Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87990 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87990 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
“Are you really in such a rush to get back to him? As Remington’s right hand, shouldn’t you take the opportunity to work the client?”
I did a double-take. Talk about being forward. “Excuse me?”
“He’s had you research me, right? Find out where my stockholdings are, where I like to eat, who I like to fuck?”
My smile fell.
“Relax. It’s an old game he’s been playing at for years. You seem nice, so I’ll save you some time. He’s not getting my company.”
This was getting uncomfortable. “I don’t have the details of his plans.”
“Let’s not pollute this peaceful introduction with lies, Rayne.” He rubbed his jaw and studied me. “You struck me as someone…honest. Am I wrong?”
The alternative was to call myself a liar. “Being honest doesn’t mean I know my boss’s intentions. He’s a very complicated man with a very busy schedule.”
“So am I.” He grinned, flashing a line of pearly white teeth. “It’s cute how you defend him. I’d bet there isn’t another person at this party—including his children—who would think to protect a man like Remington Davenport. He must pay you damn well for that sort of loyalty.”
“I’m just a loyal person. It has nothing to do with my paycheck.”
A dimple formed in the dark stubble beside his mouth. “I’m beginning to see why Hale married you.” His gaze moved over me. “I bet every man out there knows who you are.”
“That’s two bets in under a minute.”
“What can I say? I can’t resist a gamble. How am I doing so far?”
“Well, up until five minutes ago, you had no idea who I was. So I guess you're not always right.” But he was doing better than I wanted to admit.
“Touché. But I know who you are now, and you’re not easily forgotten.”
I was too tired to unravel his innuendos. “If people know who I am, it’s because I’m the only pregnant woman here.”
“Exactly.”
Okay, this was getting weird. Where was Hale when I needed him? “I have to get back. My husband’s waiting for me.”
“I bet he is.” He cupped a hand at the side of his mouth and whispered, “In case you lost count, that’s three.”
I laughed nervously. “It was, uh, nice meeting you.”
“The pleasure was mine. Rayne.”
As soon as I opened the door, I abruptly stopped. “Remington?”
He untangled himself from the arms of some young brunette. “Meyers? What are you doing down here? The party’s that way.”
I scoffed. Was he going to play this off like he wasn’t just making out with some chick that had to be his daughter’s age? And to think I was just defending him.
“What am I doing?” I looked at the girl, her lipstick smeared off her lips and her dress slightly disheveled. He was unbelievable. Odette was in the ballroom waiting for him. “I’m leaving.”
I wanted to find Hale and go home. Leaving him and that slice of veal he was pawing in the hall, I went to find my husband.
Hale was getting his ear chewed off by Barrett’s date. He appeared immediately relieved to see me. “Hey,” I interrupted. “I’m ready to go home.”
He frowned, surprised by my bluntness. “It’s still early—”
“No, Hale. I’m ready now.”
He excused himself from McKinsey and pulled me aside. “I arranged a surprise for you.”
I had enough surprises for one night. Very aware of Odette’s location in the ballroom, I averted my stare, afraid of what might happen if I looked her in the eye. “I want to leave.”
Just then, the band changed from a traditional classical ballad to a more modern tune. Hale laced his fingers with mine and pulled me toward the center of the ballroom. “May I have this dance?”
My eyes widened. “What’s happening?”
“You said you wanted to dance.”
“No, I said no one was dancing. And they still aren’t.” The last thing I wanted was to become more of a spectacle.
He pulled me to his chest and planted a hand on my lower back. “Do you recognize the song?”
The familiar notes of Cyndi Lauper’s Time After Time registered. It was the song we danced to at our wedding. Guests formed a circle around us and watched as Hale twirled me in a slow circle.
Remington appeared with a scowl, disrupting Hale’s romantic moment. “Meyers, I need a word.”
“Not now, Dad.”
“Yes, now. It’s important.”
I glared at him, because even I had reached the end of my patience with him. “Not now, Remington.”
Hale twirled us away from his father. “You’re the prettiest woman in the room tonight, Rayne.”
I was fuming. “That’s great, Hale, but I just saw your dad making out with some chick in the hall.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“He had his tongue down some woman’s throat.” I gagged. “What the hell is he thinking? Odette’s right there.” Why were bathroom visits always so complicated at these fancy functions? “Oh, and I met that Landry guy. He’s creepy.”