Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 91840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
I walk out of Gabe’s bedroom and straight into Sadie.
“Oh, hey, I was looking for you,” she says.
And those are the most words she’s said to me since I first met her.
“You were?”
“Yeah. My boss has implemented this new form we have to get signed by each job that we do. It’s just to prove that we’ve been here and done the work.”
“Oh, right. Do you need me to get Gabe to sign it? ’Cause he’s in the shower at the minute.”
“No. It’ll be fine if you do it, as you live here.” She smiles and holds out a pen and a sheet of paper to me.
It’s the first time she’s ever smiled at me as well.
I take the pen and paper from her.
My eyes drift over it. The cleaning company logo is at the top.
“Just print and sign your name and date it at the bottom.” She points to the dotted line.
I scribble my name down. And then I sign and date it. I hand the pen and paper back to her.
She folds up the paper and puts it along with the pen in the pocket of her dustcoat.
“Thanks,” she says. Then, she turns and walks off.
I head into my bedroom to get showered and ready for my breakfast date with Gabe.
I’m ready for breakfast. My hair is down and straight. Makeup light. And I’m wearing my Zara paisley-print maxi dress and jeweled white flip-flops.
I look good for our first official date.
And he loves me.
I just need to keep reminding myself of that because it’s so amazing.
I grab my bag and head for my bedroom door.
“Come on, Gucci.”
She jumps down from her spot on the bed. She kept me company while I got ready. I hate to leave her behind, but I can’t take her to a restaurant with us. I’ll leave her in the kitchen with her favorite food—sliced apples and pears.
Gabe is sitting in the living room when I appear. He puts out the cigarette he was smoking and lets out a low whistle that makes me smile from ear to ear.
“You look gorgeous.”
“Right back at ya, handsome.”
He’s wearing a pair of navy-blue cargo shorts and a light-blue button-up shirt.
“You ready?”
“I just need to feed Gucci, and I’m good to go.”
“She’s coming with us,” he says.
“Oh. I didn’t think I’d be able to take her to a food place.”
“We can take her where we’re going.”
“Okay. I’ll just grab her harness and lead.”
I grab her stuff from the kitchen, go back to the living room, and put them on her.
“Ready?” he asks.
“Yep. I’ll just grab your car keys.”
“No need. I’ve got a car waiting downstairs.”
“Oh. Well, okay. Lead the way then.”
He takes hold of my free hand, and he leads me and Gucci into the elevator.
A town car is waiting for us outside his building. The driver is standing by the car. He opens the door for us.
I get in first with Gucci, and then Gabe slides in next to me.
I fasten the seat belt through her harness and put my seat belt on. She climbs into my lap, and I stroke her head.
“So, where are we going?” I ask Gabe.
“Not far.” He smiles.
Twenty minutes later, in Beverly Glen, we pull up outside his field—or his piece of land, as I should probably call it.
“What are we doing here?” I ask him.
“Having breakfast.”
The driver opens the door, and Gabe takes his seat belt off and climbs out. I take my seat belt off and unclip Gucci. With her in my arms, I take the hand that Gabe offers to me.
“I’ll call you when I need you,” Gabe tells the driver.
Keeping hold of my hand, Gabe walks us across the field. We veer off a little to the left where there’s a big old oak tree. And underneath the oak tree, laid out, is a huge dark blue picnic blanket with a light-blue wooden block in the middle, like a makeshift table. On the table are plates and cutlery. Flowers in a small vase. Candles. Champagne glasses and a bottle of champagne in a wine bucket. And beside it is one of those old-fashioned wicker picnic baskets.
I turn to him, smiling from ear to ear. “You did this?”
“I paid for someone to do this, but, yeah. You like?”
“I love.” I reach up on my toes and kiss him. “It’s so romantic. I didn’t know you had it in you.”
“Neither did I.”
We sit on the blanket. Gucci sits next to me. Poor Gabe doesn’t look the most comfortable with his booted leg stretched out.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
“I’m fine. Just can’t wait to get this fucking thing off.”
“Not long now.”
“No. And then I can fuck my girl with all four working limbs.”
A thrill shoots through me at the thought.
“I’ve been more than satisfied with what you can do with three working limbs, so I can’t wait to see what you can do with four.”