Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 65031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Asshole Stalker: You just bought yourself another few days of anonymity. Keep up the good work, snitch.
I want to send him a thousand middle finger emojis but settle for three.
“Winston?” Perry asks, making me nearly jump out of my skin. “He’s the only one you grin so evilly for.”
I shove my phone into my purse and shake my head. “Just some asshole who thinks he can tell me what to do. I miss Shrimp. You ready to go already? The whore apartment is skeeving me out.”
He laughs, and I let out a sigh. I’ve dodged the first Morelli bullet. Let’s just hope I can dodge the rest.
15
Winston
Thank fuck it’s Friday. This week has rushed by in a blur as I’ve put out one fire after another. It’s like the universe is taunting me. Luckily, Ash is more than a pretty face. Pretty competent too. Between her and Perry, they equal the ability of any mid-level associate, which is surprising considering how green they both are. I’ve had them both running in a million different directions for me. Perry will make it on his last name alone, but it does comfort me knowing Ash plans to go to college. She’ll be successful one day, that’s for damn sure. After our fight over the apartment earlier this week, things have slipped back to the way they were. She works hard every night to please me, and I reward her by not sending her away.
I’m such a dick.
Ash doesn’t seem to be complaining, though.
As if she’s been summoned by my thoughts alone, she walks through my doorway, a paper in her hand. “Perry asked me to give this to you. It’s a list of businesses in a one-mile radius of the Baldridge building.”
I’ve been too busy to do much digging, and Duncan has been useless in getting me information. But, as much as I want to scour the list, my attention is stuck on Ash. Today, she looks hot as fucking sin in a classic cut, navy-blue and white polka-dotted dress that fits all her curves in a tasteful way. It’s very 1950s but fuck if I don’t think it’s the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.
“Close the door,” I rumble, “but don’t lock it.”
Her brow lifts in surprise, but she doesn’t argue. Instead, she swivels, her dress swishing around her, and obeys. I roam my stare up her shapely calves, ass, and hips, appreciating each part of her body. Once we’re sealed in the privacy of my office, I tug at the knot on my tie, loosening it so I can breathe.
“You’ve been too busy to even take me to lunch this week,” she says as she saunters over to me and sets the paper down on my desk. “I was beginning to think my boyfriend was losing interest.”
Not losing interest.
Trying to use my brain instead of my dick.
Yesterday’s lunch was spent with Layla Reynard. What I thought would be a good opportunity for me to put distance between me and Ash, reminding me of what I’m supposed to be interested in, turned out to be a torturous encounter.
Layla was beautiful, just like Nate claimed. Rich, polite, a perfect trophy.
But she wasn’t Ash.
Nothing about her sparked my insane need to possess and own and devour.
Rather than calming my tumultuous mind, it only sent it spinning further into chaos. I’d come back from that lunch and fucked Ash so hard over my desk I’m pretty sure the entire building heard her unravel with my name on her lips.
“Not your boyfriend,” I murmur, though I don’t put much of a punch into my words. “And I pay too much not to see my investment pay off.”
She rolls her eyes as though she’s used to my taunting, but I notice it hits her the wrong way based on the way she winces. “Whatever.”
“Do you like working here?”
A genuine smile touches her lips. “I do. It’s exciting. Lots to do. I’m better suited for working here than dusting your immaculate condo.”
Plus, she earns a paycheck that more than pays for the rent on her “whore” apartment as she calls it—the one she’s only stepped foot into once.
“Let’s be real, you only pretend to dust.”
“At least here I don’t have to pretend.” She cocks her head to the side, studying me. “I can see the cogs turning in your head. You have a nefarious plan. One that involves me. Oh god, I hope it pays well.”
I smirk at her smartass teasing. “You know everything I do pays well. Still planning to go to college in the fall?”
She tenses and frowns. “What happens between us doesn’t change that, Win. I had plans before I met you, and those won’t suddenly disappear now that you’re my boyfriend.”
“Not your boyfriend, and someone’s a tad defensive.”
“You are my boyfriend and I’m not. Just don’t want you thinking I’m a freeloader is all.” She shifts her gaze to the windows behind me, not meeting my stare. Whoever is filling her head with nonsense will get their ass chewed out later. My guess it’s either Deborah or Nate since those two are the only ones who seem to have a problem with Ash this week.