Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 119184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Instead, I have to be civilized.
I have to settle for revenge by living well—unless he fucks with my woman again.
More than anything, I have to make sure he never has a chance to hurt her.
Never again, even after this contract ends and even if I don’t have a clue how the hell I’ll keep that promise yet.
“You’re texting here?” Lena glances over, nudging me gently with her elbow.
“I’m done. Had to take care of something.” I say the words too fast.
I’ve never been a stellar liar, despite my life in the public eye.
A line appears between her brows as she frowns.
Her eyes skate across my screen, and I turn it away abruptly before she sees anything.
Too slow and too obvious.
Hurt flashes across her face.
Shit.
Let her go nuclear on me later with demands to see my phone, my messages. Later.
Because I really am an idiot at deception.
The lines on her face just deepen as she looks out at the immaculately dressed crowd. It’s like I can feel her swallowing the grim thoughts and questions on her tongue.
I shove my phone back in my pocket before it causes more trouble.
Seconds tick by like molasses, but she doesn’t say a word.
If she knew what I was doing, she’d have every reason to freak. She’s always made it clear that taking her creepy-ex problem into my own hands is off limits.
Still, getting Harry Jay out of her life for good is worth a few white lies.
In the end, she’ll be happier, and I’m fatally addicted to making this girl smile.
Time blurs by as we make the rounds.
And Lena, hugging my arm, demure and beautiful as an angel, looks just as good at this as I knew she’d be.
Only I know her well enough to read the slight strain in her face or notice the way her fingers grip my arm a little too tightly whenever someone looks her up and down with a carnivorous smile.
Especially the older men.
Every time I see that shit, I want to call them out.
But that’s the elite for you, where money entitles wolves to wear their hunger like one more designer tie wrapped around their necks.
Everyone here is curious about this girl who’s finally gotten me to settle down, and who isn’t from their social circle.
Like I said, one big, inbred fucking family.
When you step outside it to date, eyebrows rocket off faces. And the second you step out of line, it’s judgment day.
Watching Lena muddle through it reminds me how much I hate these events.
But if it’s torture, she shows no sign.
This woman is a patient goddess, always calm and smiling.
The customer-facing role she has must’ve hardened her. She has that smile down pat as she listens to strangers prattle on about their lives and overachievements.
She handles people better than the cameras.
Somehow, she always knows when to step back and let me take over.
It helps that we’re surrounded by genuine animal lovers. People stop and listen the second she says animal clinic.
Lena lights up when she talks about her work at Pawsome Hearts. The second she realizes they care—the second she realizes my cynicism was only that—she opens up.
It’s like she bends the room’s gravity, leaving them wanting more.
And when I finally see my father and lead her over to Dad’s perch on the outskirts of the room while he’s deep in conversation with a congressman, her smile doesn’t falter.
He’s scowling, yeah, but that’s typical.
I’m not expecting Lena to untangle her hand from mine and march forward the instant the politician moves on.
“Hi, Mr. Pruitt. Lena Joly,” she says, extending a hand downward to his level in the chair. “Such a pleasure to meet you.”
For a second, he looks past her at me, his eyes glassy and annoyed.
Do not be fucking rude, I warn with a glance.
“Call me Alec, Miss Joly. I’ve heard so much about you.” He takes her hand and shakes it like he means to pull her to the floor.
“Call me Lena.”
With a disinterested grunt, he leans in so they can kiss cheeks, and he nods at her. “How are you finding the crowd?”
“So many interesting people,” she gushes.
I step up and lay my hand on the small of her back.
Standing by for rescue. The second he breaks character and starts spewing his usual thoughtless, offensive shit, we’ll be gone.
I take his insults in stride—I have a whole life of practice—but not if they’re aimed at Lena.
I can see his eyes flicking over her as she talks, mentally computing whether or not she’ll ever be fit for the Pruitt name.
In the moment, I fucking wish that were truly on the table.
“I love the wildlife charities here. Making a difference for conservation is very important to me. All part of the trade,” she says brightly, waving a delicate hand up at the large screen above, which displays the details of the many charities looking for donations here today and the amounts they’ve raked in.