Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“Oh,” she looked taken aback. “Laurel didn’t mention you have kids.”
“I don’t. We lost the baby a week after the wedding.” I expected it to draw the typical reaction from her, a shocked or sad expression, but she only blinked in response, as if she couldn’t process it. “We stayed together for a few months, mostly to spite her ridiculous parents. She’s married to a finance guy now and has three kids.”
“You two still talk?”
“Occasionally, but mostly because he’s one of my finance guys.”
I didn’t mention that I’d been the one to set them up when it had been clear things weren’t going to work out. Nicolette had been through so much, and I was glad to see her happy. She deserved it.
“Oh.” Kara took a sip of her beer. I could see the curiosity building in her, and it eventually bubbled over. She asked it hesitantly, like she thought she shouldn’t. “And your other one?”
“My job can be demanding, and Alicia was . . . needy. She’d say I wasn’t around enough, and that was the justification for her affair.”
Affairs, my brain whispered. One was bad enough, but Alicia had been so angry with me, it felt like she’d fucked half the company before I found out. That had been a dark day, which I preferred not to think about ever again.
Was this why Kara didn’t want to talk about it? “Was Paul unfaithful?”
“No. Not that I know of.”
It just fell out of my mouth. “Then what happened?”
“None of your business is what happened.”
There was a fire in her eyes I got a glimpse of just before she glanced away. It made her so goddamn hot I couldn’t help myself. Somehow, I knew immediately.
“It was a sex thing.” I’d hit the nail on the head because she flushed the most gorgeous color of red.
“Thank you for lunch,” she choked out before tossing her napkin on her plate.
“Wait, wait. I’m sorry. You’re right. It’s none of my business. Can we talk about something else?”
She shook her head. “I really should get going.”
Fuck. I wasn’t ready. As our server walked by, I signaled for him to bring our check. “When are you flying back to the Netherlands?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Why?”
I had a plan forming but wasn’t about to reveal it. “I’m not heading back to Munich for a few days. Let me take you out for dinner tonight.”
It looked like she had to fight the urge to roll her eyes. “Even if I wanted to do that, which I don’t, it’s like I said. I have an early flight tomorrow.”
“Direct?”
“To Amsterdam, and then I take the train. Is there some reason you care?”
“I have a private plane. It can take you wherever you want, including straight to Maastricht.”
It was no secret my wealth made her uncomfortable, and her throat bobbed with a thick swallow. “No, thank you.”
“No? You prefer flying commercial?”
I expected her to throw it back in my face, for her to tell me that she didn’t usually have another option, but she remained cool and even, saying nothing. The server dropped off the check, and I tucked my credit card inside the presentation book before sitting back to give her an evaluating look.
“When exactly is your flight?” I asked.
Frustration broke on her beautiful face. “Why?”
“Because I’m trying to make a point.”
Her phone had been lying face-up on the tabletop, and she scrolled to the airline app to check her departure time, giving me what I needed. “Six twenty-five,” she said. “That means I need to be at JFK around four a.m.”
“You could have dinner with me,” my smile widened with meaning, “sleep in the next morning, and depart whenever you wanted on my plane.”
“Again, thank you for the offer, but no.” Her voice turned quiet. “That would make me more uncomfortable than the flowers do.”
She refused me again. Why did I enjoy it? “Very well. What hotel are you staying at? I’ll have my driver drop you off.” I picked up my phone and tapped out a message to bring the car around.
She made zero effort to sound anything but relieved. “You’re not coming?”
“I need to get back to the office. It’s close, so I can walk. I don’t mind a little rain.”
She eyed me like it sounded too good to be true.
“My leaving has strings,” I added.
She tossed a hand up. “There it is.”
“You have to tell me about Paul’s problem next time we meet.”
Confusion overtook her face. “Paul’s problem?”
“Yes, his problem. Why on earth he would let you go.”
Her gaze turned to the glass windows. The rain was still falling in heavy sheets, and her shoulders slumped. When she focused her attention back on me, her face was set with resignation. “The Hilton by the Park.”
As soon as the server returned with my card, I signed the bill and followed her outside to wait under the awning.