Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 53872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Burke leaned against his desk, a cup of coffee in his hand and a thoughtful smile on his lips.
She didn’t have to fake her nerves, just the reason for them. “I feel like I’ve been called to the principal’s office.”
“Nonsense. I just wanted a chance to talk to you in private.”
She bit her lip and clasped her hands together. “If this is about kissing Wendi—”
He laughed, exactly the way she expected him to, and shook his head. “That? I enjoyed that thoroughly. In fact, if you hadn’t suggested it I’d been planning to. I’m not a jealous man, Miss Rivera. A fact that pained my last three wives to no end. And let’s be honest, a fact that is already worrying my sweet young bride.”
“Women like to feel wanted. Special.”
He nodded, taking a sip of his coffee. “And men like to think that their lover has never seen a bigger penis. We both know how often that’s true.”
She smiled in silence and he sighed, setting down his cup. “You are a singular woman, Miss Rivera. Smart, independent, unapologetically sexual…and your physical appeal is undeniable.”
“Thank you. That’s nice of you to say.”
He met her gaze with his smart brown eyes. “The truth isn’t nice. It just is. I’m being honest with you, and I’d appreciate some honesty in return.”
Sorry, Charlie. “Of course, Mr. Burke.”
“You’re a valued member of the fetish club my guests frequent, so I don’t doubt you knew what to expect before you arrived.”
“Yes, I did.”
“You never joined us before.”
She shrugged. “You never invited Stephen before. I know the others sign something before they arrive so they’ll keep whatever they see here to themselves. The temptation to spend four days with him where we didn’t have to sneak around and wouldn’t have to worry about consequences was impossible to resist.”
He nodded, pleased with her answer. “It bothers you? Being his dirty little secret?”
She lifted her chin. “More than it used to. Why are you so interested?”
“Well, because I want to work with him, of course.” He pushed out a laugh. “Or to be more precise, I want him to work with me.”
She sent him a confused frown and he waved it away. “The innocent is one card you can’t play, Natasha. You’re far too savvy. The way the world works isn’t lost on someone like you. Not with your background.”
Fine. She placed a hand on her hip. “Which background exactly? Black? Puerto Rican? Immigrant’s daughter?”
He reached behind him for a file and slapped it against his leg; not needing to open it for Tasha to know it was all about her. “Father’s family connected to known Irish terrorists, mother a perpetual victim moving from one abusive man to another, cousins in and out of jail or victims of an unfairly slanted economic system. And you a struggling business owner trying to find her own sweet slice of the American dream. Basically, you’re Finn’s constituency wrapped up in one curvy package.” He picked up his cup again. “You’re also a problem.”
“I would ask how you know so much about me, but you do have a building full of reporters at your beck and call.”
He smiled. “I do. But I had to spend time with you to find out whether or not we could work together.”
Now her confusion was real. “I thought you said you wanted to work with Stephen.”
“Before I respond to that, tell me honestly, how long have you been in love with him?”
She took a step back, scrambling. “I…”
“You’ve been friends with his younger brother since high school. You both attended the same college. You hang out at his father’s pub and recently brought his baby sister to the club and helped her become an official member.”
Shit. Shitshitshit.
He didn’t give her a chance to deny it. “All of this and yet there isn’t a whisper of a rumor about you and Stephen Finn being a couple—aside from that idiot young Jennifer was engaged to, who told us he saw you together in the backseat of a car.”
“Scott?”
“Yes, that was his name. He said he had something for me but he accidentally erased the video on his phone. I refuse to pay for information I can’t verify.”
Burke stood and slid his hands into his pockets. “Everyone under this roof can see what’s between you. You didn’t have to hide it from us. But you do hide it, every day, even from the people you’re closest to. I might be one of the few people who truly understands how difficult it is to keep that kind of secret for so long. And you do that for him, don’t you? For his reputation. His career. That says love to me. The kind that wouldn’t accept a generous check to go public with your illicit affair, giving my reporters the exclusive, of course.”