Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 58442 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 292(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58442 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 292(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
“Yes, you say that because what you’re doing is probably illegal. If not, it’s unethical. Not that you’d care about that. Anyway, the answer is no.”
“You haven’t heard the figure.”
“I already have the figure,” I tell him.
He raises his eyebrows. “You do?”
“I’ve written it down. Wait a second.”
I root around under the counter, then aim my middle finger at him. “Ah, there it is.”
“That’s very amusing,” he says. “You’re a funny girl…” He leans forward, making a show of looking at my name tag. “Aurora. A funny girl with a unique and pretty name.”
“You’ve gone from unwelcome to actively giving me the creeps now. Now get the hell out of my shop.”
“It won’t be your shop for long,” he says, pointing at the ceiling. “This will be the lobby. And above us, that will be apartment number one. And above that, it will go on and on and on, reaching to the heavens. Have a great day.”
Simon turns and leaves, whistling a tune as he goes. I look around for something to throw at him. Luckily, by the time I pick up the paperweight, he’s already gone.
I hurry upstairs when the bell rings.
“Is everything all right?” Grandma asks. “I heard raised voices.”
“Everything’s fine,” I call back.
I need to shield her from this as best as I can. It’s my responsibility, my weight to carry.
Sometimes I hate being a grownup.
CHAPTER 4
RAIDEN
“Grandma gave me the same ultimatum,” Julian says on the phone as I drive up Main Street. “If I don’t appear settled and happy–whatever the hell that means–she’s cutting me out of the will. What’s gotten into her?”
“No idea,” I tell him. “She’s getting older, misses our dads. She wants family. All of that’s true. But this scheme just doesn’t make any goddamn sense. No one can fall in love in a week, which is what she seems to want. And if it was possible, I’m not the man to do it.”
“Me neither,” Julian replies. “But if it means risking all the money in the world, I’m going to have to bite the bullet. What are you going to do?”
“No idea,” I answer honestly. “Not long until the Retreat. I’ll figure something out. Or just accept I’ll have to live like everyone else. Make my own way like I’ve done so far.”
“This is our legacy, Raiden,” Julian says, sounding disgusted. “The Blackwell name, our fathers and their fathers and their fathers… and their fathers. This is what we’re owed. I will not lie down and take this.”
“You’ll have to find someone then,” I say. “I have to go. Talk soon.”
“Yeah.”
I park across from Needle & Muse. Orange Halloween decorations ring the large front window, with costumes hanging on display. The work is always expertly done. Margot Maren, the owner, specializes in Halloween costumes. Plus, they do regular tailoring too.
As I walk across the street, I feel eyes on me. Two women talk outside the bakery down the street. One nudges the other, and they outright gawk in my direction. It’s no secret that plenty of women in this town would love to bag Raiden Blackwell.
I’ve been on dates, sure, but I’m not the playboy type.
Could I do this to keep Grandma happy, maybe? Forget about the will; forget about the challenge. I could find a woman and put on a show just to make Grandma smile.
I walk into the store, surprised that Margot Maren isn’t sitting behind the counter.
Instead, it’s a woman I don’t recognize. She’s got tousled brown hair haphazardly tamed into a bun. She isn’t wearing makeup, but her blemishes and a light smattering of freckles make her prettier for it.
She stands, showing a curvy figure in denim jeans. When she speaks, her voice is harder, distant. “Mr. Blackwell?”
I smirk. “The one and only.”
She pulls a face that she quickly tries to hide, but I caught it. She might as well have said, I thought you’d be a rich jerk.
“You must be the granddaughter?” I say. “I don’t believe we’ve met.”
“Yes, I’m Aurora. My grandma isn’t feeling great. Are you comfortable with me handling you today?”
I almost look her up and down. I’ve never been one for ogling, but there’s something about her wild bun, her ample curves and a smoky voice that makes me want to make an exception.
“You can handle me,” I tell her.
“The job,” she murmurs, avoiding my eyes and looking at the counter. Is she blushing?
“What else?”
She doesn’t look at me. “Let’s get started then. Tell me what needs adjusting.”
“It’s baggy in the middle, see.” I point at my suit. “And the pants need taking in some too.”
“We’ll sort it. If you’d like to come into the back.”
I walk around the counter. She nods to a three-mirror setup once I step into the fitting area. I stand in the middle, looking at myself, wondering if I always have that half-smug, half-grumpy look on my face.