Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 59395 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 238(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59395 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 238(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Dash and I share a mother we lost five years ago, but not a father, sadly, because my father is amazing. His was not. He died recently. It was brutal for Dash. Again, there was Allie, lifting him up, holding him up, really.
“Tell me you missed me because you wanted to talk about your wedding. Tell me you set a date,” I demand.
It’s the wrong question to ask, and I find that out quickly when she says, “We want to have this Hollywood deal knocked out. We thought it was done months ago.”
I recover quickly, focusing on Allie’s job at Hawk Legal, the management of our annual charity benefit. “Speaking of Hollywood,” I say, “I managed to get the studio to donate for this year’s auction.”
She perks up. “Really? Tell me all about it.”
I detail the entire conversation with the studio head and all that was promised and she’s beaming with excitement. “God, I love you, woman.”
It’s then that Patty walks away and Dash joins us, fixing me in a blue-eyed stare that says all without saying anything. He knows I’m avoiding him. “What’s up, little sis?”
That’s all he has to say. I’m ready to spill all when suddenly I’m saved, or not, depending on how you look at it.
Tyler joins what has come to be our little circle, standing between Dash and Allie and across from me. Now I have the two men I most want to avoid and yet can’t seem to live without, up close and personal.
Chapter Fourteen
Bella
I meet Tyler’s stare, not about to cower from my long-time boss, and one-time sexual exploit any more than I was willing to run when he told me to. “I thought you went home?” he challenges, right here in front of Dash and Allie. What the heck is he doing? Dash will lose his shit if he thinks there’s something between me and Tyler.
“Why would she go home?” Dash asks. “What did I miss?”
I decide to walk into this as honestly as I can. “One of my clients hit on me. Tyler stepped in. It got ugly. He assumed I couldn’t handle the situation, and things got heated.”
Dash’s brow lifts in surprise and he glances at Tyler. “I hope you kicked his ass.”
“Right out of the door,” Tyler assures him, “but as Bella stated so elegantly. It got ugly. I do believe she called me a bastard.”
Allie catches my arm and gives me a disbelieving look. “He is a bastard,” I state. “You know. I know it.” I eye my brother. “You know it, too.”
“Speaking of bastards,” Tyler replies. “Jesse Bates is playing a show on Friday night. He’s a dick but he’s talented.”
Allie lights up. “Oh my God. Yes, please.” She eyes Dash. “You did this.”
Dash wraps his arms around her. “Of course, I did it.”
“Good thing the concert’s Saturday,” Tyler replies. “He wants me to play golf with him Saturday. I don’t like the game. I don’t like the man.” He lifts his chin at Dash. “You want in?”
Dash laughs and downs the glass of whiskey in his hand. “I wouldn’t miss that shit show for the world. When one of you kills the other, I have the plot for my next book.”
I glance up to find Malcolm entering the room, looking big, broad, and country in jeans and boots, his dark hair slicked back and my eyes go wide. Considering Josh said Malcolm was out of town, my heart thunders in my chest and my eyes jerk to Tyler. He’s talking to Dash, not even looking at me, and I whisper, “Tyler,” with an insistent urgency.
His gaze jerks to mine and I say, “Malcolm just walked in and I beg you to please let me handle him. He’s my client—”
“Who is supposedly out of town,” he supplies. “At least that’s what Josh told my secretary when he RSVP’d for the event.”
“That’s what he told me as well. Obviously, that was a lie. Please let me handle this.”
He studies me a moment and then says, “Not this time, Bella.” And then he backs out of the group and starts walking.
My fingers curl into my palms and I grumble frustrated words. I don’t even look at Dash or Allie. I rotate out of the circle and catch up with Tyler right as he joins Malcolm, who is focused on me. “Josh told me what happened.”
“Which was what?” Tyler demands.
“Tyler,” I warn tightly.
Malcolm holds up a hand. “It’s fine, Bella. He should be protective. Frankly, I respect the hell out of him for looking out for you.” He gives Tyler a nod and refocuses on me. “Josh lost his brother a couple of months back. He’s been acting a fool ever since, drinking way too much, and he’s going into rehab. When he gets out, if you feel you can, he needs a second chance.”