Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 53717 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53717 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
She shook her head. “No, thanks. I appreciate it,” she said, and immediately began sorting through the mail as she walked away. Nothing but junk, she thought, tossing the papers into the trash as she passed a garbage pail.
She stopped at the coffee shop for a cup of decaffeinated tea and headed up to her hotel room. She opened her laptop and loaded her emails. One in particular caught her eye. A curator position at a medium-sized museum not far from the building where she’d be living was interested in speaking to her. Right up her alley.
She wrote back immediately, agreeing to an interview. Now all she had to do was wait to hear back on a date and time. If she got this job then she’d feel much better about moving into the apartment in Jared’s building. Like she was doing her part to pay some of the rent.
Excited, she forwarded the positive email to Leo along with a bunch of smiling emojis, not wanting to bother him at work by calling. Still on an emotional high, she tried her brother, surprised when he picked up the phone.
“Hello?” He sounded out of breath.
She was thrilled she’d reached him. “Hi, stranger! I’ve missed you. Did you get my message when I got back to the States?”
He paused, then said, “Sorry. I’ve been busy with some things.”
“Too busy to reach out to your sister who you haven’t seen in way too long?”
He let out an annoyed huff. “Did you call to give me shit?”
She rubbed the place above her heart, hurt by his attitude. “No, I called to hear you voice.”
“I’m sorry, sis. It’s just not a good time.”
She stiffened, certain he was looking for the easy way to earn drug money again. “Is everything okay?”
“I’m fine, but I have to go,” he said and disconnected the call.
She stared at the phone in her hand, an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of her stomach. Her brother had a drug problem, one she didn’t like to dwell on but knew enough to keep him away from her girls. They’d met their uncle Dan a few times when she knew he was clean, and she spoke of him, just telling the twins he worked hard and couldn’t come see them. The only way she could manage day-to-day was by telling herself he was fine. Deep down, she knew better.
With nothing else to do and the girls busy with friends, she lay down to take a nap without setting an alarm. She and Noah were switching weeks and he had them this week. She stretched out on the bed and let her eyes drift closed…
* * *
The ring of her phone startled her awake. She fumbled for the cell, finding it on the night table. She glanced at the screen. JARED STERLING. She’d been tempted to change it out for BABY DADDY.
Wondering what he wanted, her stomach did a flip before she answered. “Hello?”
“Hi, Charlotte.” The smooth way he said her full name set butterflies in her stomach.
“Jared.”
She smiled at the formalities, amused when his deep chuckle reverberated through the phone, no doubt for the same reason. “What can I do for you?” she asked.
“Well, first off, how are you feeling?”
“I’m feeling better today. And you’ll be happy to know I’m taking it easy. I was napping when you called.”
“Shit. Sorry to wake you.”
She’d glanced at the time when she answered the phone. “That’s okay. I was out for two hours. I’ll be lucky if I sleep tonight.”
“Then maybe this is the perfect time to ask. Are you free for dinner?”
She pushed herself upright against the pillows and headrest. “Actually, I am. What did you have in mind?”
“I’d like to take you to Le Ciel Etoile in the Flatiron District.”
French, translated to The Starry Sky in English. “That sounds amazing. I read about the restaurant in a travel magazine on my way home from Egypt.” The place had a nod to the owner’s native country, but was a steak restaurant with a French take on the classics.
“I’ll pick you up at eight?”
“Sounds good,” she said.
“Great. I’ll see you soon.”
“Yes,” she murmured. “Bye.” She disconnected the call and stared at the phone in her hand, the reality of her situation just now hitting her. A dressy dinner and she only had the late afternoon to figure out what to wear and to get ready.
She mentally crossed her fingers and called the salon downstairs, thrilled when they had an appointment for highlights, a trim, and a blow-dry. She hadn’t had her hair touched since returning from her dig. They squeezed her in for a manicure as well.
She had twenty minutes before she had to be downstairs and she put her thoughts to her clothing. She wasn’t certain what to wear, unsure if this were a date. Or was he taking her somewhere nice to discuss the baby? Her stomach gave a flutter at the possibility of a date but he hadn’t specifically said. Still, it didn’t hurt to look good either way.