Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82453 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82453 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
I stand. “I don’t mean to throw you out, but it’s getting late.”
Again, that’s all in the eye of the beholder, and my eye says I need these two to leave.
“Of course.” Posey is on her feet first. “It was nice to meet you, Carrie.”
“You too.” I smile at her.
“I’ll tell my brother about you.”
“Why?” Rook surprises us both with that question.
Posey shakes her head. “Because she’s a regular customer, and that will mean a lot to him.”
“Right.” Rook nods. “I’m sure Elio will appreciate that Carrie enjoys his offerings.”
Posey’s eyebrows dance. “You might be onto something, boss.”
Rook looks as stunned by that as I feel.
Posey goes on, oblivious to the silence that met her last statement, “I happen to know that my brother is very single. Are you, Carrie?”
“We’re leaving.” Rook motions toward the door before he grabs his suit jacket and heads in that direction. “We’ve taken up enough of Carrie’s time for tonight.”
“Fine.” Posey is hot on his heel.
I stand in place, cataloging the way Rook Thorsen looks in suit pants and a matching vest into my memory.
He slides the jacket back on just as I glance down to appreciate how his ass looks.
“We’ll see you around, Carrie.” Posey raises a hand to wave goodbye. “Or here, I guess. We’ll see you here soon.”
“You will,” I assure her before I hesitate briefly. “I should give you my number, Posey, so we can stay connected and work out times for you to come over.”
“That’s a brilliant idea!” She taps on the screen of her phone as she sprints back toward me. “Here, program it into my contact list.”
Rook starts toward us, too. “I should get it as well since…”
“No need,” Posey cuts him off. “Let’s face it, boss. I’m doing the bulk of the work on this, so I’m the one who should be the point person with Carrie.”
It makes perfect sense to me.
I add my name and number to her phone before I hand it back to her. “I know the mural will mean a lot to my sister.”
Posey smiles. “It means a lot to me to do it for her.”
I glance at Rook to see him standing stoically with his phone in his hand.
I expertly avoided having to discuss my virgin confession with the man tonight. With any luck, I can keep that up for the next four weeks and beyond.
Sooner or later, he’ll forget he ever heard it. I know he will. He has to.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Rook
How in the ever loving fuck did one of my employees walk out of Declan’s apartment tonight with Carrie’s phone number, and I left with nothing but a case of blue balls?
I remedied that as soon as I was home.
My suit jacket was on the floor in the foyer of my apartment before my vest, shirt, and tie followed somewhere in the hallway leading to my bedroom. My shoes, socks, pants, and boxer briefs landed at the foot of my bed. I’ll have to search for my silver cufflinks later because I’m about to go another round with my cock in my palm because blowing my load in the shower did little to relieve the pressing need that is still inside of me.
That need is for Carrie.
My phone chimes, so I set out to find the thing.
It sounds again as I near the foyer. I say a silent prayer that I didn’t destroy the screen when I dropped my jacket since my phone is obviously still inside it.
I reach down and slide it from the pocket. I skim through all the notifications lighting up the undamaged screen.
Most are related to work.
Even though I practice corporate law, my clients don’t view their issues through a nine-to-five lens. Many of them crave my attention twenty-four seven, and since they’re paying me what amounts to a king’s ransom, I do my best to keep myself available for their whims.
I smile when I spot the last text message to arrive.
Milo: You’ll be glad to know that I didn’t get arrested today.
I glance at the time on the corner of the screen.
Rook: The day isn’t over yet. You’ve still got two hours to stir up some shit.
I tug on the waistband of my boxer briefs while I wait for his reply.
Milo: I’m at my office, so you can rest easy, counselor. I won’t require your services tonight.
I’m thankful for that, and grateful that my daughter is with her mom tonight. I’ve got a hell of a lot of pent-up energy that I need to release before I fall asleep. I need to come again to try and soothe the ache inside of me for Carrie.
I glance down when another text pops onto the screen.
Milo: I’ll buy you dinner tomorrow. Consider it payback for helping me out at the police station the other night.
Chuckling, I type out my response before hitting send.