Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 100086 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100086 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Stop it. Stop comparing them. They aren’t the same.
Weren’t they? There was only one way to tell for sure, and she wasn’t ready to throw herself back into that life on the off chance that she might be wrong.
She shoved her hair back. And if she waffled any more, she was going to have to douse herself in syrup and serve herself on a plate for Sunday breakfast.
This wasn’t like Olivia. She usually knew what she wanted and she went for it. She didn’t change her mind as the wind blew. What the hell was Cillian doing to her?
She paid the driver and stepped out onto the street. There was an eclectic mix of people moving on the sidewalks, their clothing anywhere from hers to the after-work special to hipster to half a dozen other things. She’d fit right in.
He thought about this, too, she realized. He picked a place where they’d both feel comfortable. The thoughtfulness of the gesture beat back some of her uncertainty. She checked the sign hanging out on the wall and ducked through the door into the restaurant. Inside it was dim and relaxed and cozily intimate, the walls lined with deep booths and a scattering of table and chairs across the open floor. Mouthwatering smells came from the kitchen and the tables that had already been served their food.
“Olivia.”
She turned, a smile already slipping through her defenses when she saw Cillian. He wore yet another three-piece suit, this one in shades of dark gray with a lilac shirt. He looked perfectly put together and downright edible, and all she wanted to do was throw herself into his arms and then tow him to the nearest spot where they could be alone. Down, girl. “Hey.”
“I hope you’re hungry. This place has the best lobster rolls in town.”
“I’m starving.” And, suddenly, she was. She’d been too nervous to eat lunch today, and if anyone had asked, she would have been sure those same nerves would keep her from eating during the date itself. But as soon as he guided her to a table with a light touch at the small of her back, she inexplicably relaxed. Here, in his presence, it was harder to remember why this was such a bad idea. “How was your day?”
He pulled out her chair. “Tedious. The numbers are being difficult, which isn’t a challenge that I thought I was going to have to deal with when I took over the accounts.”
“Accounts.” She blinked. “You’re an accountant?” When she pictured accountants, she pictured tightly wound men in cheap suits who didn’t get enough sun. Cillian couldn’t be further from that image. “How…how did that even happen? You don’t seem the type.”
He grinned. “I’ll take that as a compliment.” He nodded as a harried waitress appeared with two glasses of water and disappeared just as quickly. “In my family, everyone has their place—their job. I’m the middle son of seven kids, so I had a bit more freedom than some of my siblings.”
“So you decided to be an…accountant.” Every time she said it, her disbelief deepened.
“If you prefer, you can call me the head of finances instead.” His grin widened. “I like numbers. I’m good at numbers. And there’s the added bonus that it puts me right in the middle of things without having to shoulder any of the responsibility that’s crushing my oldest brother.” Just like that, the grin faded. “Or at least, that was what I thought when I took on the job. Turns out, things are never that simple.”
“No, they wouldn’t be with your family.” She regretted the words almost as soon as they were out. What the hell was wrong with her that she had to keep poking at this particular issue? “I’m sorry. It’s none of my business.”
“It’s okay.” He motioned at her menu. “Why don’t you figure out what you want to eat and then we can skip straight to the hard stuff.”
“Sure.” It dawned on her that if he was willing to open up about his family and the “hard stuff,” then he was going to expect her to do the same. She wasn’t sure if she was ready for that. To distract herself, she looked over the menu. “You said they have amazing lobster rolls?”
“The best.” He hadn’t even picked up the laminated plastic menu.
She set hers aside. “That’s enough of a recommendation for me. I’ll get that.”
The waitress must have been keeping her eye on them, because she swooped in, took their drink and food order, and was gone inside of thirty seconds. Then there was nothing standing between Olivia and all the questions she had for Cillian. Nothing except knowing she’d have to respond in kind. She used her straw to stir the ice around in her water glass. “Now that we’re here, I’m not sure what to say.”