Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 132657 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132657 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
She needed to know if they could have any shot because she was so deeply attracted to him.
“Do you want me to go in with you?” Ruby stood beside her, waving as Brianna Dean-Miles walked by. “I know we don’t normally take business meetings in corsets and heels but hey, we’re going with the flow.”
If she brought Ruby with her to talk to the gloriously sexy man standing near the main stage wearing leathers that showed off his every muscle, she could pretend this was all business.
Or she could be brave.
“What if this is one of those situations where the reality is way less than what I have in my head?” This scenario had been playing through her brain ever since she made the decision.
Ruby frowned her way, arms crossing under her breasts, which were impressively being shown off in her sapphire blue corset. “Are you changing your mind? Because you told Miranda Falls’s mom we would have an initial report by next weekend. As far as I can tell that club is only open Thursday through Saturday. You have to figure out if our girl is even going there, much less which night she plays.”
Which meant they should go in tomorrow and Saturday. “I’m not changing my mind. I’m worried it’s not going to be as good as I hoped. What if I get performance anxiety? What if I’m thinking so much about the case, I can’t properly respond to him as a top?”
“No.” Ruby’s head shook. “You don’t get to shrink back and not say what you are actually scared of. That shit might work with your sister, but it’s not flying with me. Say the problem out loud.”
Sometimes she wondered why she loved this woman. She wanted to growl. But Ruby was right. “Fine. What if I kiss him and I feel nothing and I’ve gone through all of this for a big old nothing burger? Also, what if he says hey sure, Harlow, I’ll watch your back and then I find out he has a girlfriend or he doesn’t like me that way and then all my manipulation will have been for nothing. I think I should tell him I’m planning on manipulating him into seeing if a relationship can work, and then he can make the choice.”
“We’re going to talk about the word manipulation and how it’s supposed to work, but we can do that later. For now, this actually sounds fairly healthy, and I like that for you. It’s a good look.” Ruby gestured to Harlow’s clothes. “This is a good look, too. Okay, you go and plant your freak flag and see if he responds to it and I’ll talk to the Taggarts about a backup plan.”
Harlow stared across the dungeon at that hot hunk of man. One of the newer subs was approaching. Lisa, Lana, something L. She was probably twenty years old and looked all shiny and new.
Harlow was twenty-six and definitely didn’t feel shiny. She had a big-ass scar on her right thigh and another on her left shoulder. L-whatever had perfectly smooth skin because she’d never taken a bullet or gotten twelve kinds of cut up trying to escape from a house where she just rescued a kidnapped kid.
The younger woman smiled up at Niall. She was in all white, obviously playing up the “I’m such an innocent sub I would never suck your cock like I have something to prove. I’m so innocent no one ever tied me up and slapped my ass until I cried out and begged you to fuck me.”
“Are you serious right now?” Ruby asked. “She is an infant. I’m surprised they let her in the club. I think she’s still in college. You’re going to let that sorority sister take your man?”
“Not my man.” But the words did scratch along her spine, making it straight.
“You finally going after Niall?” Her cousin stood on the other side of her. Gigi Dawson was stunning though modest in her skin-tight leggings and a bodice-style shirt that clung to all of her curves. She was a few years younger than Harlow, but they’d always been close. Like her mom, Gigi studied to be a nurse and had recently started working in a downtown hospital in an emergency department. “You should know Leah looks sweet, but she’s got some teeth on her. I should know. She works with me. Can’t stand her, but the guys all love her. One of the Doms was in for a broken finger and he started flirting and invited her to training class. I hate her.”
“I hate her, too,” Harlow proclaimed. Because if Gigi, who was literally the sweetest woman in the world, hated someone, she was probably evil. Yeah, she looked like she would kick a puppy to get to a pair of designer shoes.