Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 91361 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91361 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“You’re mistaken!”
“Which I’m not, by the way,” George quickly clarifies, her expression softening with sincerity, “so please stop looking at me like I just killed your dog?”
“I never—” Oh, how ridiculous! “How —” Like, seriously!
But the way George is just grinning makes me feel all my sputtering is for naught.
“You’re imagining things,” I insist huffily.
“You don’t have to hide anything, Professor.” She leans in slightly, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “The best romances are the ones we never see coming.”
Argh.
If only George’s tone isn’t so sweetly earnest, I think I would have attempted shaking some sense into her.
“Mr. Steele is a catch any way you look at it. He ticks all the boxes for a romance novel hero come to life—” Her eyes take on a distant, appreciative look, but it’s more like she’s admiring a piece of art than expressing personal interest.
“If he’s so perfect—” Argh. Why am I still being so grouchy when George’s already assured me she isn’t into him? “—then why don’t you be the one to date him?”
“Oh, Prof.” George is laughing again, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “You really like him, don’t you?”
“Says the one who’s been singing his praises for the past five minutes!”
“For you,” she stresses, wiping down the table with practiced efficiency that doesn’t interrupt our conversation. “I just really think you two look good together, and besides, I already have—”
George breaks off mid-speech, but it’s too late.
“You already have what?”
Because I’m so pouncing on it like any sensible woman desperate to get out of the hot seat would.
“Nothing.” She suddenly becomes very interested in adjusting the sugar packets in their ceramic holder.
Oh no, you are not getting out of this that easy, young lady.
“You wouldn’t have a hard time meeting my eyes like this if it were really just nothing.”
“Oh gosh, look at the time.” George starts backing away, a flush creeping up her neck. “I need to go back to work.”
Yeah, sure.
Not gonna happen.
Duh.
And so I follow her all the way to the counter where she starts to busy herself rearranging stacks of coffee cups that are already perfectly arranged.
“You really have me curious,” I say honestly. “What would make a girl like you not want to admit who you’re crushing—”
It’s my turn to break off when I see the way George has started blushing, the color spreading all the way to the tips of her ears.
“Don’t tell me—”
“I haven’t said a thing!”
Well, she doesn’t have to, with the way she’s now red as a tomato, and all I can do is gape at her.
“It’s not just a crush, isn’t it? You actually think you’re in love, aren’t you?”
My gasp has the few other patrons glancing in our direction, and George now looks like it’s her dearest wish to melt into nothing.
“Professor, your voice!”
“But I’m right, aren’t I?”
“I...I...”
—feel suddenly protective, that’s what.
And so I find myself crossing my arms over my chest. “Who is it, really? Something must be wrong with him if you’re not willing—”
George’s eyes widen. “Mr. Steele!”
I whirl around in shock...and find myself staring at empty space because George has totally pranked me, grrr.
George only grins when I turn back to her with a glower. “I guess I’m not the only one denying about being in love—”
“Oh, please.”
“I really don’t see what you have anything against Mr. Steele,” George says, her fingers flying over the espresso machine buttons without even looking.
“I never said I have anything against him.”
“Then why—”
“We just know each other because of Annie. It’s all professional between us.”
George only looks at me like I’ve lost my mind, her gaze briefly sliding to what I realize too late is probably a faint mark on my neck from our last “professional” encounter.
“He took the time to ask me about your preference for coffee,” George points out. “Your favorite pastry. Your reading habits. Does that sound ‘professional’ to you?”
“It’s called doing a background check. Billionaires like him do it all the time. He just wants to make sure his sister isn’t exposed to unwanted influences.”
“He also asked if you ever came here with another man.”
He did?
No, wait, stop it, Jayne.
You’re not supposed to care because you’re not in love with him.
“I really think he’s into you, Prof.”
“No, he’s not.”
“Yes, he is.”
“Why do you sound so sure?”
“Because he just said so.”
George points to someone behind my back as she speaks, but this just has me rolling my eyes.
“Very funny, George.”
Does she really think she can make me fall for the same trick again?
George laughs, setting down the latte she’s been making with a flourish. “I’m serious, Professor. He really is into you, and he admits it.”
“Of course he is. And I’m sure the next thing you’ll say is he’ll prove it by suddenly spinning me around—aaah!”
All I can do is cry out as someone does spin me around, and oh...my...goodness.