Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 66753 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66753 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
His mouth slants over my mouth, then he’s kissing me, and oh, God, when this man kisses me, he consumes me. And this is not just a kiss, it’s a claiming. He drinks me in and I drown in the rush of heat and emotion he stirs in me. I drown in my need for him. The only thing that saves me is another slide of his tongue and the feel of his hands on my body. I’m clutching his jacket when he ends the kiss and says, “That’s why. And if I don’t walk away right now, someone is going to walk in on us fucking against this wall.”
He releases me and walks toward the door. I push off the wall and step toward him, intending to stop him, but he stops on his own. He pauses at the door and looks at me. “You needed to know why and I told you why. I know you well enough to know now you have to think about what I said, and I respect that. But don’t think too long.”
That’s all he says. And then he’s gone.
Chapter Seventeen
Tyler
Insanity is what my father would call where I’m headed with Bella.
Everything was a contract to him.
He’d tell me to control everything. Control her. Control my enemies. He’s my damn enemy, and even with him in the ground, I’m doing a shitty job of controlling him. I didn’t even realize the way I was emulating him. I am not like him. I will never be like him. And it’s about time I make that clear to everyone including him, because the bastard has to be hanging around to enjoy this shit.
I enter my office, walk to the bar, fill a glass, and down the smoky bite of the bourbon.
I told myself this contract was a good way to fuck Bella out of my system without fucking her over. I convinced myself I was offering her security. But when I put myself in her shoes, and I think about her maybe, just maybe, feeling like I do about her about me, and it’s not as simple then. I screwed up and now I have to fix it.
My intercom buzzes and Debbie calls out, “Gavin is here.”
I down the last swallow of my drink and leave the glass behind. Once I’m at my desk I sit down and hit the button. “Send him back.”
When the bastard walks into my office, he’s got nothing but a briefcase on him. “Where are the files you promised me?”
He shuts the door. “There are boxes on top of boxes on that family. You really want to go through all of those files?” He dumps his briefcase on the table and walks to the bar.
“The Allen family is attached to this firm and being used against me. I want to read the essays they wrote in grade school if that’s what it takes for me to figure out how to control them.”
“You don’t control these people, Tyler,” he says, filling a glass with one of my more expensive bourbons. “Do this the easy way.” He downs the contents of his glass and joins me. “I’ve narrowed your fiancée list to five good, solid options. And don’t worry, I made sure they’re all arm candy.”
“You know I’m involved with Bella.”
“Involved?” he challenges, grabbing a folder from his briefcase. “You mean you’re fucking?” He sets the folder in front of me. “Look at the list. Debbie’s on there. I had her checked out. She’s hot, she’s sweet, and she actually comes from money. She doesn’t have to work, she just wants to. Sound familiar?”
“You want me to fuck my secretary?” I ask. “Really, Gavin?”
“You’re fucking Bella.”
I toss the folder to his side of the desk. “Keep it. I don’t need it.”
“You have everything to lose.”
Including Bella, I think, but Gavin would never understand why that matters, which is why I don’t bother to tell him. “Get me those boxes. Now. This afternoon.”
“If as much as a whisper of you looking into the Allens gets out, they will come at you.”
“Unless you’re a double agent who’s going to tell them, get me the boxes.” I wave him off. “Go. I have a meeting on my schedule and work to do first.”
He scoots the folder back toward me. “Take it. Look at it. Make a choice. It may be the way of the old, but this is an arranged marriage that saves your assets and provides security for those who count on you—your employees. Either get Bella onboard or move on, Tyler.”
My jaw tics.
He stands up, grabs his bag, and walks toward the door.
“Get me those files!” I call after him. “Today.”
He lifts a hand and exits the door.
Damn it to hell.
I tab through the address book on my phone and make the call I should have already made. Dierk Jordan is an ex-CIA agent and a man who will do about anything for a payday. We’ve used him in random situations that were critical to the firm and its clients. He’ll do security work, but he prefers the grittier stuff, and that’s what I’m going to give him. I need him to find out everything there is to know about my father and his legal and financial teams. And, yes, the Allen family, without them ever finding out I dug around.