Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 86068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
“Pippa.” His voice is a low, shocked gasp. “What are you doing here? You … you hate opera.”
I let out a tinkling laugh that would make Sandra proud. “Oh, I thought I did. But Rhett here …” I snuggle into him and glance up adoringly. “He loves it, so I let him drag me along. And now I see the light. It’s amazing, isn’t it, Rhett?”
Rhett’s eyes stay fixed on mine, warm and intent, as though no one else exists in the room. He runs the pad of his fingers lightly along my bare arm, from my elbow to my wrist. A casually affectionate gesture that could almost be dismissed. Almost. Except his touch sends shivers darting through me like sparks from a firework, leaving my skin alive and traitorous.
It’s lust.
Just pure lust, I tell myself firmly. Nothing more. Any girl would melt under his touch. The man looks like a Greek God, of course, I would be tempted. It means nothing. Nothing. Nada. Nichts.
George’s companion clears her throat pointedly. His head jerks toward her, his cheeks coloring faintly as it occurs to him that he has ignored her since he spotted me.
“Oh … excuse me,” he stutters, clearly flustered. “Pippa, this is, uh …”
Her eyes narrow with consternation, and I can barely hide my delight when I realize he has completely forgotten his date’s name.
“Claudia,” she supplies coldly for him.
“Yes, of course, Claudia,” George says, turning beetroot red and still fumbling his words.
She extends a hand toward me, her smile polite but sharp. “Lovely to meet you.”
I shake it with equal politeness. “Likewise,” I say, then gesture to Rhett. “This is Rhett. My boyfriend.” I look deeply into Rhett’s eyes. “Darling, this is George, my ex, and his … friend, Claudia.”
“Claudia is starting her own business,” George blurts out. “She’s really smart.”
It’s an odd thing to say, and Claudia looks visibly uncomfortable. It’s as though George is trying to make up for forgetting her name by bragging about her assets.
“What sort of business are you starting?” I ask, more to be polite than out of any real interest in her work.
“It’s a tech company. We are going to provide hosting services for small businesses who are sick of being pushed aside in favor of their larger competitors,” she says.
“Rhett is in the tech industry, aren’t you, darling?” I say, and swing another adoring glance up at him.
“Yes, I am,” Rhett agrees affably. “My main office is in the US, but I am stationed in the London office right now.”
“It sounds like a pretty successful firm you’re working for,” Claudia says, her eyes and voice showing interest.
“Remington International,” he says.
Her jaw drops, then snaps shut. Her eyes glitter. “Wow, that’s the holy grail of tech. Look, I know this might seem a little bit forward, but I am having a party at my place on Wednesday. Nothing fancy, just a little get-together with friends. I would love it if you would come, and Pippa, obviously. I’d love to pick your brains.”
George looks like he wants to be anywhere but here, his head almost vanishing inside his shirt collar. “I’m sure Rhett isn’t interested in that.”
Rhett let his hand graze up my back and looks down at me. “Are you up for it, honey?”
Yes, yes, yes, I want to scream, but of course, I don’t. “Sure, but I thought you hate talking shop when you’re not at work.”
Rhett, to give him his due, plays along faultlessly. “Normally, I’d hate it, but I don’t mind if it’s to help someone get off the ground.” He beams at Claudia, the picture of innocent charm. “We’d love to come.”
I am so grateful to Rhett that I could do a little dance. Obviously, I refrain.
Claudia excitedly gives Rhett her address, and he types it into his cellphone. An awkward silence, mostly due to George sulking like a child, falls over us after that. Yes, that is another one of George’s little faults. He sulks. Sometimes for days. We stand together for a few minutes, throwing awkward little smiles whenever one of us catches the eye of another.
Fortunately, the lights in the lobby dip, the chandeliers dimming as a bell chimes. A ripple of movement spreads through the crowd as people begin heading toward the velvet draped doors.
“We should take our seats, honey,” Rhett says, steering me gently.
“Of course.” I smile brightly at George and Claudia, delight buzzing through me like champagne bubbles. “See you both on Wednesday.”
As Rhett and I walk away in the opposite direction, my steps feel lighter than air. I can’t stop the words spilling out, my voice animated and giddy once we are out of their earshot.
“Did you see his face? He couldn’t believe it. And then when I said I loved opera now, oh my God, he nearly choked to death. That went perfectly. And I get to see him again on Wednesday. While you’re talking shop with Claudia, I can casually remind George of how good we were together.”