Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 78521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
No one needs to worry about making conversation because Kathy takes over. Yes, she’s very intelligent. More than that, though, she’s also shrewd and cunning. She’ll make a good lawyer. Not a great stepmother, though.
I suppress a chuckle. Dad will never let it get that far.
I can’t help but compare Kathy to the incredible woman next to me. Skye is such a challenge. But Kathy? Kathy is most definitely not a challenge. Intelligent, yes. But clearly she’ll lie on her back to get what she wants. Not a challenge at all.
Dinner is delicious. Tomato bisque with fresh basil and then prime rib of beef, garlic mashed potatoes, roasted Brussels sprouts, and au jus.
“Save room for dessert,” I say to Skye.
“What’s for dessert?” she asks.
“I don’t know what they’re serving here,” I say, “but I know what I’ll be having.”
She squirms, and I smile.
She’s getting wet just thinking about it.
“Dad,” I say, “I just remembered I have an early meeting.”
“On a Sunday?”
“Yup. So Skye and I will have to skip the jazz tonight.”
“Have it your way, son.”
Oh, yes. I plan to.
Chapter Nineteen
“What did you think?” I ask Skye after Christopher picks us up.
“I like your brother a lot.”
“And my father?”
“He seems nice.”
“But?”
“Braden, you know exactly what I’m thinking. What’s he doing with her? She’s my age.”
I chuckle. “She won’t be around for too long. Once she gets what she wants, she’ll be on her way.”
“And you’re okay with her using your dad like that?”
Not particularly, but if it doesn’t affect my business—and Dad seems to think it won’t—I will look the other way.
Not like I have a choice, anyway.
“My dad is a big boy. He can take care of himself.”
“Your brother says he’s using her as well.”
“Of course he is. She’s willing to spread her legs, and my father’s willing to let her.”
She groans.
“Do you find that distasteful?”
“Not in the way you’re thinking. Your father is very attractive. It’s just not…me.”
“So you weren’t working for Addie for the contacts?”
“I was working for Addie to make a living. The contacts were a nice fringe benefit. You’d better not be suggesting what I think you are. Besides, Addie is definitely not my type.” She lets out a sarcastic chuckle.
“I’m not suggesting that at all. I know you wouldn’t sleep your way to the top. But everyone takes advantage of opportunities.”
“Are you actually defending what she’s doing? I’m sorry, but in my mind, there’s a difference between taking advantage of an opportunity and fucking someone to get somewhere.”
I smirk. Why not play the devil’s advocate?
“What’s the difference? Aren’t they both taking advantage of an opportunity?”
“One is good business, Braden, and the other is close to prostitution.”
“And…”
“And…what?”
“Do you find prostitution distasteful?”
“I find prostitution illegal.” She pauses a moment and then sighs. “You’re right. As long as she and your father are good with the situation, who am I to judge?”
I laugh and squeeze her hand. I’m far from “good” with the situation—mostly because Kathy works for the company—but I believe wholeheartedly in taking advantage of every opportunity that comes your way.
“You’re exactly right,” I say.
“You knew I’d agree, didn’t you?”
“When you thought about it logically, yes, I knew you’d agree.”
“Then why did you push me?”
“Because you’re so adorably indignant.”
“Since you’re so fond of my indignation, why did you leave me alone with your brother and Kathy?”
She’s right. Not my finest move. But I wanted to test Kathy…and she failed.
“You held your own,” I say.
“Of course I held my own. Still, it was pretty uncool of you to leave me with two people I’d just met.”
“I had something to discuss with my father that couldn’t wait.”
“Of course you did. You were giving him shit about bringing his current fuck to dinner.”
“Actually, no, I wasn’t.” Well, I was, but that wasn’t the primary reason I took him aside. “I was talking to him about an investment.”
“And it couldn’t wait?”
“No, it couldn’t, because it was fake.”
“Why would you drag your father away from his dinner party to—”
I grin.
“You were baiting her.”
“I knew you’d figure it out.”
“Why? As you say, your father’s a grown man, and he can take care of himself.”
“I agree. If he wants to spend his money on some young woman who’s only interested in one thing, that’s his prerogative.”
“Then why drop information?”
“Because this is my company, Skye. I love my father, and he does a good job, but sometimes he thinks with the wrong head.”
“You don’t really believe he’d give up trade secrets or anything, do you?”
“Not when he’s in his right mind, no.”
She giggles. “In other words, not when he’s thinking with the right head.”
“Bingo.”
She smiles and covers my hand with hers. “Tell me, Braden. Which head are you thinking with right now?”
I sear her with my gaze, saying nothing.
For as much as I love her, as much as I yearn for Skye Manning, I always think with the right head.