Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 83961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
But even if I don’t, even if the night ends with nothing more than a chaste kiss on the cheek, I’ll enjoy it.
Spending time with Bianca is like taking the most noxious drug. Constant stimulation, not just in my dick but everywhere in my body. She’s so sweet, so elegant. But she’s also a Montrose, so there’s an element of danger with her.
I pull up in my gold Cadillac DeVille to the apartment building’s long circular driveway, where a valet driver waves me over. I get out of the car. It’s pretty chilly tonight for mid-March, and I’m bundled up in my long camel peacoat—a gift from Maddox. Underneath, I’m wearing a tan tweed blazer over a blue and white gingham shirt with dark wash jeans. Brown shoes and a matching belt complete the look. It’s a little casual, but I figured we’re visiting clubs that aren’t as exclusive as Aces, so the dress code might be a little more lax.
The valet driver approaches me. He’s quite tall, and bundled up too, with several scarves, a high-collared overcoat, and large sunglasses almost completely obscuring his face. He extends an arm, probably expecting me to hand him my keys.
“One sec,” I say. “The woman I’m picking up is probably on her way down. I’ll save you the trip.”
The valet nods silently but then points to a sign hanging overhead. Five-minute parking. No exceptions. Violators will be towed at vehicle owner’s expense.
“I got it.” I punch Bianca’s number into the phone and bring it to my ear.
A few rings, and then her sweet voice. “Harrison?”
“Hey there, babe. I’m parked outside the apartment building.”
“Wonderful. Do you mind coming up? I’ll buzz you in.”
“Sure. I’ll have the valet park my car.”
“Perfect. You don’t have to pay him. He’s included in my rent.”
“Good to know.”
“I’m on the thirty-second floor when you get inside.”
“Great. What apartment number?”
She pauses. “Just…the thirty-second floor. I’ll buzz you up.”
I nearly drop the phone. She has an entire floor to herself? Damn. She must make great money.
“Sounds good. I’ll be up in a jiff.”
“Wonderful. Bye.”
“Bye.” I pocket my phone and hand my keys to the valet. “Guess I’ll be needing your services after all.”
The valet nods and takes my keys.
I walk through the revolving door into the lobby of Bianca’s apartment building, and I’m nearly blinded by the atrium with polished marble floors beneath a cascading crystal chandelier. Walls of rich walnut paneling accented with bronze inlays lead to a long concierge desk of black granite manned by a man in a dark-green uniform.
Damn. I’m a doctor, and I don’t make the kind of money to live in a place like this.
There’s no way Bianca’s salary is high enough to live here.
Then again, the Montroses are old money. Bianca probably isn’t dependent on the money she makes from the club.
Must be nice. I came from next to nothing. My parents could barely afford the mortgage on our mobile home. Of course, it didn’t help that they kept pushing out babies like their lives depended on it.
I cross the lobby to an elevator and press the button with a gold-lined number thirty-two on it. The doors close, and the elevator rushes up. It’s one of those high-speed lifts that makes you feel like your organs are going to come out your ass when you ascend. I chuckle when my ears literally pop as I go up.
It opens to Bianca’s apartment, and damn!
Modern grandeur, coated in marble accents and light hardwood floors, with contemporary art on the walls. Bianca is sitting at a piano, singing a song I instantly recognize. Johanna’s song from Sweeney Todd, one of my favorite musicals.
She’s singing ethereal high notes, far higher in pitch than the sultry jazz standards she performs at Aces. I had no idea she had this kind of range. Each notes pings perfectly and reverberates across the whole apartment. She’s playing block chords on her grand piano as she finishes the song, ending on a gorgeous high note.
I applaud, and she turns around, her cheeks reddening.
“Sorry.” She gets up from the piano bench. “I thought I’d be finished before you got up here. I didn’t mean for you to hear that.”
“Don’t ever apologize for singing like that, Bianca. It was beautiful.”
I walk toward her, my arm extended to caress her check, and I drop my jaw. She’s chosen a different makeup palate tonight. Thicker eyeliner and nearly black lipstick.
And my God…
A green ribbon snaking around the back of her head.
If she dyed her hair jet black...
She’d look just like Ray Sinclair.
My heart is pounding at Ray’s words. “What do you mean a lifetime of pain?”
Ray grins. “Come on, Brother Harry. Think outside the box. What are Hector’s weaknesses?”
Honestly, I have no idea. I don’t think he has a trick knee, or whatever. He’s a huge guy. That’s why he’s able to beat up on me so easily. I’m scrawny, weak. With these damned ears.