Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 68743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
He recalled meeting Nicolette when she was seventeen and he’d gone with Derek to pick her up at the airport. She’d been late, and it had taken a ridiculous amount of time to find out she’d been caught by customs with illegal drugs in her bag.
She’d sworn someone had set her up. Derek had believed her. The senator and his wife had not. Asher, who’d already had a bad experience dating a model, was inclined to agree with the elder Bettencourts.
Asher’s ex had been a model with a big-name agency. Christy been doing well for herself. She was gorgeous, which, in his mid-twenties, had been a huge bonus. Over time, he’d learned she was flighty, consistently late for important events, and too self-centered for his liking. But she’d looked good on his arm, had been great in bed, and he’d been shallow enough to ignore the warning signs of trouble. He’d even given her a key to his apartment, which, by the end of their relationship, they were basically sharing.
He’d left work early to surprise her, something he rarely did, and came home to find cocaine spread over the table in the living area and Christy in his bed with her new yoga trainer. A flexible guy if their position had been any indication. He thought he’d been in love, though he knew better now. She’d been the second and last woman to break his heart. From then on, he’d thrown himself into short-term flings where the women knew not to expect more than sex.
As he turned into the parking garage, Asher acknowledged that his vision of Nicolette was skewed. Her behavior had brought back bad memories of Christy but he was still inclined to err on the side of caution when it came to Derek’s sister.
Asher pulled into a parking spot below the Dirty Dare Spirits offices in Midtown West. The company and the property were owned by Asher and his siblings, but he ran the business. As it was a long July Fourth weekend, the building was quiet.
The interior design consisted of four bars spread out on the ground level. Each served a variety of coffee and alcohol, depending on the time of day. A separate floor held a lab where mixologists created craft cocktails, and the office space was on the floors above.
He took the elevator from the underground garage to the main level, stepped out, and walked toward the front entrance. Derek was waiting outside and the security guard had yet to notice him. The building was locked on the weekends and Asher strode over to let his friend in.
Asher greeted Derek with a brotherly hug and pat on the back.
“Thanks for coming. I figured this place was the easiest for us to meet.” Derek ran a hand through his already mussed jet-black hair, a sure sign he had a lot on his mind.
“No problem. Let’s go upstairs and talk. Want coffee?” Asher offered. The coffee bars were closed but he could make them drinks.
Derek shook his head. “I’m wired enough already. Thanks.”
They started to walk toward the elevators, and Asher nodded at the weekend guard. “Hi, Tim. Good holiday weekend with the family?”
The older man, who’d worked there prior to Asher buying the building, nodded. “We had our barbecue yesterday. Thanks for asking, Mr. Dare.”
Asher smiled. “Have a good one.”
He and Derek took the elevator to his office floor. Once inside, Asher turned on the light. They settled into the comfortable chairs in the corner across from his desk, and Asher waited for Derek to talk.
“You’ve seen the photos?” Derek finally asked.
Not wanting to make things worse, Asher said, “Just a glimpse.”
“But enough to know what we’re dealing with.”
“Yeah. Is your father livid?” Asher said.
“Haven’t heard from him but my mother sure as hell is.” Derek’s expression grew furious, his mouth turning downward in a scowl. “And not for the reasons she should be. As usual, she’s concerned with dad’s reputation. I’m worried about my sister. Somehow, someone got into her apartment to take those photographs, and she’s a mess. Scared, embarrassed, you name it. I’m not sure there are enough words to cover it.”
Asher winced. Jade was right. He’d been judgmental without knowing the facts. Still, once again, Nicolette was in trouble that she claimed someone else had caused.
He got right to the point. “So, you want to send your sister to my island house?” A place he’d purchased once Dirty Dare Vodka, as it was then known, had succeeded. His getaway had become a family escape.
Derek nodded. “I know it’s a big ask, but I need to get Nikki out of town until things blow over in the press. It’ll also give me time to have someone figure out when and how those photos were taken.”
Asher met his friend’s gaze. “No problem. But we didn’t need to meet in person. I’d have said yes over the phone. What’s going on?”