Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 55860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
“You’re the only one I’ve bothered to ask about it,” I point out. “Why don’t you tell me what you think about exactly?”
“Despite what it looks like trying to waitress off my dad’s gambling debts and barging into your office to blurt out personal things to you, I’m not actually stupid enough to answer that question. My break isn’t that long, and I came in here for a reason. And that reason wasn’t to tell you how hot you look with your sleeves rolled up or how I think about you when I should be thinking about other things. Practical things,” she is so flustered and so clearly furious with herself that she rambles on in a way that’s almost adorable.
“If you want to cut straight to the point, be my guest,” I say.
“What do I need to do?” she said, her hands spread as if she’s hoping a solution will fall from the sky and into her open palms. Her shoulders sag and she seems to droop all at once like she’s wilted. No longer animated by the brightness of interest and challenge in her eyes, not propped up by some strategy or hope.
“About what?” I ask, because I’m not clear on whether she’s asking how to clear her father’s debt faster or what to do about lying awake thinking of me at night.
“All of it,” she says. “The debts, how to keep him from doing this again, how to finish nursing school and have a life of my own that’s more than just cleaning up after—” she breaks off, and I can tell she said too much.
“You decide what the plan is, follow through with it, and let your dad know this is the last time you bail him out. Otherwise, he will go on expecting you to rescue him so he doesn’t have to face any consequences.”
“You mean, so you won’t kill him.”
“I don’t kill anyone.”
She narrows her eyes at me and blows out a breath that says she doesn’t believe me but says nothing.
“I get my hands dirty when it’s called for. I’m not sitting in some ivory tower while my minions—as you call them—do all the work and take all the risks. My position in the organization is more administrative than it once was,” I say with a trace of pride. “You need to talk to Philly.”
“I kind of doubt that he’ll let me put my dad in layaway and pay a little bit each month until he’s paid off and I can take him home.” She puts her hands on her hips, squares up, and huffs out an aggravated breath. “Besides, if I wanted to talk to Philly, I’d be spending my break with him and not you.”
“I’m not the one you owe money to,” I point out.
“No, but you’re the boss, Jack,” she says, and I don’t miss the way she says my name.
“What were you hoping I’d say?”
“I don’t know—” she says, looking away.
“Yeah, you do. What were you prepared to offer me?” I’m baiting her.
“I really don’t know,” she says.
“Were you going to offer me one night with you to wipe out the debt?” I ask.
“What? No! I’m not a whore!”
“So what else do you have to offer?” I goad her, ruthlessly enjoying her fire.
“I can use my nursing skills.”
“You already offered to patch up the wounded in my organization and keep it discreet.”
“I know it’s not much,” she says, then lifts her chin, “but it’s not nothing.”
“I didn’t say it was nothing. It could be a valuable asset,” I agree.
“You’re infuriating, you know that?” she says. “You talk in circles but never get to a point.”
“You want me to get to a point? Okay, here’s a point. I can’t sleep either, because I’m thinking about you, how you wound up in my path, what it means and how to make you mine.”
Her pupils dilate and her cheeks flush.
“Is that all?” she asks, almost meekly now.
“No.”
“What else?”
“How I’ve got a bet with myself that if you’d let me, I could make you come in three minutes or less, anytime, anyplace.”
I see her bristle at my word choice and wait for her to call it out. But I can see that the thought excites and confuses her. She doesn’t recoil, doesn’t storm out or reach over to slap me. I watch the flush creep up her neck. I see her body heats in response to my words, to the way I look at her.
I decide to put her out of her misery. “I’ve never accepted that kind of payment and I don’t plan to. You’d enjoy it though, if I took you up on the offer. A night with you would be worth sixteen thousand and more. Don’t sell yourself short. In fact, don’t sell yourself at all.”
“Would Phil take the deal?” she says, almost choking on the words.