Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 91286 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91286 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
“Shut up.” I can’t help but laugh. “I’m not reporting anyone for anything.” I’d have to pull out my own laundry list of scandalous behavior. It’s a mile long and would get me fired a hundred times over.
She clears her throat as she quickly retrieves her glasses. “Okay, then.”
I try to soften the blow to her ego. “If this were any other time in my life, I would be all in. Again.” Hell, if this were even a few weeks ago, before I met Sloane. I’d regret it after, but I know I wouldn’t turn her down. I’m not Superman.
She purses her lips, her eyes flittering up to meet mine. “Let me know if you change your mind.”
“I will.” But I won’t. Not while Sloane’s in the picture.
“I’ll see you at dinner tonight.” Clearing her throat, she hops off the table and struts away at a clipped speed, unlocking the door on her way out.
And I breathe a shaky sigh of relief.
“You said no?” Connor stares at me like I just admitted to ripping up a winning lottery ticket.
“Dude.” I push my office door shut. “She Basic Instincted me.”
His jaw drops. “No fucking way.”
“Way. Like, fully.”
“What does that mean?” a voice chirps out of nowhere.
I spin around to find Archie sitting in one of my chairs. “Where the fuck were you hiding!”
“I wasn’t … I was right here, waiting. For our meeting,” he stammers.
I hadn’t noticed him. I left the meeting and saw Connor standing at my door, so I yanked him in and downloaded on him in a hurry, and fuck, I didn’t notice Archie there.
I know how gossip works around here. This would be terrible for Belinda if it got out.
“Listen to me carefully.” I aim an index finger at his face. “You never repeat a single thing you just heard in here. Not to anyone. Not even to Gizmo, do you understand?” There’s only one picture on Archie’s desk, and it’s of a cat whose hair is as orange as his owner’s.
“I didn’t hear anything.” He shakes his head furiously.
“Good.”
“Wait, but how does Gingersnap not know what getting Basic Instincted means? How old are you?” Connor waves his hand. “Actually, never mind. I don’t care if you came out of the fucking womb two weeks ago, everyone should understand what that means. Sharon Stone is a rite of passage. In fact, you’re gonna watch that movie tonight. I expect a full report by tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.!”
“Okay, settle down, Professor.” I take a deep, calming breath. “Archie, give me five before our meeting. Do me a favor and go find Eleanor from Events. Tell her I’m bringing two people with me to dinner so she can plan accordingly.”
“Got it.” With a cagey look at Connor—who is easily twice his size—Archie scurries out, shutting the door behind him.
“What dinner?” Connor asks the moment he’s gone.
“The one you’re coming to with me. It’s here, tonight.”
“Seriously? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I did. You forgot,” I lie. If I counted on my hands the number of times he’s left me in the dark about plans he’s made for us, I’d run out of fingers, several times over. Payback’s a bitch. “Wear something nice. Abbi’ll be there.”
That distracts him. “I haven’t seen her in forever. How’s the, uh—” He holds his hands out in front of his belly.
“Growing.”
“Damn.” He smiles wistfully, and I know he’s thinking about that day in the truck. “Who else are you bringing?”
“Sloane.” I hope.
“Neighbor girl?” He frowns. “She and Henry good now?”
“Nope. He doesn’t know I’m bringing her.”
“But he’s gonna be there.”
“Yup.”
His frown deepens. “What the fuck are you up to, Lyle?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure. It’s a long story that I don’t have the time to get into, but I’m bringing Sloane, and they’re going to meet her, and Abbi’s gonna love her.” I hope.
And then I’m going to ride in like a white knight and derail Henry’s capitalistic dreams, even though the woman still has no clue about any of it.
“So … I should pack my bags and get ready to head back to Miami, then?” Connor muses wryly.
“Maybe, but not yet.”
“For the record, you’re fucking nuts.”
“I probably am,” I agree.
“And have you thought about what Belinda is gonna do?”
“She’ll defer to Henry, and I have Abbi to help me with him.” Belinda’s devoted to a fault. If Henry maintains his cool over Sloane, she won’t attack.
“Dude, forget about that. What about what just happened over there?” He tosses an aimless thumb toward the hall beyond my door.
“Belinda’s not looking for a relationship. She has an itch she needs scratching, and I was an easy option.” At least, she thought I was, and probably for good reason—because I usually am.
Connor looks at me like I’m about to jump into alligator-infested waters. “You rejected Belinda, and now you’re about to stroll in with another woman. A younger woman.”