Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 71911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
“Hello, Maegan,” I said, and she flashed me a smile that looked more like an invitation than a business smile.
“Good morning, Dean. Can I get you anything?” she asked.
I shook my head. “No. I was just about to leave. Is there an issue with the building?” I asked. Reminding her what her job was and why she was here.
She shook her head. “Everything is great. The new furniture is being moved back into Mrs. Jo’s apartment today, and the paint looks fantastic. When I spoke to her, she was very excited about seeing it all.”
I was glad Mrs. Jo was pleased, but if I was being honest, I was more concerned about her neighbor, and that was messed up. I had told myself Brielle was out of the question. Off the table. Too damn young.
“I can make you lunch if you’d like,” she said, taking a step in my direction. “I’m at your full disposal.”
I had no doubt she was. I needed to get the hell out of here. “I’m good. Thanks. I’m heading out. Lock up when you leave. Make sure Brielle McGinnis is also happy with her new furniture.” I couldn’t help myself. I had to know.
Maegan frowned. “She didn’t get new furniture.”
“What?” I asked, my voice sounding harsher than necessary.
“She said hers was fine. That it was dry. I told her to choose anything she wanted, within reason, but she wouldn’t.” Maegan sounded slightly panicked.
“How wet was her furniture?” I asked.
Maegan made a face. “It was pretty wet. Kinda soaked, but she put each piece out on the balcony the past two days and said they all dried up fine.”
“She fit a sofa on the balcony?” I asked, not believing this.
Why is Brielle being stubborn?
“Just the cushions.”
“Dammit,” I muttered and turned to head toward the building elevator.
“Where are you going?” Maegan asked.
“To go check my tenant’s furniture,” I replied.
“But I did that. It’s okay.”
I ignored Maegan and continued to the elevator.
Every second it took to get from my floor to Brielle’s, I grew more annoyed. The furniture had to smell sour. How could she live with that? I had replaced most of Mrs. Jo’s furniture. It wasn’t like I had done it to get in Mrs. Jo’s pants, and I wasn’t replacing Brielle’s to get in her pants either. Jesus, Brielle was so damn obstinate.
The elevator opened, and I took several long strides until I was at Brielle’s door. With a sharp knock, I waited, trying to calm down. I was angry, and I wasn’t sure why. Shit like this normally didn’t bother me. I typically didn’t even get involved and let my handlers deal with it.
I wanted to buy her the damn furniture. It was that fucking simple. Why wouldn’t she let me? Why was she like this?
The door opened, and Brielle stood there, wearing a sleeveless pink knit dress that didn’t even make it to mid-thigh. Her hair was pulled up in another of those messy buns, and she appeared to be slightly sweaty. Her chest seemed damp, and her … fuck me, she wasn’t wearing a bra.
“Dean?” She said my name as if it were a question, and I reluctantly moved my gaze from her gorgeous tits to her face.
Damn. Damn. Damn. Why did I want to fuck her so bad? Why her? Why not Maegan? Or, hell … I dunno … someone a few years older than my son. Why this girl, who was too young and not at all what I needed?
“You didn’t pick out new furniture,” I said, stalking past her and into the apartment.
“I didn’t need it,” she said behind me.
I walked over to the sofa that had seen better days. It had to be as old as she was. In fact, I was willing to bet it was older than she was.
“Yeah, you do,” I snapped, looking back at her. “You need it fucking bad. You needed it before the water damage. Jesus, Brielle, this sofa is ancient.”
She stiffened then, and I saw her defensive mode take over. “My furniture is fine. It’s comfortable, and we like it.”
We? Who the fuck is we? Cam? The dude she cheated on? How did the date with the construction worker go? Did she enjoy being unfaithful?
“It’s shit,” I replied. “So is the damn coffee table and that chair. Get the new furniture. You need it.”
I didn’t say they needed it because I refused to accept she let a man live here with her. That meant he fucked her and saw her naked. He got to bury his cock in those tits.
“I think you need to go,” she said angrily.
I stalked back toward the door, but I didn’t leave. I closed it. Then, I turned on her and kept on until her back was against the wall. She smelled like vanilla and lavender. I liked it. No, I fucking loved it. Inhaling deeply, I leaned my head down until my mouth touched her ear. I felt her tremble, and that one small move went straight to my damn cock.