Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 75983 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75983 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Real job. My mouth puckered from the sour taste of those words. Mom was worried about the ballet school budget and my future, but her comments still stung. This was a real job, one she had to admit I’d done rather well. It might not be my forever job, and I might not have a prestigious title like my siblings, but I’d worked hard to ensure the school’s success. This was more than a résumé builder for me.
Along with my irritation was a little fear. What would my next move be if the board didn’t want to keep funding my position? Remembering my joke to Alexander about being a house husband, I gave a barky laugh. I wish.
Almost as if I’d conjured him up like a spell, Alexander chose that moment to stride into the office and plunk a steaming coffee cup on my desk. He wore his heavy wool coat and gloves over warm-ups.
“What’s this?” I eyed the paper cup with no small amount of suspicion.
“A coffee. The overly sugary version you seem to prefer. And I managed to procure it without being spotted at the coffee shop by our mothers, so win.”
“Win,” I echoed before taking a sip. Sure enough, it was the same basic pumpkin spice latte he’d seen me with before, but I hadn’t realized he’d registered my order. “But why?”
“No ulterior motive.” Alexander held up his own steaming cup. “I wanted a tea to warm up, and I thought you might need a break as well. I poked my head in earlier to ask about that reporter visit, but you were deep in concentration.”
“It’s been a morning. A break is good.” I took another experimental sip, feeling topsy-turvy, like I’d taken one too many spins on the merry-go-round at the playground. Alexander Dasher was bringing me coffee. Me. Of all people.
“It’s coffee, not arsenic.” Alexander frowned as if he might yank it back from me.
“Sorry.” I offered him more of a real smile. “And thank you. I’m used to being the one doing the nice things for others, not the other way around.”
“Yes, well, you deserve them too.” Apparently satisfied with my thanks, Alexander leaned against my desk as if this were a regular occurrence. It wouldn’t be though. He’d be gone by New Year’s, back to Seattle, no matter what friendship we’d developed in the meantime. Something had changed since Friday, though, a certain softness about his expression as he studied me. “You’re always fussing after me. It’s about time someone fussed after you.”
“Thank you,” I said again instead of telling him all the other ways I’d like him to fuss. Friends. We were friends. He didn’t want to kiss again, and after his story of his doubly bad first times, I wasn’t going to beg for a repeat. I’d take the coffee and smile.
“Nervous about the reporter?” Alexander asked as he picked up the folder I’d labeled for her visit.
“Maybe a little.” It was easier to admit to that than to tell him my worries about my future. “She’ll be here around one.”
“Don’t be worried.” Alexander gave me a reassuring pat on the shoulder. A friendly touch that in no way should have made my stomach quiver. “Tavio will charm the reporter enough for all of us, and Cheryl and I will give her some good rehearsal footage before she visits some of the children’s classes.”
“You’re right.” I smiled up at him, but my acting chops weren’t quite as good as his, and he frowned again.
“You seem down.” He narrowed his gaze. “Do I need to let you win tonight?”
“No.” I gave a genuine grin at the reminder that we’d play again after rehearsal tonight. Maybe all we were destined for was friendship, but there was no reason not to enjoy our time together while we had it. My worries could wait.
“Alexander!” His mother swept into the office, followed by my mother. Each toted a coffee cup. Elaine set her cup on my mother’s desk so she could hug Alexander. “Margie and I couldn’t find a single seat at the coffee house, so we came back here for our chat.”
“You’re not usually in the office.” My mother studied Alexander with no small amount of curiosity. Her gaze flickered between his cup and the one on my desk, missing nothing. “Did you need something?”
“Just checking on the time for the reporter’s visit and bringing our favorite assistant some coffee.” He clapped me on the shoulder, already backing toward the doorway. “I should get ready for rehearsal. If you’ll excuse me.”
“Alexander is bringing you coffee these days?” My mother’s eyes were wide but not displeased.
“I didn’t know you two were friends.” Elaine leaned toward me, smile taking on a conspiratorial gleam. “Tell me everything.”
“We’re… That is…” I stumbled and bumbled through a few false starts before swallowing hard and muttering, “It’s just coffee.”