Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 66753 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66753 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
A tight fist of anger forms in my gut. I ignore the list. “Go home, Gavin,” I say tightly, and he must sense I have no rope left to extend to him. His lips flatten and he snatches up his bag and heads to the door, but of course, he can’t leave without a final word. “I’m the only person brave enough to tell you the truth, man. I’m only trying to protect you.”
He opens the door and exits, his words floating about in a puff of nonsense. He’s looking out for himself. I curse as I realize how much I must seem like Gavin to Bella. No matter what I say or do, I need her for a business transaction. I stare down at the damn list and think about a business transaction yet again. There’s a knock on the door and Debbie pokes her head in.
“I brought you coffee,” she says. “I know you like a boost when you work late.”
I need bourbon right about now not caffeine, but contrary to what most people think, I can be nice. “Thank you,” I say.
She steps into the room and walks toward my desk. My phone buzzes with a text and I glance down at the message to read: Just do it, man, from Gavin. Do her too and get her out of your system, but read the list and pick a woman.
There’s no getting Bella out of my system. He doesn’t understand that. Not too long ago, I wouldn’t have either.
I set the phone down and realize Debbie is on this side of the desk. My brows dip. “What are you doing?” She leans in to set the cup down and trips. The end result is coffee all over my desk and me.
“Oh my God,” she says. “Oh my God. I’m so sorry. I’ll get napkins.” She races for the door.
I stand up and grab the trash can, using a piece of paper to drag the liquid into the can, which miraculously gets rid of the puddles.
Debbie appears in the doorway. “I have napkins.”
“Just get the desk so I can clean up.”
“Of course,” she says.
I stride forward and past her and head to the bathroom. Once I’m there, I’m irritated as fuck that there are no towels. With an agitated growl, I exit the bathroom and walk into the kitchen. I grab a cloth towel, which actually seems a better option, and soak up the liquid. “Let me help,” Debbie says from the doorway.
And what the fuck. She charges toward me and grabs the towel from my hand and starts pressing it on my chest. Her free hand is on my upper arm. “What are you doing?” I grab her wrist.
There’s a gasp from the doorway and I look up to find Bella standing there. Oh, shit. “Bella. This is not what it looks like.”
She’s gone. Not a word is spoken and she’s gone.
“Oh God,” Debbie murmurs again. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Gavin said you needed a wife and I saw my name on that list on your desk and my family and your family and—”
“Go home,” I snap. “And don’t come back to work until I decide what to do with you.”
The blood runs out of her face, but I’m already walking away, chasing after Bella, and I don’t give a damn who finds out either. I’m in the corridor between my lobby and the main lobby, certain I will catch her. That is, until the elevator to my right and in front of me opens and one of the top executives in the music industry steps out into the corridor.
Duke Dorman—a tall, broad, heavy-set cowboy in a hat and boots—rotates to face me and blocks my path in the process. “Looks like you had an accident here, son.” He eyes my shirt and says, “Why don’t you get cleaned up and take me up to that fancy rooftop and get me drunk? Who knows what I might agree to.”
Duke’s eyes lift to the space behind me and I rotate to find Debbie had exited my lobby, her eyes bloodshot and Jesus, her hair is all over the place like she just got fucked or something. I motion to her. “Take Duke up to the rooftop and get him started with a drink. Duke, I’ll be right with you.” Bella exits the lobby but I focus on Duke. “I’m going to grab a shirt from my dry cleaning in my car.”
“Sounds like a plan,” he agrees good-heartedly before his eyes find Debbie. “Hello, there, darlin’. Take me to the drinks in the sky.”
Duke steps out of my path right as Bella steps onto the elevator.
I follow her into the car and punch the “close” button before anyone can join us.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Tyler
The elevator shuts and I turn to Bella to find her facing me already. “Go away, Tyler. Do you understand me? Go away. I don’t want to be on your list.”