Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 57909 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57909 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
“As always, I’ve been working.”
He rolled his eyes, expecting the answer, and pulled Hawk until he was standing next to us.
“Is he working you too hard?” Ricky asked.
Jesus!
Hawk smirked at the insinuation.
Fuck.
A blush heated my cheeks, and there was a pulse between my legs.
“You need to make friends, Britta,” Ricky continued with the brutal truth. “When was the last time you went out on a girl’s date?”
“Now is not the time to bring up that sort of stuff,” I scolded. “I’m busy, I don’t have—”
“You were a loner at school, and now you’re a loner as an adult.” He turned to Hawk. “Don’t you have some girlfriends who Britta might get along with?”
“Ricky!” I gaped. “Would you shut—”
“I do have plenty of girlfriends,” Hawk confirmed.
Asshole.
He clapped Ricky on the back and winked at me. “But none that would give her the stimulation she needs.”
Son of a...
My eyes locked with Hawk’s and I felt the earth shift beneath me.
Ricky cleared his throat. “You missed family dinner this month, sis,” he said, waiting for me to return to reality.
“I know. We had a late photoshoot that day, and I had to be there.”
Ricky turned to Hawk. “Ah... so you are the asshole keeping her away from family.”
Hawk raised his brows, but he wore an amused smirk. “That’s right, I’m the asshole who keeps your little sister employed, so she can loan your sorry ass money whenever you come begging.”
Ricky saw the humor, knowing there was no truth in what Hawk was saying. All my brothers were wealthy in their own right and independent. It was the Valentino way. While I didn’t own my own business, Hawk paid me well, and I could safely invest much of what I earned.
“You’re a funny fuck,” Ricky said before turning his attention back to me. “When are you gonna come around, Brit? Mom and Dad are always asking about you.”
“I’ll be there for the next one... promise.”
Brock appeared at Ricky’s side and together they started chatting. I stood awkwardly wishing I could be anywhere else but where I was. And then I found myself doing something I tended to do often, tracing Hawk’s tattoos with my eyes. He had many, how many I wasn’t sure, but a lot. They peeked out from his suit, covering his hands, and when his shirt was unbuttoned, I was lucky to catch a glimpse before my eyes trailed up his neck, which exposed more beautiful ink. Even though I was observing him, I hadn’t noticed he was watching me. I assumed he too was engaged with what Brock was saying. But he wasn’t. His eyes met mine, all dark, stormy and intense. I swallowed hard, my chest and cheeks blushing. Hawk always had a way of making me feel like he was undressing me with his eyes. Perhaps he was. That thought alone only caused me to clench my thighs tight in hopes it was true.
“Am I interrupting something?”
Slate’s voice brought me back to the present, but Hawk remained unperturbed.
“No, we’re just talking to Ricky.”
“Yeah... looks like it,” he said, his unconvinced suspicious eyes darting between Hawk and me.
“I’m leaving in ten,” I said to change the topic.
He scoffed. “Not so fast.” Slate handed me a red cup filled with something I wasn’t sure of. “Drink.”
When I hesitated, he continued, “Come on, we haven’t had a drink together yet.”
Shrugging my shoulders and giving in like I usually did when it came to my brothers, I tipped my head back and swallowed. It wasn’t delicious, but it wasn’t terrible either.
“Britta!” A high-pitched voice startled me. “Oh gosh, is that you?”
Looking over the rim of my cup, I spotted a familiar face.
Sabrina.
She approached with a group of girls behind her and wrapped her arm around Slate’s waist, shiny white teeth gleaming at me. Sabrina and I went to the same high school and were in the same year. With honey, caramel hair, she used to be on the quiet side while at school. A bit like me. But now it seemed she’d come out of her shell. In an enthusiastic gesture, she leaned in and hugged me with one arm. When I pulled back, I felt my empty cup replaced with a full one. I looked urgently for Hawk, who had moved to join Ricky, Brock, and Slate at the side. He stood where he could see me, and oddly enough I found that comforting.
“I haven’t seen you in so long...” she started, “... and you’re still as beautiful as ever.” While she may have been sincere, the posse she had behind her wasn’t nice, and they looked me up and down with unwarranted disdain. In fact, the only time they spoke to me, Sabrina included, was if my one of my brothers was around. Always eager to show off and get in with a Valentino boy. In fact, there was reason for their hope. I was pretty sure Slate had been with two out of five of them, who were currently staring me down.