Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 95606 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95606 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Sig ignored the grind in his stomach. “That’s not why I’m calling. I need you to do something for me and it’s urgent.”
“At one thirty in the morning? You don’t say.” A long-suffering sigh. “What is it?”
“I need you to get me off Boston’s Most Eligible Bachelor list. Like yesterday.”
“Why? That kind of thing only serves to raise your stock.”
“First of all, you obviously haven’t spent much time in a locker room with athletes. That kind of thing gets you absolutely crucified. But second . . .” Sig trailed off, knowing he couldn’t give David the real reason. “Look, you’ll have to take my word for it. I need to not be on that list.”
Chloe would hate it, no matter what she said to the contrary. In fact, Sig had a hunch that this stupid list was the real reason tonight had ended like it had. A dinner bell being rung over his head would make her jealous. It would drive her crazy. And he didn’t do that kind of shit to her. End of story. As far as Sig was concerned, there was nothing eligible about him.
He’d been locked down tighter than Fort Knox for six months.
“Do you have a girlfriend or something? What reason am I giving them?”
“I don’t know.” The light finally turned green and Sig hit the gas, sailing through the intersection. “Tell them I’m morally opposed to being objectified.”
David groaned. “What a waste of good looks.”
Sig rolled his eyes. “Just shut it down, will you?”
“I’ll do what I can.”
Minutes later, Sig pulled up to the mansion on the Sound and killed the engine, the bricks in his stomach growing heavier as he looked up at the reminder of what Chloe had given up by moving to Boston. By dropping everything and coming with him at a moment’s notice. Trusting him wholeheartedly.
He’d vowed to himself that he wouldn’t let her be sorry.
Tonight was the first time he’d felt on the verge of failing her.
They were in love, he and Chloe. Deep, twisted, enduring love. They hadn’t said the words out loud, but their actions spoke for themselves. She showed up to every game, she lit up whenever he walked into the room, when she had a bad day, she called him. Cried into his neck. Called him with good news, too. Celebrated by popping champagne into the phone and begging him to come over and dance with her. She was everything joyful and sacred in his life.
And he wanted to marry her more than he wanted to live.
Sig took his phone out of the cupholder and texted his father.
I’m outside. Need to talk.
A light came on in the upstairs window a few seconds later, followed by Harvey’s silhouette peering down at the circular driveway.
Impatience gnawed at Sig’s gut.
Dammit, he’d been so confident that this relationship between Harvey and Sofia would fizzle out before a wedding could even take place. They were still together, though. Happy, too, according to Chloe. Had Sofia’s lawyers simply not done a thorough job of investigating Harvey’s past? If he had, wouldn’t Harvey be out on his ear by now?
If Sofia’s lawyers had come up empty, would Niko have no luck, too?
Sig didn’t know, but there was one avenue he’d yet to take—and it was a long shot. Nonetheless, he was taking that shot tonight.
His future with Chloe was at stake and he was getting desperate.
As soon as Sig saw Harvey emerge from the house in a robe, rubbing his hands together against the cold, Sig climbed out of the truck and walked in the direction of his father. They met at the side of the fountain, Harvey eyeballing him like he’d lost his mind. Maybe he had.
“It’s the middle of the night. Is something wrong? Is Chloe okay?”
Jesus, the mere suggestion that something could be wrong with Chloe made Sig’s stomach pitch sideways, upsetting the bricks he’d been carrying around all night. “She’s fine. I’m sure she’s sleeping in the glow of the Home Shopping Network right now.”
Harvey ceased blowing warm air into his hands. “How do you know how she sleeps?”
“I know because she told me,” Sig responded in a hard tone. “Don’t make implications about my relationship with her. You don’t know the first thing about it.”
“I know you’re too close to the woman who will one day be your stepsister.” Harvey paused, his expression wary. Scrutinizing. “She calls to speak with her mother and you’re all she talks about.”
Sig tried to keep his features neutral, but he could barely swallow after hearing that.
Why was he hedging the truth, though? Hadn’t he come here tonight to plead for his life? It burned to beg this man for anything. He’d do whatever it took to stop this wedding, though. Not only so he could be with Chloe, but so this man couldn’t potentially deplete another woman’s finances under the guise of being a loving husband.