Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 35205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
After soaping her body, she quickly washed her hair with shampoo, followed by conditioner, and that was the shower complete. She turned off the hot water, wrapped a towel around her body, prepared her panties for her cycle, and slid them on. Drying her body, she quickly changed into her ugliest pair of pajamas, which were so old they had holes around the neckband. For some reason, Abigail just couldn’t bring herself to toss them out. They were so comfortable.
Once they were on, and her hair was dried as well as it could be without a blow-dryer, she made her way outside to her fridge, only to discover she and Roman had eaten the last of her ice cream. Which sucked. To have more ice cream meant going to the freaking store, which was not what she wanted to do.
She made her way to her sofa and grabbed the remote. Life fucking sucked without ice cream. She started to click through the channels and it would seem life sucked on television as well.
Abigail had just turned the television off when there was a knock at her door. She frowned. There were no deliveries, and once again, she hadn’t let anyone inside.
Getting to her feet, although it was the last thing she wanted to do, she walked over to her door, checking through the peephole, and sure enough, the person on the other side surprised her. She opened the door.
“Roman?”
He smiled at her. “So, I have four types of ice cream. Three of them are your favorite, and I was radical and picked a flavor for me. Also, I got us a rom-com movie.” He held up a movie she had never seen before and didn’t have any clue what it was about. “It’s popular and all the women are loving it.”
“You brought ice cream and a movie?”
“Yes.”
Somehow, he was standing in her apartment, and the door was closed and locked.
“Why?”
“So I can spend some time with you.”
“But we can’t ... you know?” She didn’t feel confident to finish.
“I know that, and I’m not here for sex. I’m here to spend some time with you. I’ve also got something else.” He held up a finger, and then dived into his bag. “I got you a hot-water bottle. It’s supposed to help soothe and calm your stomach.” Then he held up his hands. “And I’ve got these, and they are known to give really great massages.”
She chuckled. “You’re a goofball, has anyone ever told you that?”
“I’ve been told from time to time that I have an absolutely loveable personality.” He winked at her. “It’s all part of my charm.”
“Are you charmed?”
“I am, yes.”
He reached out and cupped her chin. “I don’t like that it looks like you’ve been crying. Why have you been crying?” he asked.
“It’s going to seem really silly.”
“Try me?”
Abigail didn’t want to say anything, but there was no point in hiding it. “I ran out of ice cream, and it’s all I want to eat.” She pouted.
He chuckled. “Then that makes me your savior.” He pressed a kiss to her lips. “And I am glad to have done it. Now, how about I shower? You make some chocolate peanut butter fudge sauce I know you love, and we’ll eat ice cream and watch this movie.”
She wanted to tell him she loved him. He was being so sweet and kind. Her ex would have told her to fuck off and stop moaning, or looking like a slob.
“By the way, adorable,” Roman said, pointing at her clothes.
Roman was making it hard not to fall in love with him.
****
Several days later at lunch, Roman was doing a quick search online to see what other movies would be suitable for him and Abigail to watch. They hadn’t been able to have sex, but they certainly had enjoyed each other, just as he knew they would.
Roman had always considered himself a horror guy, but he quite enjoyed the rom-com. He also loved Abi curling up in his arms, and he had to carry her to bed. That night, he’d pulled her into his arms and breathed in everything about her. He marveled at how good she felt in his arms.
There were no meetings booked for the next couple of hours, so work was slow. It was rare for him to say that, and he never complained about it out loud, as that was usually the kiss of death.
The door to his office opened, and Abigail stepped inside. They did share their lunches from time to time.
“Miss Gardner,” he said.
“Mr. Brown.”
He sat back in his chair and smirked as she flicked the lock on the door, then proceeded to close every one of his blinds. He tended to keep his office open. For the past month or so, he’d respected her wishes.
Abigail turned toward him, and he watched as she removed the clip that bound her hair to the back of her neck. He loved her hair. Roman didn’t say a word as she closed the distance between them, and when she moved between the desk and his body, he still didn’t touch her.