Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 58952 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58952 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
He tipped his head at her. “So, was the weekend package not to your liking?” he asked, because that was the only reason he could think of why she was there. “I would have thought the shopping spree at Oscar de la Renta would have clinched the deal, but I’m more than willing to negotiate the terms.”
In his experience, most women could be very happily incentivized by the things his money could buy. Chase honestly thought it was a generous offer, and far more pleasant than an unromantic weekend spent with him. Though she was a beautiful woman, he didn’t do relationships, so he didn’t think there was any reason to go on a date with her at all. Despite the fact that her willingness to stand up to him intrigued him. Not to mention, now he was curious about the kind of woman who turned down the extravagant weekend he’d offered.
Her chin lifted a fraction, and irritation flashed in her eyes. “This isn’t a business transaction, and you don’t get a free pass by trying to buy me off,” she said, shocking him by jabbing him in his chest with her index finger to make her point. “I don’t need a fancy, ridiculously expensive dress, or an extravagant spa day, or a stay at an exclusive, hoity-toity hotel. I need a goddamn date to my sister’s wedding and—”
The frustration in her voice rose as she spoke, and he grabbed her wrist, cutting off her tirade before she could poke him in the chest again. He should have let go immediately, but couldn’t resist caressing his thumb over that pulse point at the base of her palm, which had the interesting result of momentarily distracting her. Her lips were parted mid-sentence, and he took advantage of the interruption to speak before she did again.
“Well, that’s unfortunate, because I hate weddings, and I’m not boyfriend material,” he said, and finally released her hand.
He was surprised to see the fire in her eyes flicker with the barest hint of something more vulnerable. “You owe me a weekend. You, Chase. I won you, fair and square.”
Stalemate, he thought, as he stared back at her, both of them refusing to back down.
Her gaze narrowed ever so slightly, and what appeared to be a sly smile curved her kissable lips. “Of course… I could mention to Billie that you tried to buy me off?” she asked in a challenging tone.
He groaned, because this woman had somehow managed to find his one weakness. Pleasing his half-sister. As far as Billie was concerned, Chase was slated to go on a weekend getaway with his winner sometime in the future, and he’d been fine to let her believe that ruse.
“Why is this so important to you?” he asked, crossing his arms over his chest. “That you want me, a complete stranger, to accompany you to your sister’s wedding?”
She glanced away and exhaled a deep breath, shedding more of that earlier bravado. When she met his gaze again, she drew him in with her now open and earnest expression. “Because my sister is marrying my ex, and I don’t want to show up alone and endure looks of pity from the guests,” she revealed.
Shock rippled through him. That was the last reason he would have expected, and he could see how much that confession had cost her by the pained look in her eyes. Despite wanting to remain unaffected, he found he wasn’t immune to this vulnerable side she’d given him a glimpse of, because it was real.
“And technically, you aren’t a stranger, because my parents think we’ve been dating for a while now,” she added with a smirk. “I’ve already told my family all about you, Chase Gossard, and that I’m bringing you home for the weekend. So, yeah, that’s why I bought a bachelor, and now it has to be you who takes me.”
He dragged a hand along his jaw and swore beneath his breath, knowing he’d be a real asshole to refuse after hearing how personal this was for her. “Fucking great,” he muttered.
She tipped her head to the side, regarding him curiously. “Why did you agree to do the bachelor auction for Billie if you had no intentions of following through?”
It was a fair question, but his reasons were personal and private and between himself and his half-sister. “I thought I’d followed through spectacularly,” he said in a droll tone, then shook his head. “Do you know how many women would kill for the kind of weekend I offered you?”
She shrugged, causing his traitorous gaze to drop to the rise and fall of her breasts beneath her silky blouse. “I’m not just any woman.”
“Clearly,” he said, realizing she was the complete opposite. An anomaly for him when he was used to females expecting those lavish things his money could buy.