Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 90448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
“Well, don’t be. Due to the attack we all have bodyguards. You’ve had two guards since the week after Chase spotted you at Equinox’s Garden Party. I hired them.” She pointed to a large white guy in a red shirt across the street. He resembled a massive bodybuilder among all of the people walking by.
“I’ve never seen that guy.”
“They’re easier to spot in foreign countries.” She scanned the area. “I don’t see your other one, but he’s a big black guy. Really hot. Chase was actually worried about assigning him to you, so the guard is ordered to keep a good amount of distance away from you. But, most importantly, these deaths were all two years ago. Are you sure you’re okay?”
I inhaled and exhaled. “Yes. Let’s stop talking about this for a while and eat.”
“Sounds good to me.” She gave me a quick hug and walked off to where the green stew was.
What am I getting myself involved with?
Chapter 14
The Rules
Instead of the glamorous dress Chase picked out for me, I wore a gold pantsuit I’d brought with me. The pants’ satin material clung to my hips and thighs. The top was similar to a corset, except instead of wrapping around my back it had straps that tied around my neck. I still looked sexy but on my own terms, not Chase’s idea of beauty.
And he needed to know that any further relationship with me would involve him respecting my desires and need for independence.
Four index cards rested in my hands. On them were well thought-out rules and limits that I would need respected before I even considered his arrangement.
And I can’t believe I’m even considering it.
A cool breeze blew through the curls that hung down from my updo. Chase has assigned a hairstylist for Lucy and me as well as a makeup artist.
He’d left letters in both of our rooms, requesting that we wait in front of his door so he could escort us to the party. In another symbol of asserting my independence, I went to the party without him, greeted the birthday boy, and now stood by the lavishly catered hor d’oeuvres table, sampling succulent treats.
He wants me outside his door panting happily like a little puppy waiting for her master to give her a walk. He can come to me when he wants to talk.
My thoughts remained confident, but my fingers shook. Uneasiness fluttered in my stomach.
Am I really going to try this? Is my logic even designed for this?
I’d assumed a woman who agreed to sharing her man was either a doormat, diva, or so confident in her awesomeness she never experienced insecurity or trust issues. And then it was just the ickiness of realizing your man kissed and had sex with other women, females I would see each day in some freaking skank dormitory.
Stop thinking about this. I don’t even know what he’s going to say about my limits. Focus on the party.
The family hosted their son’s birthday party in a garden full of blooming flowers. Strings of tiny white lights dangled from trees and arched over the entire space like a glowing ceiling. The aroma of food mingled with exotic perfumes.
People dressed in glimmering fabric. They danced, chatted with others, and overall enjoyed the party around me.
Music soared in the air, presenting an upbeat sound I’d never heard before. Earlier, a group of dancers had performed a whole Bollywood scene on the stage in front of us.
Neither Chase nor Lucy had appeared yet. I’d forgotten to leave a note. Hopefully, they would leave without me.
I scanned the crowd and spotted Chase standing more than ten feet in front of me. He watched me with hungry eyes.
Oh.
I gulped in much needed air.
Our eyes met.
His face contained no expression, no clue of whether he was annoyed or intrigued by me disregarding his orders.
People walked right in front of him, destroying my view. Once they strolled by, he’d disappeared.
Of course. Now he knows where I am and I feel like some defenseless, hunted animal while he’s somewhere out there stalking me.
Sighing, I lifted my wine glass to my lips and feigned a bored look, but my eyes frantically searched everywhere—the crowded dance floor, the stage where the birthday boy’s guests partied, and even the exiting area of the garden.
Where is he?
Suddenly, Chase placed his hand on my lower back. “On nights when I’m alone in my bed with just my thoughts, I’ll be thinking of how you look tonight.”
I was glad I didn’t jump, but my hands began to shake.
He leaned his head close to me and brushed his lips against my ear. “You look divine. I’m glad you didn’t wear the dress I picked.”
“Thank you.” The little confidence I had within me evaporated like smoke and I couldn’t figure out why it left or how I was going to get it back.