Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
“Yup, fucking sexy-ass car. All sleek black with silver chrome. I about came in my pants when I saw it.”
He laughs. “Did you drive it?”
I scoff. “No. She said I can’t because I’m very engaged.”
Benson’s laughter gets louder. “Not surprised. I’d break off the engagement to drive that car.”
If only I could.
“I didn’t know she had started another company.”
“Really? Doing what?”
“Building systems to protect companies from hackers.”
Benson laughs. “Isn’t she the hacker?”
“Yup, she’s using it to make money. Doing Emery things.”
“That’s Em.”
He’s not wrong. “I’m not going to make it with her.”
“I think that’s her plan.”
“It is,” I agree. “But whatever. I’ll kick her out in a week.”
He scoffs. “No, you won’t. You’re more likely to fuck her against her Bugatti than kick her out.”
Man, what a fantasy. I could make it happen too.
No, I cannot.
“Does no one have faith in my resistance?”
“No, it’s Emery.”
Like that explains it all. Which, in a way, I guess it does. I wasn’t shy with how in love with her I was. When I saw her with other guys, I’d lose it and do everything to get her attention on me. I’ve sung to her in public more times than I can count, and not even the secondhand embarrassment my family has suffered brings me any guilt. I needed her to know how I felt. I needed her to know I wasn’t going anywhere.
But then, she left me.
I have to remember that. She left me. She didn’t want me. And the only reason she is here is because she doesn’t want me to marry Ava. It isn’t because she wants me.
Wow. What a thought to further ruin my morning.
Before I can get to the fridge, though, I notice my lunch box is out and a note is on top of it. I walk toward it as Benson says, “Okay, I’ll let you go. I’m taking Cameron to breakfast.”
“Cool, talk to you later,” I say, distracted, as I hang up and reach for the note.
Q,
I’m working from home today, so I don’t need my car.
Take it.
Even if you’re engaged, whatever is mine is yours.
Hope you enjoy the lunch. It’s leftovers from dinner last night, so don’t get too excited. We both know I can’t cook for shit.
I hope you have a great day at work.
Love,
E
I feel a certain kind of heat rush through my body. It’s not only excitement. It’s pure, unadulterated desire for her. For her words. Her promises. I don’t know how I am going to resist her, and fuck me, it’s only day two. I need her out of my place. I need her away from me. Maybe if I ask, maybe if I beg for a year with the promise to come back to her, she’ll accept. I reread the letter three times while my eyes ping-pong from the lunch to the Bugatti keys and back to the note. My heart jumps into my throat as I swallow, my stomach flip-flopping.
No, she won’t.
I knew it before, and I know it now.
Whatever is mine is yours.
Damn it, this girl.
Even though I know I’m falling right into her plans, I grab the key fob and the lunch.
Because, like the Bugatti, Emery is wild and hard to contain, but fuck, if I don’t crave the ride.
Chapter
Ten
Emery
I drum my fingers against the desk while I make sure firewalls and other systems are in place to protect the new company I just took on. I didn’t even need to hack in to this one. They came for me and offered me a good amount of money to protect them. There is a chance they’re working with the mob, but once more, that could be my overactive imagination. I really need to read some rom-coms; these mafia romances are making me paranoid.
Though, one thing I’m not imagining is Quinn keeping his distance.
He hardly has spoken to me in the last three days. He comes home from work, eats dinner with me, but he doesn’t say more than three words. I think he turns the TV on just to put up a barrier between us. I almost want to make the TV disappear, but it’s bolted to the wall. I have left my shit scattered around the apartment so he’ll complain. He hasn’t. I left my toiletries all over the bathroom, and he acts like they’re not there. I’ve tried to walk in on him in the bathroom, but he locks the damn door or walks out once I enter. I make him lunch every day with a little note and my keys, and every day, they’re gone when I wake up. But he hasn’t said thanks or even mentioned driving my car. If anything, it seems as if he’s pained to be around me.
Some would think he’s not interested.
I’m not some.
I chew on the inside of my lip, a nervous tic of mine, as I finish up my task. While I mindlessly do what needs to be done to protect the company’s sensitive data, I try to piece together what I’ve learned in the last four days.