Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 60700 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 304(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60700 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 304(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
My rescuer turns his attention to Jayden. “When a woman says no, you back the fuck off. Capisce?”
“Is there a problem, Mr. Manghini?” Now the bouncer appears. He’s just as beefy and tattooed as Leo, but it’s the mob boss–Mr. Manghini–who still seems to be the most dangerous man in the room.
“You need me to give you a lesson in manners?” Mr. Manghini asks. When Jayden doesn’t answer, he shakes him by the throat. “Huh?”
“No.” Jayden still sounds petulant, but his face is turning red from lack of oxygen, so I do think he’s getting the message.
Mr. Manghini snorts and releases my stalker, shoving him at the bouncer. “Throw him out. He was assaulting a customer.” Then he holds up a hand and looks to me. “Unless you want to file charges?”
I’m shaky all over, but other than bruises on my arm, fine. “No.” I start to say, “It’s okay,” but bite my tongue. It’s not okay. Why would I even say that?
The bouncer hauls Jayden away and throws him out the back door, and Mr. Manghini gently slides his palm over the skin I’m rubbing. His fingers are large. They look strong. I’ll bet he could’ve choked the life out of Jayden with just that one hand if he wanted.
For some reason, I find myself wondering what else he can do with those hands. What it would be like to have those commanding hands on my body in an altogether different way.
“You’re hurt.” His warm brown gaze circles my face. He smells like scotch and cigars, but it’s not unpleasant. “And you’re shaking. I’m sorry that happened to you here. Let me get you a drink to calm your nerves.”
You’d think after what just happened, I’d never let another man buy me a drink, but there’s something completely different about this guy’s vibes. Somehow I’m sure that he wouldn’t be douchy enough to think a drink buys him sex, and he obviously believes no means no. “Thanks, I…” I nod my head. “I’d like that.”
“I’m Bobby.” He extends a hand.
“Lexi.” I place my hand in his, which is warm and strong. In fact, that’s the energy he radiates–warm strength. To me, anyway. To Jayden, it was hard and cold. Ruthless, even. Bobby stands at least six feet tall, with broad shoulders perfectly draped in an Armani suit. I would guess him to be in his mid to late forties, with a strong jaw and aquiline nose. Dark eyes with lashes that curl.
He lightly touches my back to guide me back toward the bar.
The door that leads to the private lounge swings open. “Bobby, you coming back?” another man in a suit calls from the door.
“No.” Bobby doesn’t look away from me when he says it.
It’s a weird feeling to have someone’s full and complete attention. I try to sort out why it seems different from the attention Jayden gave me back at the bar. Jayden’s attention felt intrusive, whereas this guy’s makes me tingle all over. Like my cells are coming alive just from being in his presence.
“Are you the owner?” I ask as he escorts me through the clogged hallway that leads to the bar area.
“Nah, it’s my cousin’s place. My company built the building, though.”
“Ah. Too bad, I was going to ask for a job.” I adjust my purse strap on my shoulder.
His brows pop. “Yeah? You need a job, doll?” Again his scrutiny is intense. It’s not sexual, but my body responds sexually. Heat pools between my legs. My nipples harden and tingle.
“A second job,” I admit. “I have a day job, but I’d love to pick up a few evening or weekend shifts to get by.”
Stan comes over. “Another mule?”
“Yeah. Sorry, I left that last one.”
“What can I get you, Mr. Manghini?”
“Glen Livet on the rocks,” Gina answers for him, appearing beside us. “This is the guy I was telling you about.” She bumps my hips with hers, and I want the earth to open up and swallow me.
“Yeah?” Bobby searches my face, then hers. “What did you say?”
“I just wanted you two to meet.” Gina’s smile is mischievous. I imagine she thinks of herself as the Sugar Daddy Cupid.
Is there such a thing? There totally should be.
“I feel like you two might hit it off.”
Clearly, Bobby doesn’t fall for bullshit because he narrows his eyes and cocks his head. “No, really.”
“Lexi needs a sugar daddy.”
“Oh my God.” I clap a hand over my eyes like if I can’t see Bobby, he can’t see me. “I’m going to go jump off a tall building.”
Bobby pries my fingers off my face. “You want a sugar daddy?” He looks amused.
“I didn’t say that. This is all Gina’s fantasy. I asked for a job–remember?”
His smile is warm. “I might be in the market for that situation.”
Situation. I gasp when I suddenly realize what this is. “Oh no.” I shake my head and take a step back. “I don’t date married guys.”