Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 142866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
“As soon as I ask, everything changes, Mav.” I shake my head. “No, it breaks girl code.”
“You’re a grown-ass woman, Hendrix, not a girl. And isn’t girl code for friends? I’ve known Zere for years, and I’d never heard your name before that party. You are, at best, business associates beginning a friendship.”
“You think those technicalities will make a difference when it comes down to it?”
“She was out with some other dude just days ago. She’s moved on. I’m ready to move on,” he says. “Look, I didn’t think I’d want this again, a relationship yet, but I met you. That changed everything.”
Hearing that makes me want to melt, but I steel myself against his arguments and the emotions. There was a tiny part of me that dared to hope when I saw Zere dating again, but I’m not convinced it will make a difference. And I don’t think I could blame her if she objected to me starting with her ex. I’d probably feel the same way in her position.
“I really didn’t mean to sound like some sugar daddy who thinks he can buy your way into television.” There is self-deprecation in the twist of his lips and his sigh. “I know you’d never look for that. I respect what you’re doing. Hell, why do you think I want you? Besides being gorgeous, you’re brilliant and generous and principled and industrious.”
This man could talk me into my own bed if I let him. It would probably be the best sex of my life. He would probably be the best at many things, only making it harder to walk away when I need to. And walking away from a man, putting my needs first, has never been a problem for me. I won’t start now.
I walk briskly to the door and open it wide.
“There are plenty of other women who are all those things,” I say, nodding toward the empty hall. “I’m sure one of them will be more than happy to fuck you and let you buy them a career in television ’cause it won’t be me.”
“Hendrix, don’t—”
“Do you not see this door standing wide-open?” I firm my mouth, still swollen from his kisses. “Your ten minutes have been up.”
He walks over, stopping directly in front of me, frustration and something like longing in his stare. “If you don’t give us a chance, then how can you—”
“I don’t think we should talk anymore. Skipper and Bolt can handle correspondence for Aspire, if you ever did actually want to invest.” I narrow my eyes, one hand going to my hip. “Or was that just another way you thought you could ‘help’ meet my goals on the road to fucking me?”
He flinches, but smooths his features out, molds them into the mask he shows the world. “That’s really not fair and I think you know it.”
He leans toward me, and I stiffen but don’t push him away. He dips until his lips brush my ear with a whisper, sending shivers skittering down my spine.
“You know it’s real, Hendrix, and if you think anything you’ve said has changed my mind about us, I’m sorry to disappoint you.”
He drops a quick kiss on my mouth and draws back, resting a finger on my lips before I can voice any protest. He surprises me with a genuine smile, something like anticipation in his eyes. “Because I’m just getting started.”
CHAPTER 26
HENDRIX
So the theme is personal glamour?” Soledad asks, sitting cross-legged on the overstuffed bench in my closet. “That’s pretty broad.”
“It is,” I say absently, flicking through a few dresses I’ve never worn. “The invitation said interpret how you like, but you can best believe everyone will bring their A game. Heavy hitters in fashion and entertainment will be at Zere’s birthday party.”
Maverick won’t be there, though.
The thought has intruded on my peace of mind ever since he left my apartment last night. I practically kicked him out, but have been aching ever since. I stuff that unwanted emotion down and hold a sequined minidress against my chest, the electric blue almost hurting my eyes under the overhead lights.
“What do we think?” I ask, standing in a nude bra and underwear. “Too bright?”
Soledad squints exaggeratedly. “I think that dress took me down to twenty-fifty vision.”
“Shut up.” I laugh, tossing the dress on top of her head and turning back to my seemingly bottomless selection of clothes.
“You live in a loft apartment and your closet is bigger than mine in a six-bedroom house.”
“Well, this was originally a guest room, remember? I have more clothes than guests, so this room got remodeled to suit ya girl’s needs.” I study the glass-enclosed cubbies that hold my myriad shoes. “I need to find those Rene Caovilla sandals. These are alphabetized, but I don’t see the ones I’m looking for. Now where did I—”