Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 55839 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55839 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
It makes me wonder if the Delgado case is worth it all. Is this really what I want for my life?
TEN
ROMAN
“Fuck, Greer will not be happy about this,” I say to Ledger.
He came over to my place bright and early when he saw the newest gossip rags this morning. They’re all talking about how our relationship is fake. Obviously I know that, but how do they?
It’s been a few days since my date with Greer because she’s been busy with the case, and I’ve been busy trying to keep my anxiety at bay.
“I don’t understand why everyone’s obsessed with your dating life.” Ledger points to the line in the paper that mentions they don’t see me settling down. They expect me to live my life forever as a playboy.
It’s annoying being a rich man, sometimes. The media loves to be all up in your business. Gossip columnists, podcasters, influencers. All of them trying to get a piece of me.
I slam my hand down on the counter. “Fuck this shit.”
He nods. “Yeah. I think the whole town’s jealous of Greer.”
“As they should be.” A smile spreads slowly. She’s unlike anything I ever imagined she’d be. And I’ve had a lot of fantasies about her.
“So, what are you two going to do?” Ledger asks, looking down at the paper once more.
There’s a knock at the door and I ignore Ledger’s question to answer it. Greer stands outside my door, wearing a flowy floral-print maxi dress with a cinched waist and flutter sleeves, paired with strappy sandals and her heart locket resting just between her tits. She’s got her phone in her hand and she hits me in the chest with it as she barrels past me.
“Did you see this?” she asks in a high-pitched tone. “Oh, hi, Ledger,” she says once she spots him in the kitchen. “I didn’t know you were here.”
“Yeah, he’s seen it.” Ledger offers Greer a friendly smile as he holds up his copy of the paper.
“No, this.” Greer holds out her phone and presses a button. As soon as she does I hear Sadie’s voice instantly.
Sadie: Can you believe the fauxmance happening right before our eyes?
Eden: Right? Like we’re supposed to believe Roman Thorne is dating Greer Huxley. Ha. As if.
Sadie: They couldn’t have looked more uncomfortable with each other if they tried. They haven’t even been spotted at Club Greed, Roman’s favorite place.
Greer’s eyes crash into mine. “Are they serious?”
I shake my head. Looks like we weren’t as believable as we thought.
Eden: It’s definitely a front, which makes Greer even more pathetic.
They both laugh.
I shut it off, pissed that these women are talking about Greer like that.
“I think Eden and Sadie are sour because they never got the chance to play around with you.” Ledger crosses his tattooed arms over his chest. “I’m sure they’d love a night at the club with you.”
“I thought they were supposed to talk about murders, not our love life,” Greer says.
“I don’t know what we can do to convince everyone,” I say, stepping next to Ledger. “We could fuck in front of the whole town, and I don’t think they’d buy us as a real couple.” My thoughts turn dirty as I think about sliding my dick into Greer.
“You could stay at Greer’s house. Her place has more eyes on it because it’s not in this building that the press can’t get into,” Ledger says. “Kill two birds with one stone.”
“What birds?” I ask, although I do like the idea of staying with Greer.
“I agree,” Greer surprises me by saying. “I may not be safe defending Bane.”
A strong sense of protectiveness kicks in. “I like that idea,” I say. The more I think about it the more I want Greer beside me twenty-four seven.
“You need more outings.” Ledger drops the newspaper on the counter and lifts his hand to my shoulder, giving it a squeeze before making his way to the door. “I have to get to the club. Good luck.” He nods at Greer and walks out the door.
She places her hands on her hips and blows out a breath. “I can’t let the firm find out about this. They’ll pull me from the case if they think I’m lying about being in a relationship with you. And then I’ll never make partner.”
“I’m sorry, Greer.” I want to fix this for her. I want to be the hero here with all the solutions. “We’re just going to have to up our game, I guess. Living together will do that.”
Her eyes meet mine, and she almost appears like she’s nervous to be around me.
I have to admit, when I walked her to her door after our date I wanted nothing more in the world than to kiss her, but I didn’t want to cross that line with her. But maybe I should.