Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 155903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
“You don’t ever have to hide who you are, Little Blossom.”
Dear Lord.
Just as she was about to kick his ass, he said something sweet. Something that made her think this could work.
Maybe.
When the limo came to stop, he undid her seatbelt. Then his own.
He’d done up his seatbelt and she hadn’t even noticed.
For her.
Okay, he was possessive and jealous and demanding.
But he’d also put his seatbelt on for her.
Being with this man would never be easy.
Sometimes, though, the good just outweighed the bad.
28
Reuben wrapped his arm around Faith and tried not to scowl at all the reporters.
What the hell were they all doing here? And why were they taking photos of him? No one was interested in him. Although the press was becoming more interested in Alejandro. For years, they’d worked hard to keep his image out of the news. But times were changing.
There were rumors that the new police chief was setting up a taskforce to look into Alejandro. If he was seen to be giving money to charities, and helping the people of New York, well, it would make it harder for the police chief to take him down.
It was all smoke and mirrors, which Reuben hated but it was a part of life.
Lucky for Alejandro, the press seemed to love him and Cat.
“Mr. Jones is it true that you used to represent the Venturo family?”
He worked hard to keep his frown off his face. What the hell?
“Did you know that Abel Venturo has just been found dead in his prison cell?” that same reporter yelled out. “Didn’t you defend members of his family? His son who was charged with child abuse?”
What. The. Fuck.
Abel was dead? No, he hadn’t known that. Not that it was any less than the old bastard deserved.
Around them, people were buzzing. Circling.
Fuck.
Reuben knew should say something. But if he opened his mouth, he was probably going to tell this dickhead what he thought of him.
Then he remembered Faith. So he stopped and turned to the reporter who was grinning at him.
“Is he? I’m not sure why that would interest me. Or why you’d be talking about something like that at a charity dinner for a children’s hospital. Also, you need to do your research. I’ve never defended anyone who was accused of child abuse.”
The reporter scowled, but Reuben ignored him and gently guided Faith past. All he cared about was getting Faith inside and away from these assholes. He helped her inside, holding her steady as she tripped slightly.
“Are you all right?” he murmured.
“Yes, I’m fine. Sorry.”
She was probably upset over that shit show outside.
They handed her coat over to be checked in. Then he guided her down a dark hallway.
Turning, he pressed her against the wall and cupped her face between his hands. “Faith, I didn’t know all of those reporters would be here. Did that asshole upset you?”
He’d end him if he had.
“What? No. Although what was he talking about?”
“Something that is old news and best left in the past,” he told her. “You will not worry about it.”
She huffed at him. “You know, when you’re in a relationship you’re meant to share the things that are affecting you. Not bottle them up and just tell me not to worry. It doesn’t work like that.”
Amusement filled him. She was so cute when she was fired up.
“A relationship, huh?”
A blush filled her cheeks.
“You’re so cute when you get all bossy.”
“I am?” She stared up at him with her lips open. If she wasn’t careful, he was going to take that as an invitation.
Fuck. He didn’t need a hard-on right now. They were at a dinner for sick children, for fuck’s sake.
“Yes, but you need to stop. You’re making me hard.”
“Reuben!” She slapped his chest, her cheeks going bright red. “You can’t say that sort of thing in public.”
Dear Lord. She was so corruptible. So damn innocent.
He placed his hands on the wall by her head and leaned in to whisper to her. “Then you don’t want to hear how I want to slide your dress up to your waist, then kneel before you to stick my tongue deep inside your sweet fucking pussy.”
“Oh God. Your mouth. You . . . that’s so naughty.”
“I’m just getting started, baby.”
Leaning in, he nipped at her lip.
“It just makes me so angry how that reporter was saying all that horrible stuff to get a response out of you.”
“That’s what they do.”
“Well, someone ought to wash his mouth out.”
Hmm. The reporter had some things wrong, but he wasn’t far off. He’d helped defend various Venturo family members at one time or another. But he’d never defended anyone on child abuse charges.
“I’ll remember that the next time you lie or say something naughty.”
She gasped. “You can’t wash my mouth out with soap.”
Hmm, no. It wasn’t something he’d ever do.