Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 66323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
I glance around at everyone laughing, dancing, and having fun and shake my head.
“There’s no need, Bill. Don’t interrupt everyone’s fun. We appreciate the gesture, and the party has been a lot of fun.”
“Agreed,” Brandon says with a nod. “Thanks for doing this. It’s more than enough.”
McMasters raps his knuckles on the table and nods. “All right, then. I’m proud of you both. And I’m damn proud to have you as partners in our firm. There’s no one better, and I’ve been in this business for a long damn time.”
“Don’t look now, B, but Bill’s a little drunk.”
Bill tips his head back and laughs, then stands to leave. “Have a good night, you two.”
“It’s decided,” Danny says, out of breath as he and Stella return to the table and collapse into their seats. “From now on, Stella has to come to work parties.”
“That doesn’t hurt my feelings,” I reply and wink at Stella as she twists her hair onto her head and fans herself with her hand as if she’s too hot. “I hope you’re having a good time.”
“Are you kidding? I just boogied to Lady Gaga and ate my weight in spareribs. This is the best party I’ve been to in a long time.”
“And that’s saying a lot given who her family is,” Danny adds. “Hey, when’s the next cousins’ party?”
“Next weekend,” Stella says after sipping her water. “Saturday night. All of you should come. It’s at my house. You’re welcome anytime. Most people start showing up around six or so, mostly so they can eat all the food.”
“We should go,” Danny says to Brandon, who nods.
“I’m in,” he says.
“What about it?” Stella asks me. “Wanna meet all of my crazy cousins?”
“You do,” Danny says.
“Looks like I do.”
“That was way more fun than I expected it to be,” Stella admits as we drive back into the city. “Your coworkers are really nice, and Bill was just the best.”
“You call him Bill?” I ask in surprise.
“Well, yeah. He told me to. Why?”
“I’ve known that man for fifteen years, been his partner for five, and I barely feel comfortable addressing him by his given name.”
“He likes me,” she says with a shrug.
“Yeah, he does. I’m glad you had fun. I did, too.”
“You know, you are welcome to take me back to your place.”
I glance her way and see her smiling at me in the dark.
“You’ve been drinking, and I don’t want to take advantage of you.”
“Psh.” She waves that off. “I’m not drunk, Gray. I’ve had a nice little buzz hanging in there for a bit, but that’s it. I’m certainly not get-married-in-Vegas drunk.”
“Good to know,” I murmur and feel myself stir at the idea of having this woman in my home. So, I exit and drive through downtown Seattle toward my building.
“Are you taking me to my parents’ place?” Stella demands, looking around. “How did you know where they live?”
“Uh, no.” I turn onto my street. “I have no idea where your parents live.”
“They live here.”
I frown over at her and turn into the underground garage for my building.
“I live in this building.”
“Oh.” She sighs. “Theirs is next door. Same complex, though. What a small world.”
I escort Stella up the elevator and do my best to keep my hands to myself.
One day, I’d like to fuck her in this elevator.
But not today.
“I’m at the end of the hall,” I inform her and take her hand as we walk to my doorway. “This is Betty’s place.”
“Wow, she’s literally next door.”
I nod and unlock my door, then gesture for her to walk in ahead of me.
As I’ve come to learn about Stella, she’s not shy. She immediately goes about looking around my space. She lets her bag fall onto my couch and crosses to the windows.
“We can go out on the veranda if you’d like.”
“No, I’m fine,” she says and then saunters into the kitchen, dragging her hand along the island’s countertop. “I like your kitchen.”
“It doesn’t get much action,” I inform her, and she raises an eyebrow, giving me a knowing grin.
“Maybe that’s about to change.” She makes her way through the whole place. When she finally reaches my bedroom, she turns to me and props her hands on her hips. “Well, now that you have me here, what do you plan to do with me?”
Chapter 5
Stella
Does he look like he wants to eat me alive, or is that the liquor talking?
“Not the liquor.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Did I say that out loud?”
His lips twitch into a satisfied grin as he slowly stalks toward me, veering away before he gets within arm’s reach.
“Where are you going?” I ask.
Without answering, he pushes a button on a control panel, and the blinds on the big window lower as the lights come on, set on dim.
“Fancy.”
“I don’t know for sure that the neighboring building can see in here, but I’m not willing to risk it.”