Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 21230 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 106(@200wpm)___ 85(@250wpm)___ 71(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21230 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 106(@200wpm)___ 85(@250wpm)___ 71(@300wpm)
The further I scrolled, the more disgusted I got. Axel had obviously grown up to be a superficial, love 'em and leave 'em man-whore. As I clicked through the endless pictures of him with a never-ending parade of women at his side, I realized that my encounter with him was going to have positive consequences that I didn’t anticipate when I requested the assignment. Seeing firsthand the man he'd become was going to allow me to finally get over him, and any schoolgirl illusions I still had about him.
If I was being completely honest with myself, I had to admit that I'd put him on a pedestal. He was my first crush, and being parted with him so suddenly after our parents' divorce had left me longing for him all these years. Without intending to, I compared men I dated to him, or rather to a romanticized ideal of him I still held. Tomorrow, I'd get to meet the real man, and then the spell that had been holding me back all these years would be broken.
I closed my laptop, got back into bed, and fell into a dreamless sleep.
The next morning, a burst of clarity provided by a good night's sleep allowed me to solidify my goals for the day: get a kick-ass interview that would impress Dean; look so damn sexy that Axel would treat me as a conquest, just like he seemed to treat most women; and, when I could then see my stepbrother's playboy ways in person, I would finally break free of the grip he unwittingly held on me.
After showering, I dried and styled my long red hair into flowing waves. I'm naturally blond, so accentuating my copper-dyed tresses was part of the disguise. Normally I wore my hair in some sort of up-do, but today I let it fall down my shoulders and back.
I applied smoky eye shadow, just lightly enough to still be appropriate for day, and I squeezed into a snug, curve-hugging skirt, topping it with a silky white blouse that helped highlight my best assets.
I practiced speaking in a slow, sexy tone. I would sound nothing like the little girl Axel had known. And just for good measure, on the way to the interview, I picked up a pair of fashionable glasses to further disguise my face, though it was already so different without the braces, acne, and baby fat that had plagued my teen years.
I caught a glimpse of my reflection and was pleased. My look said sexy, smart, and all grown up. It was time to meet my long-lost stepbrother.
CHAPTER 3
HARD TO GET
AXEL
There are two things I love to do in this life, and when I'm not actively engaged in doing them, I'm usually thinking about when I'll get the next opportunity. Interviews are not one of those two things. Interviews are usually boring or sometimes painful, but they're a necessary evil related to one of the things I love. My manager is heavily focused on sponsorships and promo opportunities, and the more publicity I get, the happier he is.
I wasn't thrilled when I found out I was scheduled to do an interview with a city magazine, but I was very pleasantly surprised when I walked into the water-side restaurant and saw the woman who would be interviewing me. Her wavy red hair drew my attention first, then her full lips, then my eyes dropped and lingered on her incredible rack. I knew then that I was going to be talking to her about one of the things I loved—racing—while only thinking about the other thing I loved—fucking.
I made my way over to her, managing to pull my gaze off of her amazing chest and back up to her beautiful face. Wow. I see a lot of beautiful women, but she had that natural look I love. She was watching me too, though she looked away frequently, as if she were nervous. Time to pour on the charm.
When I reached her, I extended my hand. "Axel Beckers. It's nice to meet you."
She placed her soft palm in mine and I squeezed her hand firmly while looking into her eyes.
"Marlee Lawson," she said. "Thank you for coming." Her voice was husky, and it threatened to make my dick hard all by itself.
"My pleasure." I'd never said that during an interview and really meant it before, but I'd never had someone so pretty conducting an interview before.
We took our seats. Marlee already had an iced tea in front of her, along with a small pad full of notes.
A waiter approached and I ordered iced tea also, aiming to make the sexy interviewer feel like we had something in common right away.
"Would you like to look over the menu before we get started?" Marlee asked, when the waiter walked off.
It seemed like she intended to be all business.