Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 87289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
We engage in stilted conversation for a few more minutes before the older woman leaves as gracefully as she entered. Hugh follows her out with a hint of a grin. It’s like there’s an invisible thread binding them to one another.
As soon as they’re gone, my muscles loosen. “Well, that was certainly interesting.”
Sloane cracks a smile. “I’m dying for the backstory.”
The edges of my lips lift. “Same. We’ll have to pump Lilah and see what she knows.”
“Or Rina. They work closely together. Maybe Evelyn’s mentioned something about her relationship with Mr. Tall, Dark, and Foxy.”
With a snort, I glance toward the register.
Crap.
The bank notice.
I should probably tuck the letter back into the envelope and shove it in my purse before Sloane catches sight of it.
But it’s not there.
With a furrowed brow, I check the floor, the shelf under the counter, and the stack of mail for a second time.
Panic flares in my stomach when my search turns up empty.
No one else was behind the counter this morning.
And I know it was there with the stack.
I swallow hard, hating the idea that one of my customers might have picked it up by accident and is now privy to my financial situation.
How mortifying.
If Sloane had found it, she would’ve asked out of concern. She’s one of the most forthright people I’ve ever met.
I nibble my lip as the bell over the door chimes with the arrival of a new customer, and I paste a smile on my face and get back to work.
4
River
All right, I’ll admit that I wasn’t planning on making a detour after practice. If I were thinking clearly, I would’ve headed straight back to the penthouse to chill out for a while before tonight’s team meeting. Maybe even watched some film.
The second Evelyn mentioned Beau reaching out to Callie, something in me snapped.
I know exactly who the guy is.
Chicago might be a big city, but it’s also a small one in all the ways that matter.
After a while, you see all the same faces at parties or clubs.
From what I’ve heard about Beau, he enjoys having a beautiful woman on his arm to show off.
Callie isn’t just a pretty face.
She’s smart and hardworking. The last thing she needs is to get tangled up with a playboy who isn’t interested in settling down or being a true partner in every sense of the word.
It’s exactly how I end up at the downtown bistro, seated at a table near the window with an amazing view of the river, a glass of water in front of me as I wait for the owner to make an appearance.
“Are you sure there isn’t anything else I can get for you?” the hostess asks, leaning closer, ample cleavage on display.
My guess is that she’d like me to ask for her number.
But there’s no chance of that happening.
There’s only one woman I’m interested in.
She owns a bakery and has the most adorable two-year-old I’ve ever seen.
My twin sister’s kids excluded, of course. Autumn and Haven have some serious cute factor going for them. Especially when they flash their dimples.
“Nope, I’m good.”
She takes a small step in retreat. “Okay. If you need anything, just let me know. Wave me down. I’ll be watching from right over there.” She points to the hostess stand near the entrance.
Umm, okay… That’s not creepy at all.
I force a smile. “Thanks. Appreciate it.”
She beams before reluctantly turning to a table who’s been trying to get her attention for the past five minutes.
This kind of behavior isn’t anything out of the ordinary. Women have been falling all over themselves to get to me since college. And when I turned pro, it was like the floodgates opened.
Did I take advantage of the fan adoration in the beginning?
Guilty as charged.
And for a while, the transient encounters filled a void.
Until I met my best friend and teammate’s new girl.
Then, it was impossible to forget her face.
Even while fucking other women.
Since I could only keep that up for so long, I stopped hooking up altogether. I haven’t had sex in three years.
Honestly?
I haven’t even felt the urge.
Which is disconcerting to say the least.
I’m knocked from those thoughts when Beau Masterson slides into the chair across from me. He’s all flash with an expensive Rolex wrapped around his left wrist and suit that’s tailored to fit his large frame.
“To what do I owe the pleasure, Thompson?” he asks with a quick smile.
Like I said, it’s a big city that feels small.
I lean back in the chair, aiming for cool and collected. “I heard you were interested in carrying some desserts from Lakeshore Sweets in your restaurants, so I thought I’d drop by for a quick conversation.”
I have to fight the urge to groan when his eyes spark with equal parts humor and interest. “You don’t say? Go on.”
When I press my lips together, his smile widens.