Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 62362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Knox raised his glass and took a sip before gesturing to the server for another.
“Make it two,” Derek said.
The gorgeous brunette leaned close to Knox, her breasts brushing his arm, and picked up his empty glass. “Sure thing,” she said in a husky voice, meeting his gaze.
“Thank you.”
She strode off in her ultra-high heels and with an added sway of her hips.
“She’s interested,” Derek said. “You should go for it.”
Knox had no doubt he could charm her up to his room if he wanted to. The problem was, he didn’t want to, so he ignored the suggestion.
“Is your father still trying to convince you to join him when he announces his intention to run?” he asked Derek.
“Of course he is. Presenting himself as a family man is very important to him. But I have no intention of indulging his fantasy. He’s done just fine without me by his side since I turned eighteen and could decide for myself what I would and wouldn’t do.”
Knox laughed. “It must drive him crazy not to be able to control you.”
Derek nodded. “Can’t say my sister’s being any more malleable lately.”
Derek’s younger sister was a model with a difficult reputation, but Knox knew she and Derek were close.
“Your parents ended up with headstrong children,” Knox agreed.
“Or our nannies did,” Derek muttered.
“Here you go, gentleman.” Their server leaned down, giving Knox a full view of her ample cleavage. She placed both drinks on the table and slipped a piece of paper into the breast pocket of Knox’s sport jacket, patting it with her hand.
Then she sashayed away, walking to the next table.
“See?” Derek raised an eyebrow. “Are you going to tap that?”
Smirking, Knox pulled out the paper and slid it into Derek’s breast pocket with a double pat.
“Okay, time’s up. Who’s got you tied up in knots?” Derek asked.
Knox lifted his fresh bourbon and took a long sip. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You haven’t been yourself since you got here. You’re usually the outgoing, wild one, and you always pick up women when you’re here. And that one was hot.” He gestured to the woman carrying drinks to another table.
Knox blew out a deep breath. Derek was his closest friend and had been since business school. He knew Derek wouldn’t repeat anything Knox said to him, not even to Asher. Derek and Asher were friends, but they weren’t as tight as Knox and Derek were.
“There’s someone,” Knox admitted.
“Someone special.”
Knox ran a hand over the back of his neck. “Yeah. But it’s complicated.”
Derek leaned forward, his head close. “Who?”
“Asher’s sister.” It felt good to get the truth off his chest.
“Aah, shit.” Derek shook his head. “When you do it up, you do it up right.” He lifted his bourbon in a toast.
Knox touched his glass to his. “Amen.”
“Does he know?” He tipped his head toward Jade’s brother, who was talking to the brunette who’d hit on Knox. Apparently, she wasn’t fussy about which man she went upstairs with, as long as she got lucky.
“He knows about the first couple of times,” Knox muttered.
Derek slapped the table, threw his head back, and laughed. “Considering what you’re giving up here and the beating you might have to take from Asher, I’m betting she’s worth it.”
“She is.” But the joke might be on him. Jade had so many hang-ups when it came to relationships, the way Knox felt, not to mention what he was willing to go through or give up, might not matter.
But he was willing to try.
Right now, he was giving her what she seemed to need. Space. After that scene with Theo, Jade had been quiet and withdrawn. She’d accepted his explanation about his marriage and seemed to believe him, but when he’d gone to kiss her goodbye, he’d felt her resistance. He blamed Theo. Before that visit, they’d been growing closer.
But he was learning about what made Jade tick. She’d pulled back, and he’d taken the hint. He knew insinuating himself into her daily life wouldn’t do him any good right now. Other than checking on her after her migraine, he’d decided to back off and give her a chance to miss him.
That was the reason he’d decided to go through with this guys’ weekend. But he hated every second of not hearing her voice. He consoled himself with the fact that Jade and Holly had a florist appointment early next week and Knox planned to be there.
With any luck, she’d have missed him as much as he missed her. And then, just maybe, she might be more open to the idea of a relationship.
* * *
Jade woke up the morning of her floral appointment with Holly and barely made it to the bathroom before she threw up. God. A stomach virus was the last thing she needed. Though she attempted to shower and go to work, coffee didn’t stay in her stomach, and she ended up back in bed.