Total pages in book: 17
Estimated words: 15252 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 76(@200wpm)___ 61(@250wpm)___ 51(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 15252 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 76(@200wpm)___ 61(@250wpm)___ 51(@300wpm)
The drive to the restaurant is short but filled with conversation. As we get seated at our table, Harvey admits with a shy sort of smile, “I looked you up. Couldn’t help it after finding out about your job. It’s damn impressive, the following you’ve built.”
I smile, pleasantly surprised by his reaction. A lot of people completely dismiss my job or assume no real work goes into it, but Harvey’s right. I’ve worked hard to build my career, and it is impressive. “Thanks,” I say, “It took a lot of trial and error, but then my fashion content just sort of took off, and I’ve never looked back.”
“Well, you’ve clearly got a talent for it,” he praises, and I can’t help but find myself preening a little.
“I might be good at that, but you should see me try to put together IKEA furniture,” I joke, grinning.
Harvey’s eyes shine with unspoken implications as he says, “Good thing you’ve got me for that now.”
My heart pounds in my chest at the way he says it, like we are truly meant to be together, like he feels the same way I do.
The waiter comes to take our order, and not long after, the food arrives. We chat about work and family and all the get-to-know-you things we skipped before he had me screaming his name for the first time. I discover that his favorite color is yellow, he has two younger brothers, and he’s an adrenaline junkie who has jumped out of a plane. That’s my worst nightmare, but he’s grinning so widely when he tells me about the experience that I almost want to try it for myself—almost.
The food is amazing, but the company is even better, and even though I’ve only had one glass of wine, I feel light and bubbly, like I’ve drunk a whole bottle—affected so much by the man across from me. I want him so badly that, for perhaps the first time in my entire life, I consider skipping dessert just so we can get out of here sooner. But then Harvey suggests splitting the fudge brownie I’m eyeing up on the menu, and that sounds too perfect to pass up.
Harvey doesn’t even give me a chance to offer to split the cost, and I’m beginning to see the gentlemanly side of him underneath the rugged, flirty exterior. Learning all these new aspects about him just makes me want to get to know him even better, to discover every little quirk he has, every scar on his body, and inside jokes.
He takes my hand as we exit the restaurant, holding onto me tightly in a way that makes me think maybe he doesn’t want the night to end just as much as I don’t. He helps me into his car again, but for a long moment, we don’t drive away.
“I’m not ready for this night to end,” I say, throwing caution to the wind. Then again, given what happened between us yesterday, I feel pretty safe saying what’s on my mind with Harvey. I want to make him fall apart like he did for me, and I cannot stop thinking about it.
“Me neither,” Harvey says. “Though, if I’m being honest, I don’t think I’ll ever be ready for what’s between us to end, even for the night.”
I feel myself blush yet again, a response I can’t ever seem to control around Harvey. “If I’m being honest,” I say, echoing him, “I feel the same way.”
Harvey grins. “Thank fuck for that because I have no plans of letting you go now. You’re mine, gorgeous,” he says, the possessive tone of his voice making me shiver. “So, my place?”
I nod immediately, not even caring how eager it makes me look. The car rumbles to life, and Harvey pulls away, leaning over a little to take my hand in his as he drives. Our fingers twine together as one of my favorite songs comes on the radio, and I catch Harvey singing along to the words. Laughing, I join in, loving that this man has no qualms about singing the lyrics to a pop song about falling for a bad boy. Between his humor, his good looks, and the way he’s already shown he wants to take care of me, Harvey is a dream.
One I don’t have any desire to wake up from.
Thankfully, it isn’t a long drive to Harvey’s place. His apartment is in a new, well-kept block, and we pass a few of his neighbors on the way up to his place, though I can’t remember any of their faces because I’m too full of anticipation.
Harvey’s apartment is exactly like I pictured it would be. Utilitarian gray and black furnishings but with a few photos on the wall that make it clear he’s tried to make it homey.
“It’s nowhere near as pretty as yours, but I’m at work most of the time and haven’t had the time to do anything else to it,” Harvey says a little sheepishly. It’s cute, honestly.