Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 59004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
I blink several times, exiting the text thread, imagining my face the same shade as Beth’s bright red Nissan Altima. Oof.
“Liz?” She waves her hand in front of me as she repeats herself. “What’s wrong?”
“Um, nothing is wrong. Just someone wanting to hang out tonight.”
“Ooh,” she chirps. “Like Netflix and chill kind of hang out? Or like just Netflix?”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Well, I think it’s the latter, but I don’t know.”
She narrows her eyes at me, leaning back against the peanut butter leather seat. “What do you want it to be?”
I don’t answer her because she already knows. I already know. I’ve never felt like I did with Troy in our thirty-second exchange.
Beth presses. “So, are you gonna go?”
“Um… maybe.”
What I really mean is yes. Hell yes. I can dance with the devil for just one night, right?
CHAPTER 2
Troy
I can’t believe she actually agreed.
I reread the acceptance of my invitation one more time before turning to the full-length mirror in front of me. In truth, it’s a risky move to bring her to my place. This is my domain, and I know that if she steps through the door looking as delicious as she did at the store, I might not be able to control myself.
To keep things casual, I stick to my usual, removing my tie and suit jacket. I roll up the sleeves of my white dress shirt and roll my shoulders. I’m just catching up with my best friend’s daughter. After all, if something ever happened to Henry, I would be responsible for ensuring she was taken care of.
I hear my phone buzzing against my nightstand, and I swiftly pick it up, letting out a heavy sigh as I answer. “This is Troy.”
“Hey, boss,” Nick mutters the greeting with a tension that I recognize.
“The meeting didn’t go well, did it?” I rub my forehead.
“Uh, well…” his voice trails off. “Mr. Vitali wasn’t happy with the amount. He thinks it should be about ten times more.”
“And you took care of that?”
“Well…”
“Nick,” I warn, my jaw clenching. “I don’t want to clean up your mess again. Did you negotiate a deal with him or not?”
There’s a pause on the other end of the line.
Shit.
I glance down at my watch. I have thirty minutes before Liz is supposed to show up, and that is not enough time to put out the fire that Nick, my assistant, has started with one of the city’s wealthiest men.
“I’ll call his office first thing in the morning and make it right with him.”
“The hell you will. You’ll call Henry right now and have him assist you in setting up a meeting with him.”
A few more beats of silence are followed by a heavy sigh. “All right, fine. I’ll call Henry.”
“Good,” I mutter. “Let me know how it goes.” I hang up before he can say anything more, halfway relieved Nick will occupy Liz’s father’s attention for most of the evening. Henry has a far reach in the community, as do I, but Mr. Vitali is a little more apt to hear Henry out over me, probably because we come from rival families.
Rolling my shoulders one last time, I slide my phone into my pocket and head out of the bedroom. I shut the heavy oak door, not that I plan on bringing Liz up here. I’ll have to keep the house tour downstairs, if only to make sure I don’t do anything stupid, like let my lust take over. My footsteps are nearly silent as I make my way downstairs. I let the house staff go early, mainly because the last thing I need is for one of them to spot Liz. Her father and I have way too many connections.
I burn the next twenty minutes, picking out the right bottle of wine and checking my phone. Part of me expects Liz to cancel. We’ve never really had a reason to get together alone before, but at ten till seven, I hear a car in the driveway. Sure enough, my security camera lights up at the sight of Liz’s Audi. My heart stutters as I make my way to the front door.
“Good evening,” I say, greeting her with a smile. I take in the figure before me, her tight black dress hugging her every curve the way I’d like to. Damn, I’m already fighting myself not to pull her in and hike that dress up around her full hips.
“Hi,” she chokes out, clearing her throat. “I hope I’m not overdressed.”
I shake my head. “Not at all. You look lovely.” I’m trying to keep it casual as she steps inside. I shut the door behind her and catch a whiff of a warm amber perfume. My cock comes to life at the scent and the sight of her mostly bare back.
Fuck. I’m torturing myself.