Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 18683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 93(@200wpm)___ 75(@250wpm)___ 62(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 18683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 93(@200wpm)___ 75(@250wpm)___ 62(@300wpm)
“Damien, listen. I’ve got something I’ve got to run by you.” Damien knows me well enough to read the tone in my voice and instantly perks up.
“Sure, boss. What is it?”
Just then, at the most inopportune time, the waitress arrives.
“Get you something, hun?”
“Huh? Oh, I’ll just take a coffee. Black.”
“You sure you don’t want a burger? We’ve got this burger—”
“Just the coffee, please,” I interrupt, trying not to be rude. She gets the message.
“All right, all right,” she mutters, heading back to the kitchen.
“Listen, Damien,” I say, starting again with a deep breath. “How would you feel…if I sold my shares of the club to you?”
Damien’s face twists in confusion. I can see for a minute his eyes focused on me as he tries to figure out if I’m just screwing around with him, and then a flash of something like anger. He and I have been partners in this for so long that maybe he thinks I’m upset with him or something.
The waitress returns with his coffee, sets it down in front of him, and vanishes again.
“Ha ha,” Damien replies, forcing a laugh. “Very funny, boss. Now come on. What did you really bring me here for?”
“That’s it, buddy,” I reply. “I’m not one hundred percent on it yet, but I’m pretty close. I’m thinking of selling my shares in the club to you and moving on to something else. I want to know if you will be interested in buying them from me.”
Damien’s face drops.
“I mean…yeah, boss. Sure. But why? Is it me? Did I do something?”
“No, no of course not!” I reply quickly. “It’s Tilly, Damien. She…she’s changed my outlook on everything, and I just can’t run the club and be with her. You understand?”
Damien looks at me and frowns. He takes a sip of his coffee and leans back.
“Are you…are you saying you’re in love with this chick, boss?”
Telling Tilly I was in love with her was one thing, but now saying it to Damien is something else entirely. I don’t know how he’s going to react, but I know it could go one of two ways: He could either give me a metaphorical pat on the back or roast the hell out of me for it. But if I’m going to keep this thing moving forward with selling him the club, I’ve got to open up to him.
I take a sip of my coffee and take a deep breath.
“That’s what I’m saying, Damien.”
“Jesus fucking Christ,” Damien replies, blowing air out his lips like a horse. He looks around like there may be cameras around filming this and he’s being pranked. “You? Colt the man? The guy who showed me how to get the ladies?”
“I know, I know,” I chuckle. “And that’s why I’m coming to you to buy me out. You’re just the guy to cash me out and run the place after I’m gone.”
Damien shakes his head, still in disbelief. “I…I don’t know, man.”
“Listen, Damien,” I say. “I’m not messing with you. Tilly has changed everything for me. I honestly don’t think I can go back there anymore. I’m not just in love with her…she’s changed my entire outlook on life.”
10
Tilly
Happiness greater than any I’ve ever known flows through me as I walk through Colt’s house, straightening up, cleaning, doing all the things I simply want to do for him while he’s gone at his meeting with Damien.
I’m his woman now, and that thought brings me so much pleasure I can barely even put it into words.
The things he called me.
Baby. Angel. Perfect.
And then he treated me like no one had ever treated me before—like I never even imagined possible. When I arrived at his club, I was prepared to have to work incredibly hard just to survive. But then Colt came out of nowhere like a knight in shining armor and saved me from all of that.
And not only did he save me; he provided for me. He swept me off my feet. He anchored himself into my heart, overcoming all those fears I brought with me when I came here.
Honestly, I just never thought that would be possible.
It feels as if I’m glowing inside. I barely even know what to do with myself at this point. I can’t wait for Colt to get back so I can throw myself into his arms and give myself over to him.
Once I left my dad’s house, I was so ready to take control of my life and be the only one making decisions for myself. Now all I want to do is give that control over to Colt. But he’s not here right now; he’s down at the diner having a meeting with Damien.
“Well, hurry it up, would you!?” I laugh into the air.
I’m tingling all over. This is absolutely crazy. I can’t get him out of my mind. His broad sculpted shoulders, his washboard abs, his Olympic athlete quads.