Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 87940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
The room is mostly cleared out. Kirill’s family is visiting and they’re all eating at one of the tables on the other side of the room. Waitstaff hustle around, cleaning up empty plates and glasses. They’re starting to close down the food stations.
I quickly walk through, grabbing grilled pork chops, mixed vegetables and my weakness… fresh rolls with whipped butter. I settle down at the nearest table and scroll through my phone while I eat.
I tear off a piece of crusty bread and don’t even bother to use the knife. I drag it through the soft butter on my plate and pop it into my mouth just as a shadow falls across my table.
I lift my head, eyes widening to see Bain standing over me. He’s freshly showered and wearing a dark navy suit.
Jesus… he’s tall. He towered over me the night of the Christmas party and I had on some major kick-ass heels to add to my height.
My mouth is stuffed full of butter and bread, but I manage to mumble a quick hey before frantically chewing.
He smirks and pulls out a chair. I swallow my food as he plops down next to me. Before I can bring my napkin to my mouth, Bain’s finger touches the corner of my lips. I don’t need a mirror to know there’s butter there.
I almost pass out when he glides the pad over my lower lip and then pushes it into my mouth. I react on instinct, sucking gently on the tip of his finger, and my breath stutters when I see his eyes darken with desire.
He pulls away. “Are you going to slap me if I tell you the image of my finger in your mouth inspires a million dirty fantasies?”
I look around wildly. “Where are your parents?”
Bain throws a thumb over his shoulder. “Out in the hallway. I told them I wanted to say hello to you. My mom mentioned on no fewer than three occasions in twenty seconds how pretty you were and that I should ask you out.”
I’m barely able to follow his train of thought. I’m still lost in how turned on I was when he put his finger in my mouth. We’ve barely spoken a total of five minutes and I’m ready to crawl onto his lap and do dirty things.
“So, what do you think?” he asks.
“What?” My mind is muddled, my tongue thick.
He smirks, knowing he’s discombobulated me. “A date.”
I need to get some semblance of control. I take my napkin, dab at my lips to give myself a second to think. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Bain’s eyes flash with mischief. “Because your brother would kill me? I was already warned off by Coen at the Christmas party when he saw me staring after you.”
Something warm unfurls in my chest. The fact that Coen could parcel out that Bain was attracted to me just by the way he stared tells me that his look was hot and covetous.
“My brother has nothing to do with it,” I manage to say.
“Then why not go out with me? I can guarantee a good time.”
“I bet you could,” I murmur. “But the truth is… you couldn’t handle someone like me.”
“Oh, baby… I could handle you with one hand tied behind my back. Actually, both my hands tied behind my back. I’d only need my mouth.”
I suppress a groan at the fantasies he’s just inspired. “I don’t date.”
“Funny,” he muses, rising from his chair. “Neither do I. But I’d make an exception for you.”
I want to say yes, but I sense that this man is trouble with a capital T. He’s the type of man I could get addicted to and I’m just not willing to let myself fall like that.
At least I think I’m not.
He could be worth a taste.
“Are you going to the New Year’s Eve party at Stevie’s bar?” I ask.
Bain grins, his dimples popping. “I was considering it, but it’s a definite if you’re going.”
“I’m considering it.”
“Okay, then,” he says, taking a few steps backward, once again thumbing at the door. “Got my parents waiting and have to go. Maybe I’ll see you New Year’s Eve.”
“Maybe.”
He stops, gives me a wicked smile. “You know there’s a tradition when the clock strikes twelve, right?”
“I’ve heard mention of it.”
Bain doesn’t respond, just points at me. “I’ll tell you more about it on New Year’s Eve.”
“If I go.”
“Yeah… you know… if I go too. Still not sure.”
“It’s definitely a maybe,” I say, suppressing a laugh.
He winks at me, his grin absolutely charming, and pivots away, walking out of the lounge.
I stare after him, maybe the same way he did after me at the party. One thing I know for sure—both of us are showing up at that party.
CHAPTER 3
Bain
I had told Kiera that I might come to the New Year’s Eve party at Stevie’s bar, but there was no maybe about it. I was already committed, having been part of a plot to get Hendrix to pull his head out of his ass, which, fortunately, he did.