Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 106806 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106806 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
He deserves so much better than me and my secrets.
“Thank you, Savvy. I know your time is valuable, and . . .” He shoves his hands in his pockets, as if he’s not sure what to do with them. After a long silence, he says, “I appreciate it.”
“It doesn’t need to be a big deal, right?”
“Right,” he says softly. “And with any luck, I’ll be able to help you get that position with The Rage.”
I bite my lip. “Only if you’re comfortable with that. In your business, you might travel in the same circles as the CEO, so I don’t want you to feel like—”
“It would be my pleasure. Don’t give it another thought.”
My heart races. I want this job so badly, but I’m terrified that using lies to get it—even with good reason—is going to bite me in the ass. “Thank you.”
“My family will be arriving in town this afternoon. What’s your schedule for the day?”
“My last class is at five, so I can be out of here by six.”
“Perfect. We’re doing dinner on The Patio at seven. Will you join us?”
I nod, afraid the fear will be too obvious in my voice if I speak.
“I’ll pick you up at about a quarter till?”
I laugh. “I can meet you here. I’m pretty familiar with the place.”
He cocks his head with a sly smile. “What kind of man would I be if I made my date drive herself?” He winks at me and backs toward the door. “See you tonight.”
ALEC
Savvy looks stunning, and for a moment after she opens the door, I can’t remember how to breathe. Can’t remember, honestly, why I even need to breathe.
Her long blond hair is down around her shoulders, sleek and smooth. I know exactly what it would feel like to slide my hands into that hair while I took her mouth. I’m haunted by the way her eyes flashed with heat when I wrapped those locks around my fist as she—
“You’re early.”
I swallow back my inappropriate thoughts. Just friends. That’s her rule. “Sorry. Did you need more time? You look . . . amazing.” I shove my hands into my pockets to keep them from reaching for her.
She cocks her head to the side. “Are you nervous?” She wrinkles her nose. “Is it me? Are you afraid I’m going to embarrass you?”
I scoff. “Not even a little.” My nerves have nothing to do with worrying about how she might act and everything to do with worrying about how I might.
When I asked Brinley if she knew why Savvy pulled away from me, she said Savvy had a rough breakup in college. She said she didn’t know the details, but she knew it’d been the root of a lot of her trust issues with men. I decided then that I just needed to earn her trust. To prove I’m not going to hurt her like her ex. But that’s been hard to do when I never get time with her.
I need this time with Savvy. The last thing I want is to scare her away.
“Are you ready?”
“I think?” She fingers the simple pendant pearl necklace at her throat. She’s shaking, and I’m once again overwhelmed by the urge to touch her. To show her with my hands just how beautiful she looks.
“Just be yourself, Savvy. That would win anyone over.”
She lifts her eyes to mine for a beat before nodding. “Thank you. Just let me—” She waves toward the back of the apartment. “I need to grab my shoes and I’ll be ready.”
SAVVY
Breathe, Savvy. It’s just dinner.
I might be hiding in my bedroom, shoes in hand. I might be panicking—as one does when one is playing with fire.
But I would do anything for Alec, and rationally, I know Oliver won’t show up. He’s in Monaco, and he can’t stand this side of his family. I knew that even before I knew Alec was part of it.
“Are you about ready?” Alec calls from the foyer.
Suck it up, buttercup. “Yep,” I say with more enthusiasm than I feel. I slip on my shoes and join him at the front of the apartment. “Sorry. I couldn’t find my shoes.” More lies. Lies upon lies.
My stomach knots. He would see me differently if he knew the truth, but maybe I should tell him anyway. Hey, remember when your brother was finishing his MBA and your dad had to buy him a new car out of the blue? Yeah. That was my fault.
“We should go. My mother can’t abide tardiness.” He smiles while he says this, but I get the impression it’s also true.
He opens the door and turns his palm up toward the Lexus parked out front. The truth about Oliver can wait. Revealing that ugliness before tonight would be wrong anyway. I should let Alec enjoy the evening with his family without having to process my history with his estranged brother.