Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 119184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
“Dog food? I thought you made your money with some kind of dating app?” At least, that’s what the internet said.
“I’m out of that game. Sold my entire stake off to a bigger company last year.”
“Why?”
“It got my foot in the door and let me make my own money and make connections, rather than resting on the family business. Still, it’s not what I care about. Another round?” He gestures for two refills. “But what about you?”
“What about me?” I shake my head. “I’m sick to death of dating apps, and I barely remember to charge my phone. I’m overworked at a small clinic and undersocialized. My friends are getting married to superheroes and living their best lives. I’m stuck with my bad self because my last date wouldn’t shut up about his fifty-dollar investment in a crypto coin with an anime logo. Blah.”
Too honest?
I wonder when I see the way he cocks his head.
“Never asked about your dating life, Sass.”
My face heats. It’s in the way he says it—no silly nickname should be that devastating.
“Hey, you asked for a briefing. That’s my messy, boring life. Stay away if you’re smart.”
“I’m more interested in today, woman. You going to tell me why you always leave work looking like you’ve had your heart split in two?”
Holy ouch.
The memory comes sweeping back, all sharp claws. The wound reopens in my chest, gushing fresh sorrow.
I think about Dr. Ezzie. Her defeat and despair, the sad way she’s resigning herself to being eaten by a shark before we ever put up a fight.
God, the way she has no fight.
One meeting, and Harry’s sucked that much life out of her.
“That face,” Brady rumbles, sipping his new cocktail and setting it down with a clink. “That’s the one I’m wondering about. You’re wearing it now.”
“It’s a long story.”
“I’m in no rush.”
I grab my drink and down half of it in one gulp that almost makes me choke. Not how anyone should relish a thirty-dollar craft cocktail, but hell, I needed a boost.
“A couple days ago, my boss had a meeting with a man. Harry Jay,” I say. “He works in property investment.”
Brady tilts his head. “Think I’ve heard the name. Made a big splash in real estate, didn’t he? I remember he was involved in that pier renovation along the waterfront. I never wanted to touch that game.”
“That’s smart.”
“So, what about Harry Jay and your boss?”
I try—I really do—to keep my fury under wraps. But it’s impossible, because my ex gives me that imminent-spider feeling.
“He wants to invest in our clinic. It’s a high-risk situation with debt, and he’s the only kind of investor my boss could find,” I say. “But really, he’s not looking to help us keep the lights on. I think he just wants the land Pawsome Hearts is on. You’ve seen it—this big piece of property that’s gotten rare. Very few small businesses own a plot like that outright. Dr. Ezzie bought it back when things were cheap. But it’s been a struggle the last few years. She’s having a hard time keeping up for personal reasons. I just know that shithawk’s swooping in while we’re wounded and bleeding to—sorry.” I catch myself, taking another violent swig of my drink.
“Shithawk. I like it.”
“It’s true. The land is—I don’t know how much it’s worth, but it’s valuable.”
“A pretty penny,” he offers with a nod.
“Right. And Harry, he’s—he’s the worst kind of creep. A freak who enjoys humiliating people.” There it is: my anger boiling over in hot, vicious words.
At this point, I don’t know when I’ll ever be over him, and that’s embarrassing. Even on this not-date.
Brady’s eyebrows go up.
“Forget the last part. There’s a reason I don’t normally do the midweek-drinking thing,” I lie.
The clear blue of Brady’s eyes hardens into ice as he stares at me.
“You know him,” he growls. It’s not a question.
“. . . We might’ve dated in college.” The confession comes out in a rush. My face is burning.
“Shit,” he rasps.
“It’s whatever. Let’s just say it didn’t end well. He’s a raging asshole. It was years ago, and I thought I was done with that chapter, but now he’s coming in hot to ruin my life again. So yeah, it’s personal and I’m a little bitter.”
I don’t realize I’m almost breathless until Brady lays his hand on my arm. He orders a couple glasses of water from the bartender.
“Have you told your boss about him?”
My breath shudders on its way out. “I tried, but she’s hard up. Desperate almost.”
What is happening?
I didn’t think Brady’s thick palm could feel this good on my skin. He still carries himself like a massive prick, but tonight he’s being human.
“Hey.” He’s suddenly moving closer, his fingers twined with mine, and that’s when I realize I’m crying. My hands are trembling.
My vision blurs, and I suck in another shaky breath.