Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
“Right,” she said, walking over to grab my smoothie from Benny and bring it over to me. “They’re hauling out some tools in the front driveway. I set up a unique gate code for them so they can get in when they need to.”
She pressed the cold glass of mango tamarind smoothie into my hand.
“You know, I love most things about having a personal assistant, don’t get me wrong,” I told her. “But sometimes, I feel like you’re trying to act as an extra limb for me. You don’t have to grab my smoothie for me from across the room. I promise I can get it.”
Vivienne snorted. “You pay me the big bucks, so I’ll do anything.” She glanced out one of the back windows and then did a double take as she saw Nathan, who was crouching down to look at a stone paver out back, trying to look busy. “Oh. He’s here, too? I could have sworn I only saw the other guys—”
“He got here early,” I said. “He’s an overachiever.”
Vivienne’s face twisted into mild confusion. “Could have sworn I didn’t see any other cars outside when I got here.”
I bit the inside of my cheek. This was what I got for hiring one of the most detail-oriented people in the entire state. Viv was the best personal assistant I could ask for, but I sure as hell couldn’t hide anything from her.
Not that I would hide anything from her, if it were up to me. I didn’t give a damn who knew about my hookups, and I sure as hell wasn’t ashamed of my body. But I was doing this for Nathan.
I tried to think fast. And for Nathan, I’d sacrifice even some of the best smoothie.
“Shit,” I said as I purposely knocked over my glass on the counter, picking it back up quickly. Orange smoothie pooled on the counter, dripping off onto the ground.
Vivienne looked over immediately, grabbing some paper towels and rushing over. “I got this. Don’t worry about it, Kace. Go ahead and show the construction guys to the guest house again.”
Distracting Vivienne had worked, even though I felt bad about it. I thanked her and took the rest of my smoothie out into the front yard, saying hello to Nathan’s brother Shawn and their coworker Charlie. His younger brother, Tristan, was also on the crew today, as well as his partner, Jack. It was an endless parade of hot construction workers in my backyard, and I sure as hell wasn’t complaining. Shawn was hauling some big piece of machinery out of the back of their van. All of them looked every bit the part of contractors, complete with tool belts and work boots.
“Morning, fellas,” I said.
“Ready to get started,” Shawn said, smiling politely.
“Kace,” Charlie said, looking me up and down. “Good morning. No TV crew today?”
I put one hand on my hip, enjoying the attention as Charlie stared at me. “You sound disappointed.”
“I am,” Charlie said. “I’m so ready to be on TV.”
“They’ll be here in a couple of hours,” I told him.
“Nathan’s going to ham it up for the cameras, and I know it,” Charlie said. “I am too, of course.”
“If Nathan ever shows up,” Shawn said. “My brother is usually a lot more punctual, Kace. I’m sorry.”
“Nathan’s actually already here,” I offered. “He was in the back checking out a crack I found in one of the stone slabs.”
“He’s here?” Shawn asked. “But—”
“I was, uh, getting one of my cars detailed today, and they offered to have Nathan’s taken care of for free, too,” I said, scrambling to think of some damn reason why he wouldn’t have his vehicle here. “The perks of being famous, right?”
“So lucky,” Charlie said, a dreamy look in his eyes.
“All right,” I said, waving my hand through the air. “This gate over here leads around to the back, as I’m sure you both remember. Viv gave you your own code, so use it as you please. Just know that at any moment, I might be filming an Insta live out in the backyard, so you might get front-row seats to killer content. I sauna and cold plunge each morning, and you’ll definitely see Vivienne and Benny around the property.”
“You really do have the nicest property I’ve seen in years,” Shawn said.
I led them into the backyard, stopping to show them the outdoor fridge underneath the bar. “This fridge is always stocked with water, seltzer, energy drinks, and recovery drinks. Help yourself to anything and everything.”
Charlie hummed. “Spoiling us.”
I glimpsed Nathan as we turned onto the stone path in the back that led to the guest house. “There he is,” I said. Nathan was doing his best to look busy, inspecting another paver on the stone walkway as he held his cell phone to his ear.
Shawn gave Nathan a strange look as we approached him, probably noticing his brother wasn’t dressed in his usual clothes. Charlie didn’t seem bothered at all, still too distracted by looking around at my property and occasionally at my ass.