Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
We disperse back to our offices. Seamus comes with me, not saying much. I can feel his displeasure, and he doesn’t sit down once we reach my desk.
“You know I support you,” he says and when I don’t respond, he looks frustrated. “But this isn’t our way.”
“You mean, this isn’t our father’s way,” I say and meet his hard gaze. “But Dad’s dead and I’m in charge. I don’t need you on the front lines, but I need to make sure you’re with me.”
Seamus waves a hand at me and turns to the door. “Don’t insult me. The Quinn clan sticks together. Even when our boss makes a dumb call.” He walks out, and I don’t feel reassured.
Elena’s waiting for me back home. It’s day five of her time living at my place, two days past the agreed upon three, and more of her clothes keep showing up.
She’s still not sleeping in my room. Every night I lie in bed and think about her curling up by my side, or straddling my hips and riding me until we both pass out from exhaustion, or her warm breath on my neck in the middle of the night. I know it isn’t going to happen anytime soon, and maybe it’s better this way. I’m already making big decisions because of my emotions, and my father always taught me to step back from how I feel before letting it affect my actions. I’ve always worked hard to be like him, and now it’s like that image of myself is beginning to slip away.
“I’ve been thinking about your zoning issue,” Elena says as she plates dinner. I don’t know when she got so damn domestic, but I like it. Part of me thinks she’s been cooking so much to compensate for her boredom. She’s not the type of woman that enjoys being cooped up far away from her family and support system, and even though we’re just ten minutes south, that must feel like forever when she’s used to walking out her front door.
“Don’t tell me you want to have another dinner with Omar Ali. I suspect that won’t work.”
“I bet I could win him over.” She fills our wine glasses and sits across the table.
“You probably think you could win over anyone.”
“I mean, yeah, obviously. I’m adorable and charming.” She gives me a big, cheesy smile. “But seriously, it seems like Omar’s never going to change his mind, right?”
“I think that’s pretty fair to say at this point.”
“That means we need a bigger fish.” She fingers the rim of her glass and leans toward me. I watch her lips and feel my mouth water at the thought of kissing her and tasting red wine on her tongue. “I’m thinking we go after O’Malley.”
I narrow my eyes. “She doesn’t play politics.”
“No, she doesn’t think she plays politics, but O’Malley’s a person like anyone else, and if you can get her, you can get half the board with her.”
“Wonderful suggestion, but how do you think that’ll work?”
“Give me a little time to figure it out, but I have some ideas.” She leans closer. “Now tell me that I’m a wonderful cook.”
“You’re a wonderful cook. And you’re beautiful too.”
“Thank you.” She pats her hair and beams at me. Fuck, I love that look in her eye, the way it sparkles with barely restrained excitement. “Now enjoy before all my hard work gets cold.”
We eat together. I tell her about my day—not mentioning the little war council I had with my siblings earlier—and she relates some gossip Stefania passed on earlier. I can tell she gets a little wistful, but I try not to let it bother me as I clear our plates and clean the kitchen. I swear, the girl uses every single pot and pan, and she’s never heard of straightening as she goes. But I’m not stupid and selfish enough to complain out loud.
“I have an idea,” I tell her once we’re sitting out back together. Her feet are in my lap and my dick’s half hard from the contact. And I’m not even into that fetish. “And I want you to think about it before you answer.”
“Look at us, we’re just full of brilliance today.” She settles in her chair and the heel of her right foot rubs the head of my dick. I bite back on a groan because she’s grinning and I swear she did that on purpose. “Alright, hit me with it.”
“Let’s try living in the oasis.”
Her eyebrows shoot up. “Seriously?”
I grunt in reply and take a deep breath. “It won’t be easy for me. It won’t look good, living on another family’s turf, when I’m supposed to be the boss of my clan. I’ll have to keep this house and use it as an office, and that means getting up early and coming here, spending late nights—” I tilt my head to the side at the look on her face. “But I’m not making this offer for free.”