Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 60497 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60497 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
Looking at her, I’m struck by the resemblance, from our long, wavy, chocolate brown hair to the freckles on our nose despite us both wearing foundation. I smile, then get back to thinking and talking about Lucas.
“It’s just that professionally, I’m trying to rebuild the business from the Atwater fiasco and Lucas is helping me do that. I don’t want to be seen as unprofessional in any way.”
Mom tips her head to the side. “And you think being with Lucas is unprofessional?”
I nod. “While we’re working together, yes. But there’s also Jack. They’re best friends and business partners. Jack never let any of his friends near me that way. He threatened anyone who tried. I can’t come between them. And I don’t want to mess up their partnership.”
It’s my turn to grab a fork and dig into the cake, then shove it into my mouth so I can savor the taste. I swallow and lift a glass, taking a sip of water before putting it back down. “And there’s that old bro code saying: you don’t date your best friend’s sister.”
Mom shakes her head. “Since when do you care what your brothers think? If Jack is upset, he’ll have to get over it.”
I take another sip of water. “And Dad?” I ask.
“What does Dad have to do with anything?” she asks. Now her crinkled eyes give her an even more confused expression.
I glance across the table to where my father is deep in conversation with Hudson. “When we were younger, I remember you and Dad warning Jack to stay away from Lucas.” I keep my voice low. I don’t want anyone to overhear.
“When he first came to live with his foster family and he was getting in trouble, yes. But obviously he’s changed. He’s your brother’s partner now. The past is the past.” She shakes her head and sighs. “I see you’ve given this a lot of thought.” She reaches out and cups my face in her hand. “My sweet girl. Always the overthinker.”
“If you overthink, you can’t make mistakes.” I shrug because those words defined how I tried to behave my entire life.
Mom treats me to a soft smile. “If you overthink, you can miss out on the most wonderful things.” She taps my nose. “Give that some thought.”
“Any chance I can steal my chair back?” Miles asks.
Mom nods. She turns to me. “Remember what we talked about, Rainey. And give that your long thought treatment.”
Smiling, she rises from her seat and my brother lowers himself into the now empty chair.
“Everything okay?” he asks.
“Just fine,” I lie. “Just fine.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Lucas
Fuck. I’m so glad tonight is over. I’m not the kind of guy who likes to schmooze with others, shake hands, and make nice. While doing all of those things, I had my eye on Rainey. That red dress with the slit up her thigh, the silk and the way it draped her curves, had my mouth watering and my dick hard.
Now, as we meet up at the entrance, all I want is to get her alone. The valet brings my car around and we climb in. Because we weren’t together all night, no one would think anything of us leaving at the same time. We’re just two friends, one driving the other home.
I wait until we’re alone and pulling away from the hotel before asking, “You’re place or mine?” I flip on my blinker and make a right. “Mine’s closer,” I tell her. Not by much but at this point, seconds matter.
“Yours,” she says, placing her hand on my thigh. High up on my thigh. I grip the steering wheel harder. “Do not move your hand or we won’t make it home,” I manage to tell her, desire a live wire inside me.
The drive home seems to take forever despite it being a mere twenty-minute trip. We have company in the elevator, another couple, so we stand side by side in silence, waiting for them to walk out on the twentieth floor. Seconds later, we reach mine on the twenty-second.
No sooner do we step into the apartment than I shut the door and sweep her into my arms. I can’t make it past the entry and family room, need pulsing through my body. I stop by the sofa and lower her to her feet.
“What are you doing?” she asks.
“Taking you right here.” I shrug off my jacket and lay it on the couch, then unbutton my pants. I kick off my shoes next.
Her eyes widen but she catches on and begins to pull her dress up from the bottom until she reveals a nude thong. It’s so skimpy she might as well not be wearing anything at all, and my dick begins to throb harder.
She slides the gown up and over her head, tossing it onto my jacket on the sofa. Now she’s just wearing a bra that holds up her perfect, full breasts, that sexy scrap of underwear, and a strappy silver pair of high-heeled sandals. As I watch, my fingers still on the zipper of my slacks, she hooks her fingers into the sides of her panties and pulls them down over her hips and from there, they fall to the floor.