Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 103754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 519(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 519(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
I was never impressed by wealth or the people who hoard it before, but she was right last night. She’s nothing like them. I suck in a breath and close my eyes, seeing the way Sosie’s eyes crinkle in the corner when she smiles. She showed me who she was from the minute we met. From her lips to those eyes, the way she moves within her body, her wit, and her smile . . . damn, she’s spectacular.
What am I doing wasting time out here when I can be with her again? I square my shoulders and walk past the lamppost, ignoring my breath fogging in front of my face and charge forth.
The large gate in front of me doesn’t feel as imposing when I realize my heart rests on the other side of it. I glance up at her window in the upper left corner and grin. I’d climb that trellis like a fool in a romance novel if she asked me to, especially if the reward was a kiss. I’m not a greedy man, but I can’t wait to taste her lips again.
I push the buzzer, too anxious to hear her voice. It’s also as cold as the North Pole out here. Warming up in each other sounds like paradise right now.
There’s no response, which is strange. I would have imagined an entire team of employees on standby at the Stansburys’ every beck and call. It’s not late, just past eight, but I find myself checking the time on my phone again to confirm it. I’m good. I hold down the buzzer longer this time. When I release it, I shove my hand back in my coat pocket, a case of nerves sneaking in to ruin the reunion as I run my fingers over her phone.
“How can I help you?” The man’s monotonous tone has me thinking he’d rather be doing anything other than answering my call. But I’m too determined to see my girl to let it sidetrack my mission.
“Hi,” I reply, staring at the intercom like a video of Sosie will suddenly pop up. Although there are no screens for me to see her pretty face, I’m confident there are cameras on me. As soon as I spot one on the corner of the house, I straighten my posture and raise my chin to look the part of someone worthy enough to date the Stansburys’ daughter. “I’m here to see Sosie.” I clear my throat. “Sosie Stansbury.”
“She’s not available.”
The response is so quick, I wasn’t prepared for it. “Oh. Um . . .” I glance at her window again. The light is on in her bedroom. This time, I study it more intently. Light escapes the edges of the curtains as if someone is in there. Am I imagining things, or was that on before? I return my glare to the intercom, wondering if this guy is lying to me to cover for Sosie. No, she’d tell me to my face if she didn’t want to see me. I grin, liking how straightforward she is with her wants and needs. So fucking sexy.
But does that mean this guy is taking it on himself to keep me from seeing her? Not going to happen. “When will she be available?”
“No comment.”
I laugh, taken aback by the change in his tone from indifferent to brusque. “No comment? I’m not the paparazzi. I went on a date with her, for fuck’s sake.” Fuck. I shouldn’t have sworn. That’s not going to get me anywhere with a family like hers. “Listen, I just want to talk to her—”
“If she wants to contact you, she will.”
The intercom goes silent—no further exchange, no feedback. Only silence exists between me and this damn house. I push the button and lean in closer. “Can I leave a message for her?”
“I think it’s best if you return another time after you’ve received an invitation to be on the property.” And here I was stupidly thinking the intercom might not be working properly. It’s working, and this guy seems to be doing overtime by standing between my Spark and me.
I glance down at my feet, and reply, “I’m not on the property. I’m on a public sidewalk.” Don’t play into this farce. They know I’m not trespassing. But why is this becoming a bigger thing than it should be? This blockade feels personal when I’m just here to see Sosie. If she knew I was here, I know she’d come running out, even pirouetting down the steps until she was in my arms again. The connection we share is too deep for her to sacrifice her phone and jewelry. If a commonplace schmuck like myself feels it, I know someone who expresses every emotion that captures her heart feels it, too.
“It’s best if you leave, so I don’t need to call security.”