Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 87629 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87629 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
“Salmon skin roll and a dragon roll, please. Plus an order of nigiri unagi.”
“Any sake?”
“No, thank you. Just some water will be fine.”
I don’t drink during the day. That’s not exactly true. I don’t prefer to drink during the day.
Then the text from Jack.
Can’t make it. Something came up.
Damn it all. And I’ve already ordered. I catch the chef’s attention. “Could you make that to-go?”
“Leaving so soon?” Warm breath caresses the back of my neck.
I turn on my stool and meet the gaze of a strikingly handsome dark-haired and dark-eyed man. He seems familiar in a way, and lord, is he good-looking.
But my heart doesn’t do a flip-flop. My heart flip-flops for one man only.
“Yes,” I say. “Do you want the seat?”
“Sure, I’d love the seat.” He takes the spot next to me that the single woman has vacated. “But only if you stay.”
“I’ve already asked the chef to pack up my rolls.”
“Not a problem.” He motions to the chef. “The lady will be staying after all, and put her order on my tab.”
“Of course, sir.”
Before I can object, the man is sitting next to me, and he holds out his hand. “Ben Black.”
I hold back a gasp. No wonder he looks so familiar. I’ve only seen his face plastered all over the news a thousand times. Ben Black. The brother of Braden Black, the blue-collar billionaire from Boston. Also Jackson’s employer.
And a known womanizer.
“I’m Amanda Thomas.” I shyly put my hand in his large one.
“Were you waiting for someone?”
“I was, but he just canceled on me.”
“His loss is my gain.”
“What can I get you?” the chef asks Ben.
“What is the lady having?”
“A salmon skin roll, a dragon roll, and unagi.”
“I’m not much into the salmon skin myself, but a dragon roll sounds good. Plus a few pieces of yellowtail sashimi.” He turns to me. “Really, my poison of choice is oysters on the half shell. I’m from Boston.”
“I know.”
“You do?”
“Of course. Everyone knows who Braden and Ben Black are. My best friend works for you.”
“Does he?”
“Yeah, Jackson Paris. Do you know him?”
Ben’s eyebrows rise. “I do indeed. Good man. Very intelligent.”
The chef plates my two rolls and slides them in front of me.
“Thank you,” I murmur.
“How long have you known Mr. Paris?” Ben asks.
“My whole life.”
“Really. Best friends forever, huh?”
“Something like that.” Warmth floats into me. Already I feel a blush rising to my cheeks. Just at the mention of Jackson.
Best friends forever. That’s all I’ll ever be to Jackson.
Yet here is not only a great-looking but also richer-than-God man talking to me at a sushi dive.
Why is he even here? Ben doesn’t live here. He lives in Boston, although he and Braden spend a lot of their time here at their New York office—at least according to Jackson.
What are the odds that Ben himself would show up at this tiny little sushi place?
Not good.
Which makes me wonder…
“Why are you here, exactly?” I ask.
“Well…lunch, for starters.”
Another surge of warmth touches my cheeks. Why would I ask why he’s here? I’m being overly presumptuous. No way was this orchestrated by anything—or anyone—but fate.
Besides, Ben Black has no interest in the likes of me.
“A friend of mine recommended this place,” Ben says. “Do you come here often?”
“Yeah, it’s one of my favorites. The portions are so much larger than the bigger sushi restaurants.”
“Then maybe I found a new favorite as well.” He smiles.
And as dazzling as his smile is, it doesn’t make my heart nearly stop like Jackson Paris’s does.
“Would you excuse me for a moment?” Ben rises and walks out the door of the restaurant, staring at his phone.
My moment for escape has come. I’m able to catch the eye of one of the chefs. “Could you just give me a to-go box, please?”
“Sure.”
A moment later, I’m shoving what’s left of my two rolls in the box, and I make a quick getaway out the back door.
…
Get a grip, Mandy.
I’ve been sitting in front of my computer, staring at the takeout container holding the rest of my lunch, too frightened to get back on Lustr.
I swallow down my fear, or at least attempt to, and pull up the site.
More matches and more matches. All as ridiculous as the ones I saw yesterday. Then—
Still think you’re ready?
Mr. Dark and Sexy.
Goose bumps erupt. So strange. Normally, I only feel this way when I’m thinking about Jackson.
What is it about this person? This masked man behind my computer screen?
My heart pounds. Just when I’m convinced it’s going to fly right out of my chest, another message arrives from him.
I won’t wait forever.
Normally I’d tell someone who said those words to me to go screw himself. Sure, I may be inexperienced and innocent—Jackson’s words, not mine—but I don’t take ultimatums lightly.
I’m about ready to move on when—
Don’t venture out if you’re not ready for the consequences.