Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22633 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22633 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
“I want to, but…”
I tighten my hold on her. “But what?”
She bites her lip and looks almost embarrassed. “I’ve never gone home with someone I just met. I don’t even know you.”
I grab both her hands in mine and lace our fingers together. “We can get to know each other here tonight.”
“Okay.”
“Okay?” I ask her, making sure I heard her right.
She laughs. “Yes. I need to go in now. At least until after the presentation of the checks. Then, if you still want me to—”
I cut her off. “I’ll still want you to.”
She takes a deep breath and lets it out in a burst of air. “If you still want me to go home with you… then I’ll go.”
I pull her with me to grab my jacket that I left on the back of the chair. With our fingers still laced together, I pull her to the door that leads back into the party. I feel like I’m in a rush now, wanting to get this over with so I can get her outta here.
My trepidation from earlier is gone. I walk into the party without any hesitation. My brother is up on the stage, making his presentation. I look around the room for my sister. I have to see her while I’m here, and then as soon as Eddie is done with his speech, I’m taking Maggie out of here.
It’s like I can feel the shift in her. One minute she’s looking up at me, a smile on her face. The next minute, she’s pulling her hand from mine and looking across the room. I follow her gaze and spot my sister. She’s making her way to me as everyone around us starts to clap. The presentation is done, and I can get Maggie out of here… soon.
“You came!” Elana says as she wraps her arms around me.
My voice is gruff, half-filled with frustration. “I told you I would.”
She pulls back and slaps me on the chest. “I know, but when I couldn’t find you, I’d wondered if you’d bailed on me.”
My frown deepens. “I wouldn’t do that.” I mean, I thought about it, but I didn’t do it. I wouldn’t do it.
“Oh my gosh, have you met Maggie? Maggie, this is my big brother, Bentley. Ben, this is my best friend and partner in crime, Maggie. She’s the one that’s doing the social media for us now.” I don’t know if I could be more shocked. I turn to look at Maggie, and for the first time, I realize exactly how much younger she is than me. She’s my little sister’s age. Heck, she probably just finished school. I take a step away, putting some distance between Maggie and me. “Hi, Maggie. It’s nice to meet you.”
My voice doesn’t even sound like my own. Maggie's nose scrunches up, and she looks between my sister and me. She’s confused, that much is obvious. “Uh, hi Ben. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“Oh my God, Cole! Maggie, this is your date. We’ve been searching everywhere for you. Cole, Maggie. Maggie, Cole.”
I grunt at one of the men that’s been standing behind my sister and now walks toward Maggie. He takes her hand in his and leans down to kiss her cheek. It takes everything in me to stay rooted in my spot. I can’t hear what he’s saying to her, but she keeps looking at me with those big eyes of hers.
I should have gotten her out of here while I could. She’s my little sister’s best friend, she’s an employee—hell, my employee—and she has a date. I let my guard down for all of ten minutes, and in that span of time, I found the one woman I shouldn’t want and can’t have. Fuck my life.
I clear my throat, and both Maggie and Elana look at me. “I’m going to head out.”
Elana reaches for me. “No, you just got here. We haven’t gotten to talk at all. You can’t leave yet.”
I pull my little sister into a hug. “I’m proud of you, sis. Everything was perfect.”
Her face softens as she looks up at me. “I wish I could take the credit, but it was all Maggie.”
I glance at Maggie, and she’s looking at me with hope in her eyes. What was I doing thinking that I could have anything with her? She deserves more than a one-night stand, and that’s all I have to give. There are a thousand reasons why I need to walk out of here. I force the words out, and they sound lifeless and professional. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for the company, Maggie. We appreciate your hard work.”
Her eyebrows arch in surprise, but before she gets a word out, Edward joins us. I slap him on the back. “Good job, bro. Now, it’s time for me to get out of here. Let me know if you need anything.”