Series: Werewolves of Wall Street Series by Renee Rose
Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 94820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
I squeeze a lime into my drink and stir it with the mini straw. I haven’t eaten anything, and the vodka tonic is going straight to my head. Of course, it’s my second one, so that probably explains it.
A group of rowdy white and Asian college guys next to me at the bar keep looking over, giving me smiles. They’re looking for encouragement to strike up a conversation, but I steadily ignore them and watch the band.
They’re playing my favorite Pat Benatar song, “Invincible,” and I would love to grab the mic and take over the vocals because their vocalist doesn’t have the range for it. Not that I’m judging. I don’t think you have to have a great voice to make music. Any voice will do. It’s the desire to sing, to express yourself, that matters.
The door swings open, and there’s a Wild West saloon moment when someone so very out of place walks in.
Billy Billions.
Still in his Wall Street suit. What is he doing here? And how did he find me?
He looks pissed as hell, like he’s here to make heads roll. Heh. It’s probably because I left Pepper there. I check his arm to see if he’s carrying my dog, but he’s empty-handed.
His gaze flicks to the guys standing near me then locks onto me.
For some reason, flutters start in my belly as he strides over. I’m not afraid of his anger. Hell, I want it. The flutters aren’t fear–they’re pure excitement. My pussy clenches at the thought of him trying to punish me again.
Will I let him?
That is the $10,000 question.
Billy doesn’t confront me when he arrives, though. He pushes his way between me and the group of guys, angling his back to them and his front to my side.
I wait for him to say something, but he’s signaling to the bartender for a drink. “Crown Royal. Neat.” He drops a hundred on the counter.
He leans his hip against the bar in what for him is probably his most casual stance and looks at me. “Nice jacket.”
“Thanks. It’s vintage.” I was hoping to show it off to Madi.
Now I doubt she’ll ever see it.
Billy keeps studying me. I could make a comment on his stuck up suit, but I don’t feel like it. I’ve really lost my mojo if I don’t have the energy to make fun of Billions.
Then he says, “Madi stood you up.”
Of all the things I expected him to say, that was not it.
Sympathy laces his words. Understanding.
I wouldn’t have even thought him capable of such a thing.
My eyes widen, and my throat closes, nose suddenly hot and tight.
He touches my arm, his touch light at first then closing into a reassuring squeeze.
“It’s like, the tenth time.” My voice clogs. I sound like a teenager, but Billy’s standing there, regarding me with something resembling warmth, and it all comes out. “I never see her anymore. I thought painting the mural in your building meant we’d at least get to hang out, but she’s always either with Brick or at work. I’ve been trying to get together with her for weeks now.” A tear escapes my eye, and I flick it away.
I feel like a fool.
“I know. Feels like you lost your best friend.”
I blink rapidly at him. He must feel the same way with Brick. “Yeah. I mean, I think I did.” That realization comes crashing over me.
It’s time to face it. People change. Not all friendships last. Maybe I’ve been clinging to something that I need to let go of.
Billy shakes his head. “Madi needs and loves you. It’s just an adjustment to a new situation.”
I stare at him. I don’t even want to talk about this anymore–it hurts too much. “Why are you here?”
“Madi called me when you wouldn’t answer your phone. You want to get dinner? You haven’t eaten, right?”
I narrow my eyes. Sparring with him is definitely better than talking about Madi. “Were you spying on me with a nanny cam or something?”
He scoffs. “Please. I don’t need a nanny cam to know what you’re up to, Silver.”
I cock my head and adopt a teasing quality to my voice. “What was I up to?”
His lips curl slightly at the edges. I am coming to love that look on him. “I saw you made coffee and used my shower. And left me your dog.” He raises his brows.
“Yeah, how’d you like that?”
“I’m going to punish you for it later.”
A hot tingle washes over me. Yum.
He downs his whiskey and tilts his head toward the door. “Come on. Let’s get dinner. You need a good meal.”
“Okay, but how do you know I haven’t eaten yet?” I press.
“I know you left not long before I got home, and I didn’t smell any food.”
“You have nanny cams set up to make sure I don’t steal anything, and now that they’re up, you no longer feel like you have to work from home while I’m there,” I accuse. “Did you watch me shower?”