Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 83368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
“Mila, it’s Hersch,” he said, obviously not understanding that she had put him in business mode.
“You sound out of breath. Is everything okay?”
“I was setting up my home gym.”
Mila licked her bottom lip, wishing he hadn’t told her that. Now all she could do was picture him in tight workout gear improving that already perfect physique. She closed her eyes and opened them again. Pull it together, girl. “Isn’t moving enough of a workout?”
He chuckled. “I seem to have more energy in Carmel than I do anywhere else.”
He let the statement linger, and she wondered if she might be the reason for that. Over the past week, she’d surfed for longer and lifted heavier weights, trying to burn off some of her sexual buzz. Although she had her reasons, she’d continued to regret running away from him on the beach. Surely she could allow herself just one night of hot sex?
Even now, she was still fantasizing about him all sweaty and hot when she realized she hadn’t replied. “I know you might not want to hear it, but honestly, it’s that Carmel ocean air that gives people a new lease on life.”
He said softly, “That and other things.”
Were those other things thinking about a night of furiously hot sex? “What can I do for you?”
“I’m inviting you to my housewarming party.”
She couldn’t have been more surprised and laughed out loud. “You’re having a housewarming party? You’ve barely moved in.”
“I know. It’s tomorrow night.”
“Great.” She imagined a cocktail party with little squares of cheese and glasses of uninteresting wine. She’d been to enough of them in Carmel. And then she remembered he was completely new in town. “Who else is coming?”
His voice went low and a little bit sexy. “The guest list is very small.”
Her blood began to pound at the blatant invitation beneath the words. “How small?”
“You. And me, obviously, as the host.”
She’d planned to catch up on paperwork tomorrow night, but he didn’t need to know that. A housewarming party for two? Oh, she could find time for that. “I happen to be available tomorrow night. And I would love to come to your housewarming party.”
“Great!” He sounded as excited as she felt at the prospect of the two of them alone together in his new house.
“Come around seven. I’ll see you then.”
* * *
Mila was surprised at the buzz of excitement she felt as she thought about the housewarming party with Herschel. If she had her way, that house would be very warm by the time she was finished with him. She got through her work with her usual dynamic enthusiasm, but if she was honest with herself, there was always a low-level hum inside her as the hours passed until she would see him again.
By the following evening, Mila’s excitement was off the charts. As she prepared for her date, she opened her bathroom cabinet. Erin had teased her that going into her bathroom was like walking into a high-end spa. As someone who had spent the better part of her life in sunshine and salt water, she’d learned early on the importance of good skin care. Between the various sunscreen products and moisturizing lotions and botanical scrubs, she could easily run her own spa. But her skin-care routine had paid off. She liked to think that if they happened to touch her naked body, no one would know how much of her time she spent in sun and salt water.
She showered and primped and then chose a body cream that was a little floral and a little spicy. As she rubbed the cream into her skin, she could feel how sensitive she was, with a heat coming off her that surprised even her. She’d always had a strong sexual appetite, but somehow, with Herschel, she felt connected on a deeper level. It was exciting but also mildly terrifying, if she was honest with herself—and she always tried to be honest with herself.
Was it possible that after being a commitment-phobe from the moment Travis had dumped her, she was finally changing? Could she really be thinking of Herschel Greenfield as a forever guy? The thought was both unsettling and kind of exciting. He might not be the most spontaneous guy she’d ever met, but she also knew with a deep, deep certainty that Herschel Greenfield would not drop a woman because she’d sustained a career-ending injury. If she believed anything about Herschel, it was that he would stick by a person when they needed him. She understood now as she never had when she was younger how important that was.
Maybe the Davenport kids had all been spoiled by watching their parents’ relationship, and maybe after Travis, she’d never thought she could find a relationship like theirs, so she hadn’t even bothered to try. But now, with Hersch, maybe it was possible.