockey on the dining room floor. My dad used to get so mad.”
She laughed. “I bet. How many brothers do you have?”
“Two. A fraternal twin—Paul, he’s around here somewhere—and an older brother, Gianni. I also have a little sister.”
“Is your twin one of the other groomsmen?” she asked.
“Yes.”
She nodded slowly. “I think I know which one. I saw him when I—recognized you.”
I grinned when I saw the way her cheeks reddened. “That must have been a shock, huh?”
“Uh. Yes.” She laughed sheepishly and tucked her hair behind her ear. “I sort of wanted to disappear.”
“I noticed the sunglasses.”
“Can you blame me? I’m still embarrassed.”
I took a sip of my beer. “Want me to tell you something embarrassing about me? Even the score?”
She faced me. “Yes, please.”
I exhaled, glancing out at the churning lake again.
“Come on, you can tell me,” she coaxed. “I’ll take it to the grave.”
“I trust you. I’m just trying to come up with something.”
“Is it that hard to come up with something stupid you’ve said or done?”
“Oh, I’ve done a ton of stupid stuff. I’m just not easily embarrassed.”
She sighed, her posture deflating. “Never mind.”
“No, wait—I’ve got something.” I took a deep breath, like this was a dramatic announcement. “My real name is Giuseppe.”
Her jaw fell open. She had an adorably round mouth with shiny, strawberry-red lips. “That’s it? That’s the most embarrassing thing about you?”
I shrugged.
“I think I feel worse knowing that.” She tossed back the rest of her champagne. “I have to go throw myself in the lake now.”
When she tried to walk past me, I laughed and grabbed her arm. “Hang on, hang on. I thought of something else.”
“I’m listening.”
I kept my hand around her forearm. Her skin was warm. “When I was a senior, I made this big sign to ask my girlfriend to prom, and I spelled her name wrong.”
That strawberry mouth twitched. “Did she still say yes?”
“Yeah, but she put that sign all over social media and I felt like a dumbass.”
“How long had you been dating her?”
“Long enough to know how to spell her name if I’d been paying attention.”
“What was her name?”
“Lindsey. With a fucking E.”
She laughed, her head falling to one side, and I had the urge to press my face into the curve of her neck and brush my lips across her throat. I wondered what she smelled like. How she kissed. What sounds she’d make in the dark.
Whether that one-night stand with a stranger was still on the table.
Dammit, I knew I could give her that orgasm if she’d give me a chance. It might take some time, but I was patient. I was skilled. And I was competitive as fuck, so the opportunity to succeed where others had failed was eating at me.
But despite what she’d said on the plane, Mabel Buckley did not seem like the type of girl to jump into bed with a guy she’d only just met, so I took my hand off her before my mouth said something my brain would regret.
“I could use another drink,” she said, glancing at the bar across the room. “What about you?”
“I could, but I’m afraid if I go over there, I’ll be swarmed by people who want to talk to me.” I met her eyes. “And I’d rather just talk to you.”
Her cheeks turned pink. “I could go grab us a couple drinks, and we could take them out on the balcony,” she suggested. “It’s not raining yet, but I bet not a lot of people are out there because of the heat.”
“Works for me.” I grabbed a five from my wallet and handed it to her. “Here. Tip the bartender.”
She nodded. “I’ll meet you outside.”
As Mabel had predicted, we had the balcony all to ourselves.
Leaning my elbows on the railing, I looked over at her. “You know, I almost missed that flight yesterday.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I was coming from a charity event that ran over. I’m glad it was delayed.”
“Me too,” she said, tucking her hair behind one ear.
“So you don’t follow hockey, huh?”
She shook her head. “No. I mean, I could follow a game. I know the basics, I just don’t know any player names or team standings or anything.”