Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 55048 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55048 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Her laugh interrupted what I was about to say next. It was a completely uninhibited belly laugh. She was laughing so hard she couldn’t even keep her hand raised up to keep me from talking. “No, no, no. No. I wanted us to trade numbers so you could let me know if there are issues with Luke when you’re around and I’m not.”
I tried to hide my irritation. “Luke? That’s your brother’s name?” She nods. “Yeah, of course I’ll keep an eye out. But I know when a woman wants me, and you definitely want me.”
She scoffed. “Must be your humility.”
“Not a denial,” I pointed out.
Irritation clouded her expression. “I strongly deny any hopes of sleeping with you, Ford. I couldn’t be with someone who puts his body through the abuse hockey players do.”
Why was she so damn sanctimonious about hockey? Given her background, she’d probably only dated guys who played golf. I wasn’t a country-club-with-a-sweater-tied-over-my-shoulders guy, but I knew how to please a woman in bed.
“It wasn’t a marriage proposal,” I said. “We’re single, consenting adults. And I know you’re not the type to have sex for pleasure, but you should research the health benefits. Make yourself a little checklist to keep on the nightstand.”
She laughed. “I’ve had plenty of sex for pleasure. I just won’t be having it with you. Can we exchange numbers now?”
I got up and offered her my phone. “Put your number in and I’ll put mine in yours.”
She gave me a hesitant look. “I can put your number in mine.”
I grinned. “So controlling. Just give me the phone, doll. I promise it’ll feel good.”
She flushed, trying to cover it with a roll of her eyes. “You did not just call me doll.”
“I did. And you liked it. I can see it all over your face. Just think about how great it would feel when I called you a good girl in bed. You just leave that controlling nature at the door and let me take over.”
She scoffed, but now her neck was flushed, too. I’d finally figured her out. She liked a gentleman outside of the bedroom, but when it was time to get freaky, it turned her on to surrender.
Clearing her throat, she passed me her phone. “Just your number, please.”
I gave her a playful look as I typed into her phone. “I’m not an I told you so kind of guy,” I said. “If you want to text me your fantasies about wearing sexy lingerie all day at work that you’ll get to show me that night, I’ll just enjoy the fuck out of it.”
She stood and passed my phone back after entering her number. “You need to go spend some quality time with your hand, Ford.”
I grinned. “Excellent idea. Want to know what I’ll be thinking about?”
She hesitated before saying, “No.”
My smile widened. “You paused.”
“I did not pause,” she said, rolling her eyes.
“Hell yeah,” I said, pumping my fist in the air. “That was like a full two seconds of thinking about whether you should say yes or no. We both know you wanted to say yes.”
“Stop being obnoxious.”
“Yes, Ford. Yes. Try it out. It’ll feel really good.”
She furrowed her brow, frustrated. “You’re supposed to be the serious member of your team. Never a prankster, always a diplomat.”
Why did that sound so familiar? I considered for a second and then broke into a victorious grin.
“You read the profile of me the Chronicle’s sports guy wrote. I’m flattered. Since you’re obviously intrigued by me, what else do you want to know?”
She exhaled dramatically. “I’m going inside now. Please text me if anything comes up with my brother and keep all other quips and horny thoughts to yourself.”
“I’ll try, but if you hear groaning through your bedroom wall”
“Oh my god, stop.”
I grinned. “Night, Eleanor.”
“Good night, Ford.”
CHAPTER TEN
Elle
The Hamptons’ home sat on top of a hill, and it looked more like a castle than a conventional house. The sprawling structure was made of stone, hundreds of lights illuminating the impeccable landscaping.
I took my ticket from a valet and followed the line of people crossing a wood bridge over a creek and then taking a wide stone walkway that led to the front doors. Fall flowers and ornamental grasses filled decorative urns, and lights twinkled from above. A formally dressed string quartet played soft music nearby.
Everyone else wore masks, so I pulled my silver Mardi Gras mask from my bag and put it on, tying the two strips of ribbon beneath my simple updo. I wore a sleeveless sapphire gown I’d owned for years. This dress had come through for me many times. It was elegant, well cut, and easy to pair with different shawls and shoes.
Tonight, I wore a pair of silver open-toe Jimmy Choo sandals with a four-inch heel that my grandma had given me for Christmas last year and a lightweight black shawl that she’d handed down to me after decades of wearing it to social events. She’d left a simple silver brooch attached to it, which I loved more than any piece of expensive jewelry she owned, because I remembered seeing it on her when I was a kid.