Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 119184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
“Not every time. Sometimes, we make sure a place is clear first. Or hire out a venue for true privacy, that sort of thing.”
She blinks in surprise. “A venue? What, like a whole restaurant?”
“Once in a blue moon. My father’s more prone to pulling that shit than me. He’s more allergic to people than ever since his—his condition.”
Especially so he can chew me out at will without anyone else listening.
She notices how I stumble at the end. I’m also glad she takes the hint on my face not to dig.
“NDAs go far too. Always important for our long-term relationships,” I say.
“Like the one you made me sign.”
I nod as I take a long lick of my toffee-flavored ice cream. “It’s for your own good as much as mine.”
“Somehow, I find that hard to believe.”
I find her hand with mine again and link our fingers with ease.
When we pass an older lady not even trying to hide her recording, Lena actually waves and makes a wild face.
“Do it again. Have fun with it.”
“Let’s not get carried away now.”
“Perish the thought.” I use our joint hands to check my smartwatch again. “I’ve arranged a ride to meet us up here by the church in about a minute.”
“A car?” She glances around like she expects it to come bursting out from between the buildings, barreling toward us. “Why?”
“What do you mean why? Luis has been here since morning. He’s going to take us to the nature preserve.”
“Nature preserve?”
“Don’t tell me you’ve never been to Bainbridge before.”
“I haven’t, actually. Not since I was old enough to remember it.”
Damn, this girl needs to get out.
I bite back the words that it’s only a thirtyish minute ferry ride away. I don’t need to remind myself that our worlds are very different.
“One last smile for the cameras, and we’re good,” I say, grinning at two young girls who are staring at us. “Look like we’re in love.”
“Oh, I haven’t forgotten.”
Neither have I. My blood heats every time I touch her, pulsing pure hellfire into my dick.
The hardest part about taking a day trip with her is fighting hours of blinding hard-ons.
Right on cue, Luis shows up in a black sedan with its windows tinted.
“Right on time. The man’s never been late in his life,” I say, oddly relieved to leave the people staring at us behind.
This is nothing new. It’s just my life.
The mindless gawking, the glaring attention, the whispers, the laughter, the sneers, the cruelty, and occasionally even the autographs and spontaneous marriage proposals—it’s all part of the fame and infamy I inherited.
But today, it’s not the kind of life I want.
Luis gets out, sunglasses fused in place like he’s a model secret service agent.
“Miss Joly,” he says, opening the door for her.
She glances at me, briefly uncertain, before smiling at him and sliding in. I join her in the back seat.
“So, this is your idea of a casual day out? Having your assistant hanging around?” she teases.
“Nah, Luis won’t be joining us later. It’s convenient to have him here to keep me updated.”
And aware, I don’t add. My media errors could easily multiply without his second set of very sharp eyes.
“Don’t worry about me, Miss Joly,” Luis says, adjusting the rearview mirror. “I have a kind boss who allows me a couple hours of downtime, and this week it’s on Bainbridge in the summer.”
“A few hours?” Lena turns her horrified eyes to me. “Brady, you—”
“He’s kidding.” I scowl at Luis’s grin. “Drive on, my man.”
“Kidding?”
“He has working hours and revolving duties just like every other person ever hired for this role.” I roll my eyes at Luis’s chuckle as we pull away, winding through the lush green overgrowth to the northern side of the island. “I can’t believe you were ready to believe him.”
“Eat the rich. I’m on team driver,” she says firmly.
Luis mutters something in Spanish, his dark eyes lighting up in a grin.
“I like her,” he says.
“Just get us there before I fire you.” I lean back in the seat as Luis laughs, shoulders shaking.
“You like me too much for that, boss.”
Unfortunately, true.
It doesn’t take long to arrive, and I help Lena out of the car before Luis can say another biting word.
“Where are the cameras this time? Will the crowds be bigger here?” she asks as we head down the path.
As always, the preserve looks divine, shrouded in endless rows of trees and snatches of vibrant purple flowers. The gardeners must be some of the best on the West Coast.
Above us, the old white estate house sits looking over the Puget Sound.
I direct Lena down the meadow trail, through the maze of bright-white and supple pink flowers.
I’ve been here enough times over the years to know where I’m going without a map.
“No cameras,” I say.
“Huh?” She stops and looks around like she’s expecting someone to jump out at us and fling their phone at her face. “I thought we’d be at it all day?”