Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 65582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 328(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 219(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 328(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 219(@300wpm)
“Let me ask you something. This Lowry guy, has he hooked up with women in the office?”
“Yes,” she says with an added nod.
“What are they wearing?”
“Oh God,” she starts, an eye roll punctuating her feelings on the topic. “I don’t even know how they walk in those skirts. They’re so tight and their heels are ridiculously high.”
“Two things—you said they as in plural. So he’s fucking or has fucked several women in your office?”
She just nods this time. “Flirts with them, but not slept with any or at least the rumors say he hasn’t.”
“Secondly, why can they dress like that and you can’t?”
“I’m in a different department. I’m the only woman in that department with six men. We wear suits.”
“But it’s not in the dress code officially.” Narrowing my eyes as I follow my own breadcrumbs to my final point. “You’re choosing to fit in with the men.” Totally judging, I look at her with my lips off to the side.
I think she’s starting to follow my thinking. She smiles and sighs. “I see what you’re saying. It’s me, not them. And not Lowry.”
“Do you have a game plan? Are you just gonna show up to work one morning and jump him in the elevator or what?”
“New Year’s Eve. Our company throws a holiday party on New Year’s at the Waldorf-Astoria.”
I feel sick to my stomach. “You want to kiss him at midnight on New Year’s?”
Her excitement grows. “No, I want to seduce him at midnight on New Year’s. Any advice?”
She’s doing this no matter what I say, so I give her honesty. “You have the power to get his attention, even though I still don’t know why you want it. The bottom line is, you’re not using your gifts.”
“And by gifts, you mean?”
“Body. Those other women are giving him something to look at.”
“I’m not using my body.” She taps her chin. “Very good point, Hardy.”
I hate leading a horse to water that’s contaminated, but she’s determined to drink from that trough no matter what I do. So that leaves me two choices: Help her win her man by giving her the skills to attract that asshole or let her fumble into his bed and give him a gift he doesn’t deserve.
There really is no decision to be made. She trusts me. As much as I want to wisen her up on the ways of the world when it comes to men, I need to protect her more. If that means making love to her like she deserves, I guess I’m the luckiest bastard that ever lived.
Chapter Eleven
My hip is swatted, a towel cracking loudly against my jeans. A bird is flipped off to the side it came from before I even give the culprit a glance. “Fuck you, Clive.”
While I continue to stare at Virginia, he asks, “How long are you going to ogle her? Cuz it’s just past pathetic o’clock and heading toward creepy by my watch.”
Looking down at the stainless steel Omega that shines on my wrist, I reply, “I’ve got a good ten minutes before I reach cat five creepiness.”
“That’s disastrous.”
“And like you said, leaning toward pathetic.”
“I said it’s past pathetic.”
I turn my back to her though it’s against my better judgment to do so when that fucker in a Member’s Only jacket is hanging on her every word and staring at her tits. And she’s braless. Fuck me. My hands tighten around the knife I’m supposed to be using to cut oranges, my knuckles whitening under the pressure.
Being patted on the back, Clive says, “Those feelings will get ya every time.”
“I’m not having feelings.” Though I’m feeling I might kill this jackass in the jacket fawning all over her. One touch and he’s going to lose a hand.
“Surrre you aren’t.” Clive reaches around and takes the knife from my hand. “I think it’s safer if I take this away.”
“For me or him?”
“Both.” He laughs, and then nods toward Virginia. “You’ve known her for like what? A week?”
“Something like that.”
“Wow. She must be really special for this insta-love you’ve got going on.”
Scoffing, my head jerks back. “I’m not in love and there’s no such thing as insta-love.” Is there? I see Clive checking her out. “Hey, eyes over here.”
He shakes his head. “See? I wasn’t even looking at her and you’ve got your boxers all up your ass.” Coming closer, he leans on the counter next to me and crosses his arms over his chest. “I’m not saying you’re in love, but those two rules you live by when it comes to women . . .” His hands make an explosion hand gesture. “Have been obliterated.”
“No way.” I’m the one shaking my head this time, denial clearly setting in. I look back at Virginia. Her drink is empty, her tits perfect, and Members Only jackass has moved in. I’m there before he can offer her another drink. “Can I get you a refill?”