Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 65116 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65116 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
No, bitch. He was mine.
But I took the high road and ignored her. It would only give her more satisfaction to know she got under my skin. Maverick didn’t fall for her seduction, so there was no reason to be threatened by her.
I just wished he hadn’t invited her.
“Okay, don’t tell Maverick I told you this.” Kent appeared at my side, looking a little different because he wore a three-piece suit and had his hair combed back. “But you look so damn hot tonight.”
“I definitely won’t tell him that.” He’d smash his glass against Kent’s skull and make a huge scene in the middle of the party. “He’d lose his temper so fast. And thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He clinked his glass against mine. “Do you find these parties as dull as I do?”
“They aren’t so bad. I’ve met a lot of interesting people through Maverick.”
“If you want to meet interesting people, go to a strip club.”
I rolled my eyes. “You and Maverick are nothing alike. I’m not sure how you’re friends.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. We are alike. Well…we used to be. Things have changed for him. He used to be the shit-talking asshole that I am now. Ever since he met you, he’s mellowed out a lot. No more strip clubs. No more women in general. He’s become the pussy-whipped husband he vowed he would never be.”
“He’s not pussy-whipped.”
“Trust me, he is. That guy loves you.”
That was a scary word for us. The second Maverick received my devotion, things got ugly. “Did he say that to you…?”
“No, but it’s obvious. I’ve watched him stare at women for ten years. Not once has he ever looked at them the way he looks at you.”
I lowered my gaze, touched by what he said.
“The guy wouldn’t be playing house like this unless he wanted to. That’s the biggest indicator right there. Wearing his wedding ring everywhere he goes…turning down easy pussy…a man is only like that for one specific reason. You’re that specific reason.”
Maybe his mistake should stay in the past where it belonged. It was obvious things were different now…very different.
“So, can you point me in the direction of Sabrina? I hear she’s hot.”
I’d rather her dig her claws into Kent than my husband. “She’s standing over there…in the black dress. She’s got dark hair.”
Kent scanned the crowd until his eyes locked on his target. “Damn, she’s sexy. Alright, this party just got better.” He finished off his drink then handed me the empty glass before he walked off to get a date for the evening.
It was the first time I’d had a few seconds to myself. I’d been chitchatting since the first person walked inside, and now I got to catch my breath as I carried the empty glass to a passing waiter. Most of the time, people wanted to talk about my performance at the opera or music in general. Very rarely did people actually ask me about the cheese business, which was good because I really knew nothing about it. Maybe I should be more involved since I was a DeVille, but it seemed like something Maverick wanted to handle on his own.
“The holidays are the worst, don’t you think?” His misery was palpable, and his tone was condescending. Even with a drink in his hand and a suit, he still didn’t look like he belonged there. His dark hair was combed back and he carried himself like an aristocrat, but I could have picked him out of the crowd in a heartbeat.
“Not if you have someone to spend them with.”
“The one person I want to spend this holiday with isn’t here…” With one hand resting in the pocket of his slacks, he brought the glass of champagne to his lips and took a drink. He admired the enormous tree for a moment before his gaze turned back to me.
“You have two other people you should want to spend the holidays with…” My father was probably happy to be reunited with my mother, but I knew he would miss spending the holidays with me. I could never compete with his love for my mother, but I always felt just as important. The desires that drove this man were perplexing.
“They don’t want to spend the holidays with me, so it doesn’t matter.”
“It does matter,” I corrected. “Because they do want to spend the holidays with you…if you just dropped this attitude and became a father again.” Maybe I should be scared that he’d caught me off guard. Maybe I should be scared that he was there at all. But we were surrounded by a crowd full of people. The only way he would be able to kill me was by pulling out a gun and shooting me right on the spot. Everyone would know he was a murderer, and he wouldn’t be able to show his face in public ever again. Caspian was too smart for that, so he was there for a different reason. “If you came here to intimidate me, it won’t work. I’m not afraid of you.”