Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 20243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 101(@200wpm)___ 81(@250wpm)___ 67(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 101(@200wpm)___ 81(@250wpm)___ 67(@300wpm)
“Yes, goddamnit, I said we do.” Cole gave the salesman a look that sent him walking in the other direction.
Cole’s kind eyes were back on him. Spencer’s pulse quickened when Cole leaned in closer, giving him a better smell of his clean cologne.
“How’s ninety-five percent off sound? Is that a deal you can work with?”
Spencer ignored the bullshit deal and instead enjoyed the game this handsome manager was running on him. He was used to this kind of attention—he got it most evenings at his job, and he never fell for the puffing. The fantasy of a fine, distinguished man like this wanting him for anything more than a one-nighter or arm candy at his company’s New Year’s party was not his reality.
“Holy shit! That would make it…” Brent mumbled a few numbers before he yelled, “That’ll only be nine hundred! Buy it, Spencer!”
Spencer ignored his friend and tilted his head, scrutinizing Cole’s intriguingly serious expression.
“This bracelet isn’t on sale, is it?”
“It is because I say it is,” Cole answered. He rested one hand on the glass and used the other to pull the bracelet out of the case, and slid it in Spencer’s direction. “I think it’ll look stunning on you.”
“Are you the manager?” Brent asked.
“You could say that.” Cole’s eyes never wavered from his.
He appeared to be in his late thirties, maybe a bit older, but whenever that smirk appeared, it added a boyish quality to his mature face.
Spencer scoffed. He was about to tell this fancy suit wearer just like he told all the others at his job.
I’m not for sale.
“I’ll come back and get it when I can afford it… Cole. Thanks for the offer, but I’d hate for you to lose your job over giving that bracelet away. You probably have a wife and kids who depend on you. Come on, Brent. Let’s go.”
“If he says it’s on sale, then buy it! He can’t offer that discount, then take it back,” Brent argued. “Buy it now, Spencer. This’ll be your chance.”
“Your friend is right. I can’t take it back, sooo…”
Cole tucked one hand into the pocket of his nice slacks, exuding so much swagger Spencer almost choked on it.
“It’s a onetime offer, Spencer, that so happens to come with an invitation to dinner.”
Spencer felt sick. Why did every man he meet or every date he was asked on begin with a quid pro quo?
Cole blinked and backpedaled what he’d just said, his debonair demeanor taking a nosedive.
“Not like that. I mean, it’s not a condition or anything. Dinner isn’t required,” Cole chuckled nervously.
His cheeks flushed brighter the longer Spencer scowled at him.
“But it would be nice. Dinner. Anywhere you want to go. The Cavalier Bay or Luigi’s on the Boardwalk?”
Spencer rolled his eyes. Great. Another braggart throwing out names of five-star restaurants—that he undoubtedly couldn’t afford—in a useless effort to impress him. He’d rather eat a burger at Denny’s than ever consume another plate of that frou-frou fancy food.
Even if Spencer decided to take the deal, he still couldn’t spare a thousand dollars from his budget this week. He didn’t take anything that he hadn’t worked or paid for himself.
It was his current mantra.
Until he wrote his first bestseller, he’d have to be careful what he splurged on. He was never relying on some rich prick to take care of him ever again. Spencer wasn’t afraid of hard work anymore. He was twenty-six, determined, and capable.
Spencer gave his friend the side eye.
“Brent, I’ve been waiting for this store to have a sale ever since they first debuted their literary collection a year ago, and it hasn’t happened yet. And I also haven’t seen this manager here before. But he comes out, takes one look at us, and now it’s ninety-five percent off. Come on, Brent.”
Brent’s mouth formed a perfect O, and Spencer was glad he caught on.
“You’re wrong.”
Cole came from around the counter and didn’t stop his advance until they were almost toe-to-toe. Without the glass display separating them, Spencer noticed Cole was taller than him by a couple of inches and had a few extra pounds around his midsection. But damn, he was wearing the fuck out of that suit.
“I’m wrong?” Spencer pfft’d. “Ninety-five percent off is a discount you get at a closing TJ Maxx, not a Burbank Jewelry store.”
Cole stared at him for a long time, and Spencer recognized the attraction… the want. He was used to it.
“You’re right. There is no way that bracelet would ever be on sale, and damn sure not before Christmas. Also, I’m not the manager at this store, which is why you’ve never seen me.”
“Damn,” Brent muttered. “If you can’t trust a salesman to tell the truth, then what hope do we have?”
Cole’s warm gaze found Spencer’s and held it.
Damn, he’s good.
Spencer was going to be late for work, would most likely get lectured, and suddenly, he didn’t care.