AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I throw myself in a seat and take the proffered drink and glare at the chalkboard. “You’re actually taking bets?”
“Well, you look like a terrible banker, but you also apparently have a secret lover, so I’m saying the odds are on our sides.” Kingston grins. “I want the money.”
“You’re betting on the least amount of time.”
“I know you, Ry.”
The rest join in and they give me hell. But my outrage, while real, is only half there. Along with my attention. My mind keeps going back to the mouthy redhead.
“It’s going to be boring,” says the evil Magnus.
“But it’s four weeks,” I point out. “I can stand being bored that long.”
“No,” says King, “you can’t. You can barely stand being bored for four minutes. The money is all mine. Double or nothing, guys.”
He’s right. I hate being bored. Who doesn’t hate that? I like stimulation, interesting things and this should be heading right into the most boring four weeks of my life, but… I don’t know. There’s something about Elliot that says I won’t be bored in the slightest.
And it’s got nothing to do with the fact she doesn’t like me. Okay, she’ll warm to me, but she’s not about to eat out of my hand, even if I turned on the Ryder charm. That interests me. Almost as much as the fact she’s going to make sure I save the company and get my Sinclair jewel.
Eye on the prize.
When my phone buzzes with a message from an old college buddy who wants to meet for a drink and discuss a real estate opportunity, I text back where.
Eye on the prize. I can do this.
I agree to meet up in the Meat Packing district, the area full of high-end designer stores and places to be seen. The drinks and conversation are about what I expect when I meet Jaden. I’m not interested in the deal, and it’s nice enough to meet up with someone I don’t have to impress, but I stay on my best behavior. I even turn down a proposition and make Jaden’s night by turning one into his.
I’m feeling good when I leave.
Right up to the moment I’m grabbed by someone. I get an impression of platinum blonde hair and a familiar, strong perfume.
“Lacey—”
That’s all I manage before she kisses me and the world lights up in a series of flashes.
Oh fuck.
This is bad.
Chapter Six
Elliot
“Oh, hell no.”
I glare at my phone. At the pictures on it that come with the stupid alert.
Double hell and double no and everything else.
Of course, the very hot, the very sexy, the very beautiful man whore that is Ryder Sinclair would revisit the scene of the crime. I’d just stupidly hoped he’d take longer than a handful of hours after I’d left him.
I’d given him the instructions on how to dress. I’d told him not to get into trouble, especially after the article over the woman claiming to be his secret lover, and now this?
Here I am, working late into the hours of the morning, putting too much time and effort into his contract, knowing one month isn’t that long, and he does this.
I close my eyes as something hot and white and shameful streaks through me.
Yeah, I’ve also been sitting here, thinking about that sensuous mouth of his, those lips on me, those hands, his tongue on my skin.
