Total pages in book: 235
Estimated words: 224334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1122(@200wpm)___ 897(@250wpm)___ 748(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 224334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1122(@200wpm)___ 897(@250wpm)___ 748(@300wpm)
I thought you loved her defiance, brother? Keeps you on your toes and all that.
“Sometimes,” I agree. “I definitely hate her foul mouth, though.”
Because you never swear, do you?
I breathe out my exasperation, not biting. How can I stop this horrible tense, stressful feeling inside? I reach up and rub into my chest. I really have fallen in love with the most difficult woman on the planet. “Typical,” I mutter again, glancing to my left when I feel someone looking at me. I find a man on a scooter peering over his shades at me, watching me waffle on to myself. I roll my eyes and wave off his amusement, pulling out and passing a delivery truck. I dial Ava, now that I’m a little calmer. Hopefully she is too.
“Yes, dear?” she answers sweetly.
I scowl fiercely. She wants to thank her lucky stars she’s out of reach. But there’s later. She’ll regret this. “Don’t be sarcastic, Ava,” I warn. “It doesn’t suit you.”
“You’ll be pleased to know that I’m on my way to work with John. Would you like confirmation? John, make yourself known.”
“S’all good, Jesse,” he mumbles on a laugh.
All good? Is it?
“Happy?” Ava asks.
“Very.” I narrow my eyes, my mind mentally planning my revenge. “Ever heard of a retribution fuck?”
“No, are you going to demonstrate?”
Yes, just as soon as I’ve finished plotting and deciding exactly what a retribution fuck will involve. “If you’re lucky,” I say quietly, all anger gone and craving setting in. “I’ll see you at home.” I cut the call, leaving Ava to look forward to what’s coming her way. And so my day is pretty much mapped out. I’ll be inventing the retribution fuck. I haven’t nailed down the finer details just yet, but I can promise it’s going to be biblical.
I smile and call Sam. “Fancy one of your girlie coffee dates later?” I ask when he answers. He laughs. “What’s so funny?”
“You,” he says over a sigh. “You’re funny.”
I recoil, indignant. “Why?”
“Never mind. Yes, let’s do coffee. I need to talk to you about something.”
My interest is piqued. “What?”
“Membership for The Manor.”
“You have membership for The Manor.”
“A friend,” he says slowly.
“Who . . .” My eyes widen. “Wait. Kate?”
“You may pass go and collect two hundred.”
“Fuck,” I breathe. “So she had fun, huh?”
“Yeah, we had fun. But there’s definitely something she’s not telling me.”
“Like?”
“I don’t know. I’m not down with women and emotions, but I get the feeling she’s been burned. Every other sentence alludes to us not getting serious.”
“So you’re taking her to The Manor?” I say over a laugh.
“Problem solved.”
“And you’re willing to share, are you?” I ask, smiling while Sam takes way too long to answer. Kate’s young. Very attractive. Red hair, blue eyes, a firecracker personality. She’ll go down a storm at The Manor, and Sam must have considered that.
“You know me, mate. Share the love.”
I snort. He’s as crazy as everyone claims I am. I’m surrounded by idiots. “Whatever. But who’s paying, because I’m sure as shit bakers aren’t falling into Britain’s top earners.”
“I expect mate’s rates.”
“Obviously. Talk to Sarah, she’ll fix you up.”
“Kate doesn’t want Ava to know.”
I don’t need to ask why. “Not a problem.” I can barely mention The Manor without Ava’s lips twisting. I’m certainly not going to volunteer further information, especially when it concerns her best friend. “So, that coffee?”
“Sure. Kate’s heading to Brighton so I’m at a loose end. I’ll talk to Drew.”
“Call me.”
“Yes, dear,” he sings, hanging up, and as soon as he does, I go back to inventing the retribution fuck. I have a feeling it’s going to be one of my favorites.
17
To be fair, the day passes reasonably fast, my time filled with anniversary party plans and Tuesday evening retribution plans. Sam and Drew ended up coming over to The Manor for that coffee, and Sarah utilized the muscle, having them shifting furniture around the summer room, ready for Friday.
Before I leave The Manor, I shoot up to my private suite and pull open a few drawers until I find what I’m looking for. I smile, smug, as I stuff the handcuffs into my pocket and leave, itching to get home.
* * *
Clive dives out from behind his desk when I pace into the lobby, walking with me to the elevator. “She arrived home ten minutes ago, Mr. Ward,” he says as I hit the call button.
I smile down at him, thinking Clive loves playing not-so-private detective. “Mood?”
“Rushed.” He pops his hat back on his head, and I frown. “She was in a rush, I think.”
“Oh?” Interesting.
“She didn’t stop to talk. Maybe she wanted to have your dinner ready by the time you got home, sir.” He grins, and I laugh to myself as I step inside the elevator. Have dinner ready? I don’t think so. Her independence won’t allow it. “But then again,” Clive muses, “she was very angry this morning.”