Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75814 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75814 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“I’m not uncomfortable,” I finally manage, my tone soft.
The pleased smirk he gives me draws my attention to his mouth and the bristles on his jaw.
Will they feel scratchy if we kiss?
My pulse races even faster, and I place my other hand on my stomach while breaking eye contact.
“I would pay good money to know what you’re thinking right now.”
“Oh no.” I shake my head, and when I start walking, a nervous chuckle bursts over my lips. “My thoughts are priceless. You can’t afford them.”
His fingers tighten around mine, and his thumb caresses my skin. “Maybe I can earn one of your thoughts.”
“Hmm… how?”
“By taking you out for dinner.”
I chuckle again. “It’s a little late.”
“Tomorrow night.” He lifts our joined hands to check the time on his wristwatch, then corrects himself. “Tonight. At seven.”
I glance up again, and seeing he’s being serious, there’s another burst of happiness in my heart. Luckily, I always have Mondays off, and I don’t hesitate to answer, “I’d love to have dinner with you. We can meet in front of the theater.”
If anyone had told me I’d meet Rodian after the show and he would take an interest in me, I would’ve laughed in their faces.
We reach the main doors, and I reluctantly pull my hand from his so I can make sure they’re locked and the bolt is in place.
Gesturing to our left, we continue to walk, then Rodian asks, “Do you live close by?”
I nod. “It only takes me ten minutes to get home.”
“You don’t have a British accent,” he mentions.
Beginning to feel nervous because of his line of questioning, I link my hands behind my back so I don’t fidget. “I practically grew up in international boarding schools.”
I can feel his eyes on me but refuse to look up. “Here in England?”
I nod again. “The school I graduated from is one town over.”
“Did you like it?”
Shrugging, I fidget with my wristwatch before stopping myself. “It was okay.”
We stop by the side door, and I say, “The last exit is at the back of the building, so if you’d like to go, I can let you out here.”
“Are you trying to get rid of me?” he asks, making my gaze fly to his.
“No. Not at all.”
“Good.” Rodian takes over from me and checks the door before placing his hand on my lower back.
When we pass by the stage to get to the corridor, his hand moves up my back, and he places his arm around my shoulders, pulling me against his side.
The heat from his muscled body seeps into mine, and even though I love it, I can’t help but worry.
If Rodian and I continue to get to know each other, and we date over the next two weeks, how the hell am I going to explain to him that I have to go back to Russia?
“What’s wrong?” he suddenly asks, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“Nothing.” I quickly smile, and after checking the back exit, we stop in the kitchen so I can make us some coffee.
While we wait for the water to boil, I load some of the leftover pastries onto a plate so we can enjoy them with the coffee.
Rodian folds his arms over his chest, and it draws my attention to his biceps straining beneath his dress shirt. “So where is home?”
Shit.
“Right now it’s here, but who knows, that might change in the future.” I evade mentioning Russia.
Wanting to direct the conversation away from me, I say, “You have an accent.” I tilt my head. “Where’s home for you?”
“Russia.”
My eyes widen, and I gasp, “Really?”
A frown line appears between his eyebrows. “Why the surprised reaction?”
I shake my head. “No reason.” When his gaze narrows even more, I say, “I just didn’t think you were from Russia.” I keep busy adding milk to the mugs. “I assume you’re only passing through town? When are you leaving?”
“In a week.”
Well, that solves my problem, but still, it also sucks.
“If you only have a week, why are you bothering with getting to know me?”
Rodian seems to relax, and the mischievous glint returns to his eyes. “You can learn a lot about a person in a few days.”
“Yeah, but that’s all it will be. A week.”
He shakes his head. “I could kidnap you and take you home with me.”
Seeing he’s joking, I let out a short burst of laughter. “Just pull up in a white van filled with fabrics and Lindt chocolates, and I’ll willingly get into the back.”
“I’ll remember that.”
I hand him one of the mugs. After picking up the plate of pastries, I sip on my own coffee while we walk back to my workshop.
“You aren’t scared I’ll kidnap you?” Rodian asks as he takes a seat again.
“No. There are cameras all over the theater, and my co-workers know I was last seen with you.” I set the plate down and help myself to a Portuguese custard tart.