Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 164263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 821(@200wpm)___ 657(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 821(@200wpm)___ 657(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
“Five to ten business days,” he mutters dryly. “At least.”
She giggles and gets back to cleaning.
Edward looks around. “Where’s Johnathon?”
“My name is Jonty,” Jonty calls from the back room.
“Whatever it is,” Edward calls back. “Hello.”
“Maybe I don’t like you either,” Jonty teases.
“Feeling is mutual, so not offended.”
I smile up at my gorgeous man, I love that he’s trying to be friendly with them.
He’s not great at it, but at least it’s a start.
“Let’s get going, guys, we can finish this in the morning.”
“Okay.” They begin collecting their things as Edward stands to the side with his hands in his suit pockets. His dark hair has a curl to it and the power emanating out of him makes the space feel so small and insignificant.
Even when out of his kingdom, he feels like a king.
“See you,” the others call as they leave.
“Goodbye.” He nods politely and I smile. I think watching him trying to be nice to people is my favorite new sport. I can almost hear his sarcastic inner dialogue from here.
“I haven’t even thought about dinner, babe.” I grab my purse. “I’ve had the busiest day.”
He puts his arm around me and kisses my forehead. “Let’s go out.”
“Like a real date?” My eyes widen.
He chuckles. “Sure, like a real date.”
“Where do you want to go?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugs. “This is your neighborhood, you tell me.”
Hmm, I know his snobby food choices, where the hell will we go?
“French or Italian.” I screw my lips as I think. “Japanese?”
“Japanese sounds good.”
“Okay.” I smile up at him. “It’s just around the corner, we can walk. Hopefully they have a spare table.” We walk out the front and I lock the doors as Edward goes and talks to Philippe; he must be telling him we are going out to dinner.
It’s so weird having to report every move to others, I need to talk to him about this. I really don’t think they need to come to work with me every day, it’s overkill.
He comes back and throws his arm around my shoulder as we walk. “How was your day?” he asks.
“Better now you’re here. How was yours?”
“About the same.”
“You know, I’ve been thinking, and I really don’t need guards with me.” I turn back to see them trailing us.
“Yes, you do.”
“I get it for you or when we are out or something, but every day?”
“You had someone put a tracker in your purse, Alora, we still don’t know who’s responsible.”
“You said it was Pascal.”
“We don’t have confirmation on that, though, he denied it.”
“When did you see him?” I frown.
“I saw him.” He rolls his lips as we walk along. “Let’s just leave it at that.”
“Wait…” I think for a moment. “Did you beat him up in the parking lot?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know, did I?”
“Edward.”
“He needs to find a safer hobby than following you around.”
“So it was you?”
“You’re with me now.” He tightens his grip around my shoulders. “And nobody touches my things and gets away with it.”
Uneasiness fills me at his tone, he’s saying it as a joke but I know that he’s deadly serious.
We get to the restaurant and walk in. “A table for two, please.”
“Sure, this way.” We follow the waitress to a table for two by the window, candles are on the table and it has an eclectic and beautiful feel. We take a seat and Edward orders a bottle of wine and she comes back and fills our glasses before leaving us alone.
“So….” I smile over at him.
He slides his hand up my thigh. “So.”
I hunch my shoulders in excitement, this is really happening between us.
He reaches into the inside pocket of his suit coat and brings out a little red box and sets it on the table in front of me. “I bought you a present today.”
“What?” I stare down at it. That’s a Cartier box. “Why did you buy me a present?”
“Because I can.” He gives me a come-fuck-me look and butterflies swirl in my stomach.
“You don’t need to buy me things.”
“But I will.” He picks up my hand and kisses my fingertips. “Open it.”
Ahhh!
I carefully undo the ribbon and take the lid off the box and my mouth falls open.
“Edward,” I whisper, it’s a gold diamond bangle. “This is too much.”
“Nothing is too much for you, my love.” He smiles.
I look at it in my hand and I see cursive writing on the inside. “It’s engraved?” I gasp.
I love you,
Edward x
“Oh.” I put my hand over my heart as emotion overwhelms me. “You bought me an I-love-you bracelet?”
“I did.” He smiles.
“Why?”
“Because I do love you.” His eyes hold mine and my heart melts, he’s getting more open with me day by day. “Let me put it on you.” I hold my arm out and he opens it and puts it on me. “Never take it off.”