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)
Okay, Mr. Dark and Sexy. Let’s see what you’ve got.
Chapter Four
Jackson
“Hey, Mandy,” I drawl into the phone.
“I did it, Jack.”
“Did what?” I say with as much innocence in my tone as I can muster.
“I responded to one of my matches. On Lustr.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. He wants to see me tonight.”
“Tonight? Sounds a little overeager to me.”
She pauses a few seconds. “Yeah. I suppose you could be right.”
“Of course I’m right, Mandy.”
“Thank you, Jack.”
“For what?”
“For not calling me Mandy Cake.”
Huh. No, I didn’t call her Mandy Cake, which is unlike me. Why didn’t I? I force out a chuckle. “You’ve only been pestering me about that our whole lives.”
“Can it stop now, Jack? For real?”
No, it can’t stop. It can’t stop for one simple reason. If I stop thinking of my best friend as Mandy Cake and start thinking of her as Amanda, I may start to want more from her than just friendship. There have been a few close calls over the years, but I’ve always been able to shove my attraction down deep. Kill it with a well-placed “Mandy Cake.” Besides, my Mandy Cake is not ready for the kind of relationship I like—which isn’t a relationship at all, since I don’t do relationships.
It’s sex. Dirty sex that can get rough and nasty and painful.
But God…the pleasure.
I clear my throat. “How many matches did you get?”
“Lots. More than I could believe.”
What the hell did she expect? When you go on Lustr and basically ask for someone to teach you sex, every horny guy in New York is going to respond.
Yeah, I joined Lustr just to stalk her profile.
I couldn’t freaking believe it.
“I see. And one of them wants to get together with you tonight?”
“Is that so surprising?”
No, it’s not surprising at all. But I keep this to myself.
“You really shouldn’t go,” I tell her.
“Are you serious?”
I sigh. “Fine. If you go to a public place and meet him there, there’s no reason to be apprehensive.”
“Really, Jack, you treat me like a three-year-old sometimes. Of course I know better than to go someplace private with someone I’ve never met.”
“All right, all right. Don’t take anything the wrong way. To me, you’re innocent. A little naive. I don’t want you to get taken advantage of.”
“Maybe that’s what I need. Maybe I need someone to take advantage of me. Maybe I need to give him the advantage. How the hell else am I going to—”
I run a hand through my hair. “Please don’t go out and do something you may regret just because you’re angry with me.”
“There you go again. Giving me no credit at all. I’m twenty-nine years old. I graduated summa cum laude. I make a good living, and I’m—”
“I’m sorry,” I interrupt her. This whole situation makes my chest feel tight, but that’s not her fault. “I’m sorry, Mandy. You know I didn’t mean any of it that way.”
She pauses a moment. “I know.”
“You also know how much you mean to me,” I tell her. “I’m just concerned.”
“Well, you don’t have to be,” she huffs out. “I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”
“So…what are you going to do? Have I talked you out of meeting this guy tonight?”
“I don’t know.”
“All right.” I check my watch. “I’ve got a meeting in five minutes. You okay?”
“Fine,” she says tersely.
“Call me if you need anything. Always.”
“Sure, Jack. Bye.”
After ending the call, I shove my phone in my pocket, grab my laptop, and head to the conference room.
If she responded to one profile, she may respond to another. And another.
I shake my head. I have no choice—I have to erase the thoughts from my mind and concentrate on this meeting with several important executives.
I just hope I can get through it without worrying about Mandy.
Besides…I have a date tonight.
Chapter Five
Amanda
No sooner do I hang up from Jackson when Frankie calls.
“Yeah?” I say a little more harshly than I mean to.
“Great news, Mandy. I got a private fitting tonight at the bridal shop. Isabella and Gigi can make it. Can you?”
“Tonight? Really, Frankie?”
“Yeah, tonight. You’re not busy, are you?”
Am I really that predictable? I lift my chin. “Actually, I do have plans. I have a date.”
Frankie doesn’t respond right away. What would she do if she knew I actually have a date with Mr. Dark and Sexy? Although he hasn’t gotten back to me yet with any information. So perhaps I don’t have a date.
“I guess I can try to reschedule…” Frankie eventually says.
Oh, jeez. This is my sister. Not some Lustr hookup. Of course she takes priority. “It’s all right, Frank. I can be there. Text me the information.”
“No, it’s fine,” she says. “I didn’t mean to imply…you know.”
I sigh. No, I don’t think she meant to be rude. She never does. And I don’t think she meant to just assume I would be available. She’s on cloud nine. She’s getting married. And the truth is that I’m usually available on short notice.