Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 99434 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99434 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
“And the woman he brought? She’s an SEC attorney. How convenient. I guess he figures next time he gets caught bilking a client, he’ll have free representation at least.” I recognized the voice as Chelsea—Grant’s daughter, and the same woman who’d been so nice to his face.
The other woman cackled. “Wish I was an attorney. He might be a criminal, but he’s still hot as hell. I’d let him drill me in exchange for some free legal services.”
“My father believes he’s innocent. Can you believe that? Then again, he was also partners with Gray’s father. Maybe he just likes assholes.”
The two of them stuck around for a few more jabs at someone else and then slithered back to the party. I stayed frozen in place, still locked in the stall. That woman had smiled and acted friendly to both our faces. I’d been so consumed with my own thoughts on Gray, I’d never stopped to consider that he’d lost more than just three years of his life.
That time in prison would follow him around forever. People would pretend to move past it, but there’d always be a shadow of suspicion. I’d seen it happen to criminal clients—an innocent man wrongly accused of rape. Even after his name was cleared, people still looked at him funny. There was always a morsel of doubt. Maybe, just maybe, he’d done it and gotten away with it. Only in Gray’s case, not only had he not done it, he hadn’t gotten away with it either, and he’d lost his freedom for years.
I wasn’t quite sure how to handle what I’d just heard. Should I tell him? Could he possibly already know? My instinct told me he had no idea these people were fake and talking about him behind his back. I stayed in the bathroom for a few more minutes to collect my thoughts, and then headed back out to the party.
Gray was coming down the hall to the bathroom as I exited.
“There you are. I was about to send out a search party for you.”
I forced a smile. “Sorry. Women take forever in the bathroom.”
He studied my face. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes. Sure,” I lied.
“Dance with me again.” He put his arm around my waist and guided me to walk with him. “It’s the only way I can get my hands on you in public without making a scene.”
Once we were on the floor, I broached the subject of Grant’s daughters to see if he realized they were two-faced assholes. “Grant’s family seems nice.”
“Yeah. Grant was one of the few people who never doubted me when I said I was innocent. And his daughters are great, too.”
My heart ached. God, I hated that he’d done something so admirable to save a woman he’d cared about, and people would forever have doubts. I guess I wasn’t very good at hiding my face.
“You sure everything is okay?”
“Yes, fine.”
There was no point in telling him what I’d overheard at this moment. I’m sure it would just hurt. But realizing people would hesitate about him for a long time made me realize I needed to stop my own hesitation. Either I was in or I was out. It wasn’t fair to him to be like those women.
In that moment, I decided to take a chance—really take a chance. Jump in with both feet.
“How long do we need to stay?” I asked as we swayed on the dance floor.
Gray looked disappointed. “Do you need to get home early?”
“Yes.”
“Work on a Sunday?”
“Well, maybe, but no.”
“Are you not enjoying the party?”
“I’m not really in the mood for a party anymore.”
He pulled his head back. “Would you like to go somewhere else?”
I caught Gray’s eyes and looked into them deeply before gently brushing my lips to his. “Your place.”
Gray froze. He searched my eyes, and I got the feeling he was afraid to believe what I was telling him.
“My place?”
I leaned in and whispered. “What was it you said you wanted to do to me while the sun came up?”
One minute we were on the dance floor, and the next we were heading toward the door. I laughed as I worked to keep up in my heels. Gray was practically running for the exit.
Outside, he rushed to the curb and raised his hand with an ear-splitting whistle, flagging down a passing taxi and whipping the door open for me.
I couldn’t stop laughing. “But we came in your town car.”
“No time to wait for him. Get in.”
Chapter 20
* * *
Gray
I didn’t want to fucking disappoint her.
Halfway to my apartment, I started to realize I needed to grab a quick shower for a few minutes of privacy when I got home. My cock was straining for release just sitting in the back of the cab and holding her hand. There was no fucking way I was going to be able to satisfy her like this. My performance would rival a teenage boy’s shitty first time. I’d be lucky if I didn’t come in my own hand trying to get my dick out of my pants.