Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24027 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 120(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24027 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 120(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
But Evie is never going to be a rival. In fact, I could maybe even see her being an ally one day. And if not an ally, at least someone that I could confide in.
Jesus, what am I thinking? I barely know this girl, and I’m already thinking about instilling my trust in her? So what if I trusted her old man with my life? Maddox was Maddox, and Evie is Evie. Just because I trusted him it doesn’t mean I can trust her. She knew nothing of his life, and he was right to keep it from her. Never mix business with family. That’s rule number one of living the life we live.
I glance over at her now, sitting beside me, and although she’s all covered up in that big rain jacket of hers, I know that hiding beneath it is the body of a goddess. She’s nothing like the little girl I remember meeting so many years ago; she’s a sexpot that has my testosterone raging and my cock at half-mast as I drive. I don’t care how long it takes; she’ll realize sooner or later that her daddy’s gone, and she’s got a new man to listen to now.
When we arrive at the house, I see her eyes go wide for a half-second, but she quickly composes herself as she tries not to let me see her reaction. I glance at her and grin.
“Not bad, huh?”
She shrugs. “Yeah, it’s all right.”
I could tell her that the house cost more than her entire inheritance, or start listing how many bedrooms it has, or tell her about the indoor swimming pool, the spa, movie theater, 10-car garage, two guest houses, the forty acres, the second outdoor infinity pool and the helicopter pad, but that would be tacky, and I’m not a tacky guy, so I keep my mouth shut and just pull up to the front steps and park. After all, she’ll be here from now on; she’ll have plenty of time to discover it all for herself.
“So this is it?” she muses. “Home sweet home.”
“Hey, I could take you back to the motel and your new friends,” I suggest. “Come on, let’s get out of the rain and get you out of those wet clothes.”
Evie narrows her eyes at me. “Okay, but don’t get any ideas, mister.”
I love her feistiness, but right now is the time when I remind her who’s boss. As she turns to let herself out of the car, I reach out and take hold of the handle, stopping her from leaving. She quickly turns and looks back at me.
“Don’t forget who you’re talking to, baby girl. I like a little sass here and there, don’t get me wrong, but in this castle, I’m the king. And I’ll get all the ideas I want to get, understand?”
I level my eyes at her, firm and steady, so my words could never be misinterpreted as a joke. I see her demeanor change slightly, and after a long moment, she tilts her chin down just enough to be read as a nod.
“Okay.”
I smile just enough to break the tension. “Okay. But you do right, and I’ll spoil you rotten. And who knows, maybe one day you’ll even live like a queen.”
Before she can answer, I turn and get out of the car. As I’m going around to her side, I wonder, why the hell did I say that? Even suggesting something like that to a girl is not like me. Normally, I’m a very guarded man, especially with members of the opposite sex, and here I am giving her hope for a future with me.
Christ, it’s like she’s cast a spell on me, and before I know it, I’m opening her door for her like a valet.
Even Evie looks surprised as she steps out and walks past me up the steps to the front door, which one of my men opens.
“And you are?” he asks.
“She’s with me, Shawn.”
Shawn does his best to hide his confused look as we pass him and step into the house, but I catch it, and from the look on Evie’s face, so does she. Christ she’s sharp.
Shawn isn’t used to me bringing girls back to the house in this fashion, or them entering before me. That’s a big no-no. The king always arrives first.
I watch as Evie takes in the large marble foyer, the chandelier, and the double staircase leading to the second floor. She’s impressed but doing her best not to show it.
“I’m surprised you don’t have a fountain,” she says. “Or a koi pond.”
“You know, I was thinking of having a koi pond put in.”
As I’m starting to smile, Geoffrey, my most trusted associate, enters from my study. I can tell by the way he’s moving that there’s something we need to discuss.