Total pages in book: 156
Estimated words: 158829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 794(@200wpm)___ 635(@250wpm)___ 529(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 158829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 794(@200wpm)___ 635(@250wpm)___ 529(@300wpm)
“We will.” He’s cool and confident again. “Enough about my family and my problems, though. Now we have to talk about yours. What’s troubling you and your father?”
My lips pull into a line.
“Come on, Miss Renee. Humor me, damn you,” he whispers, leaning so close to my ear his breath feels like a campfire. “You’re not secretly married, are you?”
“What? No!” My mouth falls in horror. “And even if I was, does it matter?”
His jaw clenches. “You know it does.”
“Why?”
“Technically, your involvement with any man isn’t my business.”
“Technically, you hate it every time I use that phrase—”
He ignores me. “I’d just wonder why you had to hide the loser.” He’s quiet for a minute before he brushes his lips against my neck and says, “And I’d also wonder why the hell you let me touch you, and how much better I am at it than him.”
Oh. My. Gawd.
My cheeks go up in flames.
If he wants more than this conflicted office relationship, he should just say so. Two can play at this game. I tilt my head so my lips are against his ear.
“Y-you don’t need to worry about that. I’ve only ever had to hide kissing one loser.”
“Who?” His eyes glow with a jealous glint.
I stare at him smugly until he figures it out.
“Oh. Right. If you had to hide it, I hope you at least enjoyed it.”
“Eh. I mostly just kept wondering when it would end.”
“Liar brat.” He scratches his stubble, hiding what looks like a wince.
“Keep telling yourself that.”
“Tell me what I did to deserve you being sent to torment me.”
I smile at him and look away.
A sigh rolls out of him. “If you’re not hiding a man, then what the hell is this problem you’ve sewed your lips shut over? Tell me.”
“You’re growling again.” I lean my head against the back of the seat and look straight ahead.
“Miss Renee—”
“Try Piper before you get so personal,” I throw back.
“And you could stop playing games with me, Pied Piper.”
I steel myself, ignoring the hot chill slashing up my spine.
“And you could just respect the simple fact I keep telling you—it’s none of your business, boss.”
12
Prince Of Hotel Darkness (Brock)
Once I’ve had time to settle in without breaking something over the shit she put me through on that plane, I text Piper.
Come to my room and bring your friend.
Piper: How about I just send her?
Brock: What? More trouble you won’t tell me about?
That wins me a red-faced angry emoji.
Brock: Will you ever trust me, Miss Renee?
I watch the dots swirling several times as she types out a reply and stops. Then silence.
Enough of this crap.
Brock: Ten minutes.
I’m almost looking forward to more snark, but it doesn’t come. Too bad.
Less than ten minutes later, there’s a light knock at my door.
Piper walks in first with Jennifer Landers right behind her.
“We’re here, your highness. What’s your command?” Piper sits on the edge of my bed, crossing her legs. The last of the blue has faded from her hair, or maybe she’s brushed new gold highlights into it. Her green dress matches her eyes, alive with what looks like hummingbirds all over it.
Damn.
Did she have to give my cock a new appreciation for feathers?
I’ve had fever dreams about having this woman in my bed, preferably naked and alone with her legs open and her hot little pussy waiting.
I could send her to the goddamned birds.
I could make her soar.
Turning, I subtly tug on my belt, hiding the hard-on behind my pants.
Her friend grabs the chair across the room and sits quietly.
“It’s nice feeling needed. I’m glad you brought both of us along this time, boss,” Landers says. “Lay it on us.”
I lift a brow.
“Can you both keep a secret?”
They stare at me, look at each other, and then slowly nod.
I hope like hell I can trust their mouths.
“You two are my secret weapon,” I say. “Everyone else on this trip has stayed at this hotel before. If I used them to gather information, they could be spotted by any bad actors working from the inside.”
“Okay?” Piper brushes her hand through her gold hair.
“You two haven’t ever stepped foot in this place.” At least not that I know of. I look at Piper. “Have you? No Chicago misadventures I’m not aware of?”
She shakes her head. “No. The only Winthrope property I’ve ever been to is Lanai.”
“Excellent.” I glance over at Miss Landers for good measure. “This your first time too?”
She nods.
“Alright. I need you two posing as ordinary guests. I’ve paid for your rooms with a card that’s not in my name or the company’s. I don’t want anyone knowing you’re affiliated with me or Winthrope. We’re going to find out what our guests are truly experiencing here, without any unseen saboteurs noticing.”
The women share a suspicious look before they turn to me again.
“I mean, having secret meetings in your hotel room will definitely keep anyone from noticing we’re together,” Piper says.