Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 102479 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102479 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
“I saw him follow you. He’s been keeping tabs on you all night when he should be paying attention to his new bride.”
“How do you know that?”
Jagger’s eyes bounced back and forth between mine. “Because I’ve also had my eyes on you all evening.”
I tilted my head. “Why?”
A smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “Because apparently, I can’t keep away from trouble.”
My belly did a little flutter. “I’m not trouble.”
“You’re a twenty-four-year-old virgin who now works for my company and whose stepfather is one of my executives, yet I can’t seem to keep my distance like I should. You’re the definition of trouble, sweetheart.”
I felt so drawn to him. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was, other than the obvious—he was gorgeous. It was more than a physical attraction, though. Maybe it was curiosity, because he seemed to know exactly what he wanted, and I was still trying to figure out who I was.
I met his stare, and a question tumbled from my mouth. “What did you do after you left the bar the other night? Did you use the app to meet someone else?”
I saw the wheels in his head spinning. Since the question was a pretty simple one, I assumed he was deciding if he should answer at all. The muscle in his jaw flexed before he spoke. “I went home.”
An unexpected rush of relief flooded me. It was absolutely illogical and ridiculous, but I couldn’t help what I felt. I smiled. “Me, too.”
“How long were you with the Ken doll?”
My smile broadened at the description he chose. Maybe Miles was right and we were a little alike. “A little over three years.”
“That’s a long time to not have an orgasm.”
I looked away, feeling my cheeks heat pink. “I had them. I just had to give them to myself.”
Jagger grumbled something I couldn’t make out, then cleared his throat. “We should get back.”
I looked out at the City once again. “You go. I’m going to stay up here for a few more minutes until the rooftop closes. I need to clear my head.”
He nodded and shoved his hands into his pockets. “Don’t worry about the rooftop closing. I own the building. I’ll let the guard know you can stay up here as long as you’d like, and I’ll tell him to make sure no one else comes up, especially a douche in a tuxedo.”
I smiled. “Thanks.”
I stayed for another fifteen minutes, enjoying the sights and fresh air. It didn’t actually clear my head, but at least when I went back downstairs, there was a little less time to go at this awful wedding reception. My mother spotted me almost as soon as I returned to my table. She latched onto the arm of some guy I didn’t recognize and began to steer him to where I was seated. Ugh.
“Sutton, darling, I’ve been looking all over for you.” She batted her eyelashes at the man she’d dragged with her, and a feeling of dread washed over me. “This is Jack Gallo. He’s an attorney at Edmund’s company. Edmund was actually Jack’s mentor when he first started at Apex.”
The guy was handsome. Two days ago I might’ve even said he was my type—tall, lean, and clean-cut. But suddenly he seemed ordinary, like I’d lose him in a crowd of a thousand other handsome men. I really wanted to kill my mother, but for now, I had no choice other than forcing a smile. “Hello. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Jack started as an intern at Apex, too,” she said. “But now he has a herd of attorneys working for him.”
Jack smiled, yet I sensed he was uncomfortable. “It’s not quite a herd, more like a small band of nerds. I have three staff attorneys and a paralegal who’s way smarter than me.”
His honesty brought out a genuine smile. “My mother likes to exaggerate.”
“I didn’t when I told him how beautiful you are,” she said. “Right, Jack?”
“Mother, must you keep going until you make everyone uncomfortable?”
She pointed across the ballroom. “Oh, look… There’s Mary Harper. I haven’t had the chance to speak with her yet. You two, excuse me, please.”
My mother floated away, leaving me standing alone with Jack. I sighed. “I’m sorry about that. She isn’t the most subtle person. I’m pretty sure Mary Harper wasn’t even invited to the wedding.”
Jack laughed. “It’s fine. She’s very sweet. And for the record, she didn’t exaggerate when she told me how beautiful you are.”
The compliment was nice, though it didn’t make my belly flutter like when a certain CEO gave one. “Thank you.”
He lifted his chin toward the middle of the room. “Would you like to dance?”
“Um…” I looked around for Miles, for someone or something to use as an excuse. Finding nothing, I forced another smile. “Sure.”
Jack led me to a corner of the dance floor while a full twelve-piece band played “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran. He held me in his arms but kept a respectable distance between us. He was graceful on his feet, and unlike most men under fifty, he knew how to lead.