Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 58090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
“Wow…think I should give them a keycard?”
I jumped a foot off the ground as Paige walked up to the bar. She set a hand on my shoulder to steady me, but her eyes remained locked on the two women on the dance floor, grinding up against each other.
“Probably not a bad idea. Those guys over there will probably start a riot if you take away their show,” I added, jerking my chin in the direction of eight men off the dance floor, their attention still fixed on those girls.
“All right, but if they all start jerking off right there on the floor, we’re gonna have some problems. I’m not a damn come-mopper-upper.”
I choked back a loud laugh and returned to wiping the bar with polish to make the sleek surface shine under the soft lights above it.
“Right?” Paige laughed and moved behind me to get herself a drink. She turned around and expertly poured herself a Twisted—her signature drink. Was there anything this woman couldn’t do? “Aha! The man candy has returned,” she purred, her glass paused at her lips.
She absently tucked a golden curl behind her ear, licking her lips at whoever she’d locked onto. I followed her enticed eyes, scanning the club.
“All right, if he’s got you this hot and bothered, I gotta see.”
Paige grinned and bobbed her head. “Right there…”
“Oh, I met him,” I said, quickly looking away from the tall, broad-shouldered man who’d caught Paige’s eye. I’d noticed him when he first came to the club. Before he stepped into the light of the bar area, I thought it was Bennett.
My breath caught in my chest, and in those few minutes before I realized it wasn’t him, a fantasy played out in my mind. He found me and was coming to take me away from here. A place where I could be Tori again, and he’d protect me and keep me safe from the bad guys who were looking to silence me forever.
I’d imagined in those few seconds what would happen when he met my eyes. Would he break down and cry, tell me he was sorry? Would he be relieved to have finally found me? Would he jump over the bar, gather me into his arms, and kiss away all the tears that’d be streaming down my face? Where would we go? I didn’t care. Anywhere was better than here. Especially if I was with him and we never had to say goodbye again.
But then the man had crossed into the light, and I realized I was just getting carried away over nothing. The man wasn’t Bennett. His eyes were the wrong color. His hair was longer and darker. Bennett never had a beard, and this man did. The clothes were wrong too. Bennett was a casual guy. I’d never seen him in a suit before. This man was wearing an expensive suit, had a pricey vintage watch on his wrist, and carried himself with the arrogance of a wealthy man.
The dreams in my mind shattered, and I’d been forced to hurry and stuff the disappointment down, smile, and pour him a drink. I was relieved when Sydney returned, and I could rush away before tears slipped down my cheeks.
“You met him?” Paige repeated, giving me a side-eye.
“Well, he came to the bar the other night. Last night? The night before?” I shrugged and went back to wiping, pretending it wasn’t eating me up inside.
“Hmm. Not your type?”
“Not especially.”
Paige smiled warmly at me. “All right, girl. I think you’re crazy, but I got it.” She polished off her drink. “All right, I need to get home and get to sleep. The girls are all in town tomorrow, and we’re gonna shop till we drop!”
I laughed. “That sounds fun.”
Paige beamed. She talked about her friends a lot, and I knew she missed them. Their busy lives kept them apart more often than not. But, truthfully, I hated when she talked about them because it made me even more aware of the fact that I didn’t have any friends. Not anymore, anyway.
“Well, have fun!”
“Thanks, Avery. Reed will be here till closing. If you need anything, you let him know, okay?”
“Will do.”
She waved at me and started off toward the office, and I knew she’d slip out the side door and go directly to the private parking lot.
When she was gone, I circled the club with a watchful eye. The man Paige had pointed out was gone. The girls on the dance floor had finally taken their show to a private room—or out of the club—and the men who’d been glued to the spectacle had moved on as well.
I tried to keep myself busy, but I couldn’t help but keep looking around for the mysterious man who looked so much like Bennett Marshon. Had to be a doppelganger. That was it.