Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 112762 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112762 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
I’d made up my mind about Walker Ironside and, for once, I wanted to be young, free, and a little selfish.
I wanted Walker in my bed, and I was determined to make that happen.
These feelings I had for him, this sexual chemistry I now knew had to go both ways because of its intensity, was the best distraction from the scary possibility that Nathan was back in our lives.
Callie was happy and oblivious.
We were protected.
Nothing else had happened since the rat.
Life was moving along as well as it could with this hovering over me.
It was time to take what I wanted.
When my mind wasn’t on Callie or my baking or the thought of what Walker might discover about Nathan, I was thinking about how to seduce my bodyguard.
Thus, I was distracted. But apparently, I was making it obvious because Frannie complained as we walked down the halls toward the staff elevator. “All my jokes are falling on deaf ears. Where are you this week, lass, because you’re certainly not here?”
I opened my mouth to respond with a vague answer but was interrupted.
“Sloane.”
We turned to see Aria climbing the stairs onto our floor, her green eyes fixed on me. “Frannie, you can go on. I need a word with Sloane.”
My coworker nodded and pushed our cart onto the elevator as I turned fully to face Aria.
She gave me a small smile and waited for the doors to close on Frannie before speaking.
“A member complained of a leaky faucet in the bathroom of a suite, so I’m on my way to check it out.”
“Is that your job?”
“No. But maintenance is denying said leak, so management”—she gestured to herself—“has been dragged into it. Anyway, how are you? I spoke to Mr. Ironside, and I know he’s looking into Andros, but you should know my father will be too. He wants nothing coming out about Allegra.”
“Of course. He’s not … upset that Walker’s looking into things, is he?”
Aria shook her head. “He’s glad someone is looking out for you. As am I.”
“Thank you.”
“I know it’s none of my business, but are you two …?”
I gave her a rueful smile and shook my head. Not for want of trying. It had been a week since I told Walker my story. I’d spent any chance I had with him making it clear I was his for the taking. Touching him whenever the opportunity arose. Bringing him coffee at work, tea in the afternoons. And, as always, showering him with baked goods.
And nothing.
Nada.
Aria gave me a small, knowing smile. “I can see he might be a tough nut to crack.”
“The toughest. But I imagine someone might have fun trying.”
She laughed loudly, and I was a little surprised by her amusement. Aria was usually so contained.
“Well, wonders never cease,” a voice cut through our moment.
Aria turned as I looked past her to see North Hunter striding up the stairs toward us. The Scottish actor hadn’t been around since my encounter with Hoffman, and this was the first time I’d seen him since.
His gaze fixed on Aria as he came to a stop beside her. “I didn’t know you could crack a smile, never mind laugh.”
Aria shocked me by sneering at the member. “Oh. You’re back. Yippee for us.”
I covered a snort, pressing my lips together tightly to smother it.
North Hunter had dark blond hair and intense, light gray eyes that could pierce right through you. He was an actor mostly known for playing a serial killer in a huge thriller drama that won a ton of awards. But before that, he’d been typecast as the cocky, playboy Scot in more lighthearted movies because he was freaking gorgeous. His intensity, however, suited serious acting better.
Right now, all of his smolder focused on Aria. “I informed you I was arriving.”
“I must have bleached that information from my brain in the hopes it wasn’t true.”
What on earth?
He narrowed his eyes. “Aren’t you supposed to be hospitable as the hospitality manager?”
“Aren’t you supposed to be charming as a Scot?”
North flashed her a wicked smile. “I can be charming if motivated.”
“You mean, if someone’s paying you?”
His smile dropped, and he glowered at her.
Aria glowered right back.
Tension so thick sparked between them, I felt like a spare. What had happened between them to cause such sizzling dislike?
I cleared my throat, and North seemed reluctant to drag his eyes off Aria’s face. Recognition lit them. “Sloane … right?”
“Right.”
He straightened, his brow furrowed. “How are you doing?”
“Much better. I’m actually glad that I ran into you, Mr. Hunter. I never got a chance to thank you.”
“It was my pleasure.” There was an attractive growl to his words. “I hope Lachlan nails Hoffman’s balls to the wall.”
“And then skins him alive,” Aria muttered.
North cut her a look. “Bloodthirsty wee thing, aren’t you?”
“I’ve never been called ‘wee’ in my life, Mr. Hunter, and we both know it.” She looked at me. “Keep me posted, and I’ll do the same,” she said, referring to Nathan.