Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91049 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91049 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
I’ve had to hear a dozen times how she’s the owner along with these two. I grind my teeth at her use of my name. I don’t have the patience to correct her.
Her light-brown eyes sparkle as she addresses me. I’m sure she’s dreaming of the commission I’m about to pull from her and this shit show. I pick up my phone and get ready to turn to my mother to tell her I’m done with this crap.
At thirty, I’m just plain tired of playing the good son who keeps a smile on his face while I’m dying on the inside. Total lies and we know it, but public appearances are what I’ve been working on the last few years.
“I’m so sorry. I had to put out three back-to-back fires,” says a curvy, dark-skinned woman who rushes into the room.
“Just leave the files,” the Estevez sister in the green dress with the short red hair snarls.
For the life of me, I can’t remember these two sisters’ names. That’s become irrelevant to me anyhow. My focus is on the new addition to the room.
Damn!
I haven’t seen a woman as gorgeous as her in… yeah, never. Even in her frenzied state, she’s stunning. That flawless skin and those lips. I’d feast on those all night.
She places a file in front of each of the three women sitting before me before she turns to leave the room. I’m almost too caught up in watching her ass walk away to stop her.
“Wait a minute,” I call, freezing her in her tracks. I narrow my eyes again. “Who is this?”
“That’s nobody important. You have the best of my team right here,” Bianca says.
I don’t miss the stiffening of my chocolate-brown goddess. She goes completely rigid, yet she doesn’t turn back around to face me.
“Something tells me that’s bullshit,” I reply.
That causes the beauty I have my gaze on to turn around and look me in the eyes. Her brows are pinched as she locks those big brown orbs on me. There’s something in her depths that calls to me.
I tilt my head to the side and study her. There’s a sharp wit that dances in her eyes as if her thoughts are quite amusing. Still, I get the sense that she’s used to hiding. Too bad for her; when I find something I want, there’s no hiding it from me.
“You three can leave,” I say without taking my eyes off the dove standing before me. “Mother, I need to go. See to it that Nobody over there is at my apartment this evening by seven to pitch the proper event proposal. The one she just finished putting together for them.”
With that, I stand and bend to kiss my mother’s cheek. I turn to leave the room, but not before one last comment to the concerned-looking vixen I have every intention of getting to know better. Her eyes widen as I get closer and lean into her.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be gentle. I’ll make this all easy on you,” I whisper.
* * *
Cinder
He smells delicious. The kind of lingering scent that makes you want to drop to your knees and see if he smells as good down there. The man is pure gorgeousness.
I don’t usually like blonds, but he’s my exception, with his light-blond hair, crystal-blue eyes, strong jaw, and straight nose… good God. I just want to lie on his chest. That body is fine as hell too. I love a tall man. He has to be at least six-three. Not lean, but not bulky either.
Ooh wee, he’s so right for my fantasies at night. Yes, ma’am, I’ll be imagining those big hands under my sheets tonight. Phew, what did he just say to me? I stare after him, drooling as he leaves out of the door.
“What your son is requesting isn’t going to be possible,” my stepmother sputters, bringing me back to the room.
Her voice is like nails on a chalkboard. I can’t stand this woman or her daughters. I clench my fists at my sides. They’ll be the death of my family’s legacy if I allow it.
“And why is that?” Mrs. Blake asks.
“Well… because… she doesn’t do house calls. I’d rather be able to supervise her. You know how hard it can be to find good help.”
“She looks like a capable young woman to me. This ball is important to me. I want my son to be happy with the outcome. If this young lady is the key to that, I think it would be best if you make this happen,” Mrs. Blake says, lifting her chin.
“I will be happy to help in any way I can. However, she’s right. I can’t this evening. I’m already in charge of the Whitman event. I’ll be attending their masquerade ball,” I say softly.
Mrs. Blake claps her hands together. “I was invited to that event.” She pauses for a moment. “Perhaps I can persuade Princeton to come along. His father had to suddenly leave on business and I was going to bow out, but my gown is so divine. Yes, I’ll have Princeton come along.”