Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 98324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
“Oh, please,” I gasp. “I mean—the admin and not a Grammy winner. Or a lingerie model.”
His eyes widen. “You can’t be serious. What have I ever done to give you the impression that I give a fuck what your job is? And, FYI, I’ve learned a thing or two during my adventures. There’s nobody on earth with worse self-esteem than a model. Did you know that?”
Chastened, I shake my head.
“A model knows that everything she has is the result of a genetic accident. And she’s ten pounds or a few wrinkles away from irrelevance. They’re miserable people, Darcy. But you are one of the smartest, most capable people I know. Everyone at work knows you’re a badass. Why would you think I don’t?”
“But Eric…” I force myself to breathe. “Okay, this might be a me thing. Not a you thing.”
“You think?” He sounds upset.
“My mother was…” I swallow hard. “My father’s admin. Back in the day. That’s how they met.”
He blinks. And then his shoulders relax. “Oh.”
I nod vigorously, and my eyes are hot all of a sudden. “She spent the last decade telling me never to make the same mistakes she made, okay? Never fall for a guy who has all the money and power.”
His expression softens. “Sorry, baby—I have a lot of power in my quads and glutes. But I don’t think I have a lick of power over you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have spent the last month feeling quite so miserable. The money thing I can’t help, though. Although I did turn down three million dollars today, so maybe there’s hope for me.”
“THREE MILLION?” I shriek. “Eric, why?”
He catches my face in both his hands, taking care to avoid my stitches. “Because I wasn’t all in with Wayfair. I’d rather be all in with you.”
Oh my. Trapped in his clear gaze, I can’t look away.
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you,” he whispers. “Our time together wasn’t long, but it made a real impression on me. I loved having you in my corner, and I know I’d be good in yours, too. If you let me. I want to date you for real. I want all the dinners out and the burnt marshmallow photos. And I want you by my side for whatever painful family events we feel obligated to attend.”
“Oh.” I can’t believe Eric walked away from that absolute mountain of money. And that he was thinking about me when he did it. “Oh.”
“Is that something you want, too?” he asks.
I nod before I can stop myself. Because I do want that. So much.
Chapter 43
Clueless but Eager
Eric
The moment Darcy nods, I feel the knot of tension inside my chest unravel.
I’ve been holding myself back since I stepped through the door, but now I finally lean in and kiss her on the jaw. Her skin is warm and soft against my lips, and I breathe her in. “I know you’re nervous about me and my intentions. I understand why. But either you’re willing to try, or you’re not. There’s nothing else I can do to prove that I’m serious about you.”
“I need to… take it slow,” she says softly, her breath hitching slightly when I press another kiss just below her ear.
“Okay,” I say, even as my body responds to her nearness. “You’re in charge of how this works.”
“Thank you.” She leans her forehead against my shoulder, and I can feel the tension leaving her body. “I admit—I keep pointing out how you never date anyone for long, but I don’t, either.”
I feel a smile spreading across my face as I run my hand up her back, feeling the delicate knobs of her spine through her shirt. “We’re rookies at this. Like Calder—clueless but eager.”
“We’re not that clueless.” She lifts her head and laughs. “The other day, he asked me why everyone in New York walks so fast. Are they all late for something?”
I snort out a laugh. This is what I missed—sharing our private analysis of the rest of the world. “I love hearing your thoughts, especially about the numbskulls we work with.”
Her expression grows serious, though. “Is it weird if I’m not ready to hear what the numbskulls think about us, though? I don’t like people knowing my private business. Especially my boss.”
“Ah.” This is the part of the puzzle that I don’t know how to solve. “We can do this however you want. I’ll follow your lead at work.”
“It’s nobody’s business but ours,” she says firmly. “And, well, the numbskulls that live on the same floor of your apartment building. Can Chase and DeLuca keep things quiet for a little while?”
“Sure they can.” I wrap an arm around her, pulling her closer. The heat between us is building, and I can see the awareness flickering in her eyes. “Give me a chance, Darcy. I’ll make it worth your while.”