Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 55839 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55839 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
“Wow,” I say. “You look stunning.”
Pink fans across her cheeks, and she grabs a black clutch from the table by the door. “You look good too.”
“Thanks.” I’m wearing nothing special. Black pants. White dress shirt sleeves rolled up to my elbows to show off all the precious artwork I’ve got tattooed along my forearms. “Are you ready to go?” I ask. Even though I know this isn’t an actual date, I can’t help but pretend. This is what it would be like to really date her.
I have to say, it feels fantastic.
She steps outside and closes the door behind her, then locks it. “I’m ready. Do you think Sadie and Eden will even recognize us?”
“Of course they will.”
I walk Greer to the passenger side of my Lamborghini Urus SUV and open the door for her.
She slides in, and once she’s settled in the leather seat, I walk around to the driver’s side.
When I get in, her soft floral scent surrounds me.
“I haven’t been in your car in forever.” She glances over at me. “Not since you drove me home from the hospital.”
A few months back, when the Greedy Girl murderer was on the loose, and Greer was representing a member of the Russian Bratva, someone blew her office up. It’s one of the main reasons we’re all so worried about her safety while she represents Bane Delgado.
“Yeah, I don’t like to think about that incident.” I clench my jaw as I start the engine, thinking about how that could’ve played out differently and she wouldn’t be sitting beside me right now.
She places her hand on my bicep. “I never fully thanked you for letting me stay with you. For everything.”
Having her stay at my place for a few days was torture. There were so many times I wanted to creep into the guest room and watch her sleep. Okay, maybe I did it a few times, but overall, I was a good boy.
“You know I’d do anything for you.” Ah, fuck. A tear rolls down her cheek and I swipe it away with my thumb.
“Even pretend to be my boyfriend. I definitely owe you big.”
She fastens her seatbelt, and I back out of her driveway.
“Listen, don’t think of this as a pretend date. Let’s go to dinner and have some fun. You know how to have fun, right?”
She smiles over at me, and the painful thoughts of when she was hurt melt away. “Yes, I know how to have fun.”
I squeeze her knee. “This will be the same as when we’ve gone out in the past and enjoyed each other’s company.”
“You’re right. We’ve gone out loads of times just by ourselves.”
I drift my gaze to her. “Yeah, only this time I’ll be touching you.”
“Touching me?” Her eyes meet mine before I focus back on the road.
“Well, yeah. Holding hands. A light touch on the small of your back. Stuff like that.”
“Oh, right.”
We’re both quiet for the rest of the short drive to downtown Saint Pierce. Images of touching Greer fill my brain, so I don’t trust myself to speak to her. She keeps her gaze trained on the scenery outside her window like it’s the first time she’s ever been to this area. The skyline stretches endlessly against the backdrop of the night sky, and the streets hum with the rhythm of urban life. And Greer’s taking it all in.
I spot El Cantina’s vibrant sign in the distance and look around for a parking spot close to the restaurant.
Within a few minutes, I swing into a spot and throw the SUV in park. “Now, about this favor you owe me.” I raise a brow.
“Anything.”
My smile drops. “You really shouldn’t promise me anything, Greer.”
Because if I weren’t such a good guy, I might ask her to do something really bad.
FIVE
GREER
The way Roman’s staring at me makes my insides catch fire. His eyes never waver from mine as the seconds tick by.
“Why?” I breathe out.
He leans closer, and for a second, I think he’s going to kiss me. But that’s wishful thinking. Instead, he unbuckles my seatbelt and says, “Because you never know what I’ll ask for.” He leans back, and a slow smile lifts his lips. “I might ask you to clean my penthouse for a month.”
“It would probably take longer than a month to clean up after you,” I whisper, because I’m afraid my voice might shake if I speak any louder.
Whatever was growing between us quickly dies when he laughs as he opens the door and hops out.
As he rounds the hood, I breathe deep. There are times where Roman looks at me like he’s thinking something else. Something deeper. Sexual. Like he wants me. But I know better than to think a man like Roman Thorne would ever want anything with someone like me.
He’s into the no-strings-attached women at Club Greed. He’d never want something serious. Roman Thorne can’t be tamed.