Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 116597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
“Ah, so it’s me who should be jealous of all the other poor saps who got to ogle you before I did.”
The corners of her lips lifted again, but fell quickly as she sipped from her glass, eyes scanning my place.
I’d meant every line I’d tried to reel her in with when she stood on the other side of my door — she looked absolutely stunning tonight. But she also looked… different. Tired. Worn. Stressed.
Like something was on her mind.
“You alright?”
I asked before I could think better of it, and Livia blinked, looking at me like I was crazy. “Of course. I’m fine. Why?”
“You just look… I don’t know. Not yourself.”
“Because of the outfit?”
“Because of your eyes.”
Her head snapped back a little with the comment, mouth shutting as those warm brown eyes searched mine. I internally grimaced as she repeated, “My… eyes?”
Well, might as well own it now.
I nodded. “They’re usually playful and sultry, like a jungle cat’s.”
She scoffed a laugh at that.
“I’m serious,” I said, but I laughed a little, too. “I know it sounds dumb, but it’s true. Don’t act like you don’t know it when you do that little black line thing at the edge of your eyes, too.” I waved my finger at her. “But right now, they seem… distant. Cold.” I swallowed, debating if I should leave it there, but I couldn’t help but add, “It’s like you put that makeup on to cover something up.”
Livia didn’t show even a hint of emotion, but she paused for a long moment before answering. “You seem very confident about that assessment.”
I shrugged. “We’ve been friends for years. I pay attention.”
Livia hummed, sipping her wine. “Well, I don’t know what you mean.”
“So, everything is fine?”
She opened her mouth, shut it again, sighed, and sat her glass down. “No. But it kind of freaks me out that you can tell.”
“What’s going on?”
“If I give you the abbreviated version, do you promise not to ask questions so we can get down to business?”
For once, I wasn’t keen to what she was offering, but I nodded my agreement.
Livia sighed. “My parents cut me off when I was eighteen, right after high school graduation. I haven’t seen them since. The only tie I still have to them is my baby sister.” She paused, a sad smile as she looked down at her nails. “Their pride and joy.” Her eyes met mine then. “And I just found out that she’s getting married and wants me at the wedding.”
I was so pissed at myself for agreeing not to ask questions, because about a hundred of them were beating at the back of my throat and begging to get out.
Why did they cut her off?
What did that mean?
Why did she say her sister was their pride and joy as if she wasn’t?
What happened between them?
Was she still close to her sister?
Why was the wedding upsetting news?
Was it because she didn’t want to see her sister, or because she didn’t want to see her parents?
Or was it because she didn’t feel welcome, even though her sister invited her?
I longed to know the full story and all the dynamics, yearned to peel back the layer Livia had so graciously lifted the corner of so I could see more of her.
I wanted to know everything about this woman.
But just as quickly as she’d let me in, her guard snapped back in place.
She drank her wine on a shrug. “Now, let’s start.”
Livia wrapped her hand around my wrist then, dragging me toward the living room. I barely got another sip of my wine and set the glass down before I was stumbling after her.
She pressed her hands into my chest when we made it to the couch, sending me back into the cushions with a whoosh.
“Pretend I’m a girl you invited over and now you want to fuck me.”
“Trust me,” I breathed, eyes skating over her. “No pretending required.”
Get to Work
Livia
My heart was racing as I took back the reins and shoved Carter onto his couch. It was only a moment that I’d lost control, but it was enough to have me shaken.
How the hell could this man tell that something was off with me within minutes of me walking into his home?
It was difficult for Maven to figure out when I was in a mood. It usually took her at least an hour to see through my mask.
But Carter had picked up on it immediately.
And even more surprising, I’d told him what was wrong.
I could have easily said nothing when he asked. I could have told him he was crazy, he was seeing things, and he didn’t have a fucking clue about me the way he thought he did.
But the fact that he’d seen me so clearly, so quickly, had completely fucking thrown me.
It’s your eyes.
I guess it shouldn’t have surprised me that my eyes were giving me away, considering how my sister’s phone call had plagued me the last few days. I hadn’t seen her in years, mostly because I always had an excuse — work is too crazy, I don’t have enough vacation time, I’m out of town when you want to visit, you know I can’t come to Christmas.