Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34098 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 170(@200wpm)___ 136(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34098 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 170(@200wpm)___ 136(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
“And I didn’t get the chance to pick you up last night.”
“I don’t recall seeing you there.”
“You were dancing for yourself but if you had paid attention, you had captivated everyone.”
She chuckled. “I highly doubt that. Your pickup lines need a little bit of work.” She held her thumb and forefinger close together.
“Go out with me tonight,” he said.
“I still don’t know you.”
He thrust out his hand. “I’m Mason Campbell, and let’s just say I’m an entrepreneur. I own many businesses.”
“You don’t look like a businessman.”
“Don’t let the looks fool you. Besides, you don’t have to wear a suit to be successful.”
He didn’t know what he said, but the smile on her lips told him he’d done the job.
“You’re right, and okay, yes, I will go on a date with you tonight. I finish at five.”
That was two hours away. “I’ll be waiting.” He wanted to pull her in close, kiss those luscious lips, but he didn’t. There would be time for that. A lot of time for that.
When it came to Holly Allan, he intended to explore every single inch of her, to learn everything there was to know about her body, and find a way to make this woman his own.
****
William had been her first and only date. They hadn’t been dating that long before they had gotten married, so Holly didn’t have a clue how to date.
Evie had asked her if the gentleman had found her. She agreed he had, but that he was an old friend, just looking for directions. Holly hated lying, but she didn’t know how to explain to her colleague that she found a dress and went dancing all on her own last night. How did she explain those details, including how lonely she’d been during and after her marriage? There was a lot she wanted to say and so much she didn’t.
Her life hadn’t been hard, just lonely. William had never tried to include her in anything. He and his friends had all assumed she didn’t understand their mockery jokes when they were directed at her. Each dinner, she had smiled through them while feeling punched in the gut.
So, dating wasn’t high on her list of things to do. There was something about Mason, though. She was a little shocked by the fact he found her, but also thrilled. He had taken steps to find her, and he wanted to go out on a date with her. Before leaving the library, she made sure she had pepper spray and her cell phone was fully charged.
This had to be the craziest idea, to agree to go out on a date with a total stranger.
Stepping outside of the safety of work, at first she didn’t see him and figured he’d either forgotten or it was some prank. She had to wonder if William had put him up to this. She wouldn’t put it past her pathetic ex.
William had called her a few times, claiming to miss her, that if she would give him a second chance, he’d make it work. How he only went to other women because she wouldn’t give him what he was looking for.
That last part, yeah, that made her mightily pissed off. William, in the bedroom, had been the kind of guy who wanted the lights down, would climb on, thrust around, finish, get off, and go to sleep. She had tried multiple times over the years to try something different, to enjoy each other, but William never wanted to, at least not with her.
Holly took care of her own needs. Once she realized William wouldn’t satisfy her in the bedroom, she’d taken a trip to a sex shop, purchased an array of dildos and other toys, and took matters into her own hands. On all of William’s business trips or working weekends, she entertained herself. She’d never once cheated on him, as that was something she would never do.
Pulling out of the memories of the past, she spotted Mason as he came toward her. She hadn’t realized he’d been standing by a tree, watching her. It was still warm, but he’d changed out of his black t-shirt into a white one, and he now wore a pair of black jeans. Did the man own a suit? Rather than hate it, though, she found herself loving it. Her ex was always in a suit. She was pretty sure he’d been born in one.
“Evening, Beautiful.”
“Holly,” she said. “That’s my name.”
He winked at her and held out his arm. “So, I got us a table at one of the restaurants we own. It’s Italian, makes the best pasta you could ever want. Please tell me you love pasta.”
“Why? Would that be a deal-breaker on this date?” she asked.
“Could be.”
Holly chuckled. “I happen to love pasta.”
His grip tightened a little on her arm. She had been tempted to tell him that she hated pasta to see how he reacted, but she was intrigued by how this date would go.