Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 103124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
I shrug. “Perhaps.”
“I hear she’s tenacious as fuck,” she says. “With a woman like that, you won’t win, you know.”
I stifle a laugh. She has no idea what I’m capable of. “We’ll see.”
Before she can reply, a stunning blonde woman in an elegant, red-sheath gown interrupts us.
Amélie La Trobe.
To put it bluntly, my one-time fuck buddy.
We had a very passionate summer together when I was in college. Then, a year ago, we met up again and quickly became friends with benefits. But I put an end to it months ago. People call her my ex-girlfriend, but the simple truth is we were just two people who had a lot of sex together.
Emotions were never involved.
Her eyes flicker over Bella with gleaming interest.
“I’m sorry to interrupt your dance, but I just couldn’t resist the chance to introduce myself,” she says, reaching out to touch Bella on the face. The touch is almost sensual, which is no surprise. Amélie likes to touch. “You are very beautiful.”
“Thank you,” Bella replies, unfazed. “Your dress is stunning.”
Amélie smiles broadly. “Thank you, that’s so kind of you to say.” Her eyes flash up at me. “Nico, darling, you never told me how beautiful your fiancée is. I must admit, I’m quite caught off guard by her beauty.” She reaches for Bella’s arm and leans closer to her. “When he told me he was getting married, I was picturing one of those model-types he is so fond of, you know, tiny waists and legs that go on forever.” Her eyes sparkle over Bella’s face. “But you are something quite different.”
I’m not sure if Amélie is being genuine or if her words are a cloaked jibe. It’s more than likely the latter.
But Bella remains unaffected. “That’s such a lovely thing for you to say. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now if you’ll both excuse me, my date has been trapped by the CEO of some Swiss bank and looks bored to death. Best I save him before he falls asleep in his Negroni.”
Amélie floats off into the crowd, and Bella watches her with a small smile on her ruby-red lips. When she turns back to me, her scent hits me like sunshine, and it’s like a goddamn drug. The dopamine levels in my brain skyrocket.
“Your ex-girlfriend is very attractive,” she says lightly.
With a grin, I take her hand and lead her back onto the dance floor. “What makes you think she’s an ex-girlfriend?”
“The look in her eye. The way she studied me. The tone of her voice.”
“Are you jealous?”
“Not in the slightest.”
“Good. Because you have no reason to be.”
“I know because you’re forcing me to marry you and not her. Or is she going to be your piece on the side during our marriage?”
It’s a comment to show me how much she doesn’t care about me. But it doesn’t bother me because I know it’s fake. This whole tough outer shell thing is phony.
My gaze locks on her. “I promise all my attention will be solely on you.”
She doesn’t look impressed. “Lucky me.”
I think for a moment. “You know, I could give you anything you want.”
“Great, I’ll take some freedom and a side order of divorce, thanks.”
I smile, and then she surprises me and smiles back.
“You have a beautiful smile. You should do it more often,” I say.
“If I did, you might think I’m enjoying myself.”
“Oh, you’re enjoying yourself. You’re just too stubborn to admit it.” I lean closer. “Careful, wife-to-be, I might start to think you don’t hate me after all.”
She smiles up at me sweetly. “Oh no, I still hate you.”
I lift an eyebrow. “You don’t kiss like you hate me.”
Her cheeks flush, and she stiffens a little in my arms. “What can I say? I’m a great actress.”
“You’re not a bad dancer, either.”
“Yes, I’m very talented.”
In a low, rough voice, I reply, “I look forward to learning just how talented you are.”
She gives me a look that suggests she’d rather poke out her eyes with a fork than let that happen.
“Slow down, buddy. Our marriage will be in name only.”
Her body language and words tell me she hates me. But I know I also unnerve her and not because I’ve forced her into this situation. No, I make her nervous because she doesn’t trust a part of herself to be around me—the part that kissed me back when I pressed her against the wall in my penthouse.
“You make sure you let me know if you change your mind,” I say lightly.
Her eyes gleam wickedly. “Sure. How about you hold your breath until then.”
Fighting the smile on my lips, I pull her tighter. I have a feeling this will be a lot more interesting than I could’ve imagined.
As we dance, Bella looks around the crowded room. “I didn’t realize I had so many friends. Do you think anyone bought us a toaster?”