Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
I tried to break the tension. “How are you?”
That hard stare softened slightly, and then a handsome grin moved on to his lips. “I can’t remember the last time someone asked me that.”
“You need to get some better friends.”
“You think we’re friends?” he asked, on the cusp of a chuckle.
“What else would we be?”
“Friends don’t want to fuck each other.”
“I don’t want to fuck you—”
“Whatever you say…”
“Is that why you’re here?” I asked. “To start shit?”
He brushed his fingers across his hard jaw as he continued to grin. “As much as I love to start shit…I’m here to see your father. Business as usual.”
I gave a nod and turned back to my computer. I worked on the spreadsheets, looking at all the numbers I processed for my father.
He continued to stare at me.
“Yes?”
“I’m surprised your father wants you to take over. It’s not easy, being a kingpin with a target on your back.”
I continued to ignore him.
“The job is more than sitting behind a computer and entering numbers in a sheet.”
I kept typing.
“You’re going to need a man to watch your back.”
“I don’t need a man for anything, Axel.”
“Between you and me, I think that’s the real reason he doesn’t like Ryan.”
I lifted my chin and looked at him.
“He’s not cut out for this.”
“I’m sorry, do you know him?”
“I know he’s not me.” His charming eyes twinkled.
“Clever.” I closed the laptop so there was no barrier between us because I was done with my work. “Bringing anyone to the dinner tomorrow?”
“Like a date?” he asked in disbelief.
“Yes.”
He shook his head. “I don’t do dates.”
I continued to stare at him across the table. His muscular arms stretched his shirt nicely. He had a big chest and filled out the fabric perfectly. A man only looked like that if they lifted tractor tires at the gym and ate a steak at least once a day. He was definitely the sexiest man I’d ever seen, but I knew he was trouble. It was written all over him.
“And why would I bring someone when I’d rather eye-fuck you?”
I did my best not to react, but it was hard when his intelligent eyes were glued to my face. “You don’t give up, do you?”
That smug grin moved across his lips. “I don’t stop until I get what I want.”
“And why am I the thing you want?”
“Is that a serious question?” His smile faded.
“I don’t understand your fascination with me.” The fascination should be turned around, with me obsessed with him, desperate for him. And a part of me was, but I refused to act on it. Men like Axel were all the same. They were only there long enough to sweep you off your feet…but then they dropped you on your ass.
“The way you talk to me.”
“I’m an asshole to you.”
The smug grin was back. “Exactly.”
“You’re into some weird shit.”
“I like a woman who speaks her mind. Never have to guess what she’s thinking because she doesn’t hesitate to tell me. The banter we have…it’s sexy.”
“I think it’s just a game to you.”
“If it is, it’s awfully fun.”
I shook my head slightly and looked away.
A long silence passed before he spoke again. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
It took me a moment to look at him again.
Now his eyes were serious, bright, beautiful, and hard.
“How many other girls have you said that to?”
“None.”
“Right…”
“I’ve told a woman she’s beautiful and I want to fuck her many, many times. But that’s the first time I’ve ever said that. When I thought you were your father’s woman, I almost called off the deal because that meant I wouldn’t be able to have you.”
“You still can’t have me.”
“Yet.”
“Whether I have a boyfriend or not, it’s not going to happen.”
A subtle grin moved over his lips.
“I can already tell how complicated it would become if we went down this road.”
“Why does it have to be complicated?”
“You seem like the complicated type.”
He smirked. “You’re the one playing games, sweetheart.”
“Games?” I asked incredulously. “I told you I have a boyfriend and I’m not interested.”
“No,” he said. “You are interested, and you’re using your lame boyfriend as an excuse. Don’t act like you don’t want this as much as I do.”
“My father has given me this opportunity, and the last thing I want to do is make him regret it. I’m not going to screw that up by getting involved with someone we do business with.”
“Who says he has to know?”
I looked away. “He’s the smartest man I’ve ever known. He’ll figure it out. He’ll question my judgment and kill you. We’ll both lose, so it’s not worth it.”
“Your father likes me.”
“He won’t if he realizes you’ve been screwing his daughter. That’s disrespectful…and my father is all about respect.”
A slight smile was on his lips, like this was all a joke to him.