Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 76984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
As my skin prickled under the freezing liquid, I laughed at my situation, racking my brain as I went back over the years. When was the last time I took a cold shower? It wasn’t in boarding school. I had girls lined up waiting for my attention, and I’d gladly given it to them. I figured it was middle school. I honestly couldn’t recall. Leave it to a green-eyed goddess to turn a grown-ass man into a desperate thirteen-year-old virgin. The woman held wicked powers over my body and mind. I just had to keep her out of my heart.
I shut off the shower and wrapped a towel around my hips. My skin warmed as I went through my morning routine. I secured my cufflinks at my wrists, then straightened my sleeves and necktie. My suit coat draped over my arm as I left my bedroom to find Maggie before I left for the office. J.J. had arrived to brief me on today’s meeting. I preferred prepping for the day on my own turf. My father hadn’t replied yet, not that I’d expected him to, but I wanted his answer behind me.
I strode down the hallway, the sounds of laughter leading me to the kitchen. I turned the corner and saw Maggie sitting on the counter, legs dangling over the edge. Her yoga pants came just below the knee and matched her black tank top. It was tight in all the right places and dipped in a revealing curve. Dammit. Was there a nanny uniform I could make her wear? My mind drifted to plaid pleated skirts and schoolgirl fantasies.
I considered grabbing J.J. by the elbow—she even had me calling him this nickname in my head—and dragging him out of the apartment. We could talk on the drive downtown. But he was laughing with his head thrown back at something Maggie had said. She peered into my eyes, raising a brow as I walked toward the scene.
“Have a nice shower, Lucas?” Her smile was downright devious. When I glared back at her, she licked her lips. I wanted to go to her, spread her legs wide, push her hips forward, make her feel what she did to me. But she already knew.
“Jared,” I said, ignoring her comment. “Anything scheduled we need to discuss?” His iPad was missing from his hands and the area around him. Two days off with Maggie and his A-game had slipped.
“Your attorney wants to meet you at eight in his office. Other than that, the day is eerily quiet.” He shrugged and turned back to Maggie. If he didn’t have a boyfriend, I’d count him as competition. She wasn’t mine, but the thought of her giving a man what I wanted made my blood boil.
“You okay, Lucas?” Maggie tilted her head, concern in her eyes. “I’ve never seen you look so tense.”
“I’m fine.” I exhaled slowly, attempting to center myself, wash away the lust that kept rising up inside. I glanced around the kitchen. “Where’s the baby?”
“She’s in her crib with her new toy. It’s a carousel that plays music. She lies under it and can touch and grab objects. It lights up too.” J.J. sounded like a commercial spokesman for the product as he answered the question. I truly felt like he’d prefer staying home with Maggie and the baby today. No such luck, buddy.
“Go check up on her, Jared. I need to speak with Maggie.” J.J.’s shoulders fell, and he shuffled off.
Maggie sipped her coffee, looked over the cup’s rim at me, green eyes twinkling. “What’s up, big daddy?”
“Your phone, please,” I growled. Nice wasn’t in the cards for me today, especially when I spun everything she said into a sexual innuendo.
“Are you punishing me?” She jumped off the counter, boobs bouncing as she did. I gripped the edge of the island and lowered my head. “Here you go.” She slid the phone across the granite to me. I reached out and snatched it before it fell off.
“No, but you need a spanking.” The filthy words slipped off my tongue before I caught them. I didn’t dare look up to see her reaction, especially when I heard a slight sigh.
Clicking on the phone, brought up the password screen. I entered the numbers she’d given me at the coffee shop.
“Wow, you remember.”
“How could I forget the year of your high school graduation?” The first thing I saw was a text from a guy named Thomas.
Remember our date today? Haven’t heard back from you.
I had no business opening it, but a green monster rumbled out of me. I read back to Saturday when she canceled her date with him to help me, rescheduling for tonight.
“Wait. Are you reading my personal texts?” She narrowed her eyes at me. I raised my brows and shrugged. Why deny the truth?