Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 62811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“My mother and I’m really not in the mood to talk to her. Maybe later after I’ve had something to eat, a hot shower, and I’ve relaxed.” She picked up her bag with all her things.
“Here. Give that to me.” He took the tote from her. “Ready?”
Before she could reply, her cell rang again. She glanced at the screen and groaned. Tapping on the screen, she put the phone to her ear. “Mom?”
“Hi, baby girl!”
Xander was standing so close he could hear her mother’s voice.
“I’m just leaving the set. Can I get back to you later?” Sasha asked.
“Guess where I am?” her mother asked. “At JFK Airport in New York! Surprise!”
Xander met Sasha’s stunned gaze. “Why?” she asked.
“Because I miss you. And I wanted to come see you on set. I’m just so proud of you.”
Sasha winced. “Umm, I’m happy you’re here but I’m really busy. I don’t have a lot of time for visiting.”
“Don’t worry. That’s what evenings are for. You can move Cassidy to her own room, and I can take the one connected to your suite.”
Sasha shook her head and sighed. “Mom, there’s a lot going on here that you don’t know about, and I’m not staying in a hotel.”
“Why not?” Her mother’s voice rose even louder.
“I’ll explain it all when I see you in person. In the meantime, I’ll take care of getting you a room and text you in a few minutes where you should go. Call me again when you get settled in.” Sasha quickly disconnected the call and looked up at him, her expression tight.
“Are you okay?”
“No,” she said, her exhaustion evident by the drop of her shoulders. “Give me a minute to text Cassidy and ask her to get my mom a room. Cassidy already left for the day but she won’t mind handling this.”
Sasha texted her assistant, then glanced up at him. “I love my mother, I really do. But having her here is the last thing I need. I know Cassidy can work her magic and get her on the same floor she’s on. At least the security guard can watch both rooms, but what about when she’s out in the city?”
Xander groaned. “She’s not a target. Cassidy is with you all the time and, with her long, blond hair, can be mistaken for you from behind. We’ll tell Jared what’s going on and he’ll tell you what he suggests.” He stepped closer and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her in close. “Everything will work out.”
She nodded. “I hope I can put off seeing Mother until tomorrow, after filming.”
“She’s not going to be happy when she finds out where you’re staying.” It was a fact, not a question, and he stated it as such.
“No. But I’m an adult so she doesn’t get a vote.” She bit her lush bottom lip with her teeth. “Umm … I know we were supposed to go to the Hamptons for the weekend but–”
“Don’t worry. We can stay in the city,” he assured her. No reason for her to add that to her concerns.
She glanced up, assessing him. “I know how much you look forward to your time away from here though.”
He slid a hand through her hair and smiled to reassure her. “I can more than handle being here with you. Don’t worry about me. Come on. Let’s get you home.”
And hopefully they could avoid dealing with her mother for one more day.
* * *
Saturday morning, Sasha woke up in Xander’s bed, rolled over, and reached for him only to find his side empty but still warm. He must have gotten up recently.
She sat up, pushing her tangled hair out of her eyes, and glanced around. His glasses were on his nightstand, so she assumed he wasn’t in his office working. Maybe he was in the kitchen.
Without warning, Bella came running from the other room, taking a leap onto the bed and curling up by her side.
“Hey, pretty girl,” Sasha said, rubbing her fur. “You know your daddy likes you to sleep on your own bed, right?” Because a seventy-pound dog and two adults were a bit much for one bed.
Bella rarely agreed and Sasha liked having her there, too, so Xander had caved. With Bella’s head in her lap, Sasha picked up her cell for a quick check before she went looking for Xander. He’d sent a text.
At the gym. Appointment with trainer. Will be there awhile. Enjoy time with your mother.
No doubt he’d escaped to the upstairs gym in the building to avoid Annika’s judgmental glare. Sasha didn’t blame him.
She’d convinced her mother to enjoy the city and go shopping yesterday, promising her they’d get together on Saturday. Although she’d bought herself time, she needed to shower and get ready to deal with her mom soon.
An hour later, Annika arrived. The doorman called upstairs for permission to let her come up, and Sasha opened the door to let Jared know her mother was arriving, then she waited to greet her.