Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82121 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82121 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
I nearly took off when he mistook me for a hooker. I mean, I get why he thought it, but seeing myself through his eyes in that moment made every ounce of my self-loathing nearly unbearable.
But a glance at his Rolex reminded me what I’m here for.
If I can get that watch, my money problems will be solved for months.
And I bet the guy would barely even notice it.
All those little comments about a new order, about taking over a territory, he thought he was being clever, but I’m not an idiot. Everyone knows the Irish clan’s been fighting the Italians. Nana’s been complaining about all the “dangerous hooligans roaming around at night” for months. That means Saul must be pretty high up in his organization.
Which makes him extremely dangerous.
I should be scared. Instead, I don’t feel nervous as we get into an Uber Black. He sits right next to me with one hand on my leg, and under any other circumstance, I’d brush it away and tell him to keep to himself, but I don’t. Instead, I love the way it feels. His rough fingers on my skin. The slightly possessive way he grabs me. We’re practically strangers, and I still feel a thrum of energy deep into my core with our bodies this close.
It’s not real. None of this is real. I’m only doing this so I can rob him and get the heck out of there. I’m not actually going to sleep with this man.
Although I haven’t had sex in… months. Longer, even. I can’t remember the last time I had a casual hook-up. Back during college? I had a boyfriend once since then, but he didn’t last long. His name was Tyler, and he said I had too much going on in my life. He was right, and after he dumped me via text one afternoon when I was waiting outside of the doctor’s office for my brother to finish with his appointment, I’ve been too busy for relationships, casual or otherwise.
Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. I mean, Saul understands. It’s one night and then we’re done. I have work in the morning. Which is actually true—I have a shift at the diner starting at six.
I can’t believe I’m seriously considering this. He called me a freaking hooker and I still might have sex with him. I must’ve lost my damn mind.
The Uber drops us outside of a row house in the middle of Old City. It’s the kind of neighborhood that I walk through on the way to the subway, not the kind of place I actually visit. Saul walks up the stoop, takes out some keys, and unlocks a door before gesturing for me to follow.
I hesitate. I’m way out of my depth here. These are multi-million-dollar houses and I can barely afford rent. There’s no way a girl like me should be anywhere near a place like this, but Saul looks impatient and I’m overwhelmed by curiosity.
“You live here?” I ask as he leads me into the foyer. It’s tastefully decorated. Dark, hardwood floors, some paintings on the walls. The furniture looks like it’s straight out of an interior design magazine. Everything’s gorgeous, but sterile.
“When I’m staying in the city.” He puts his keys on an end table and gestures toward a hall. “Want the tour?”
“Sure. You have more than one house?”
“My family has a house out in Manayunk. I stay there most of the time.” He leads me into a beautiful kitchen, shows me the living room, a sitting room, and an office. He opens a bottle of wine and pours two glasses, handing me one, swirling the other. “This place is kind of like a second family home.”
“Right, of course, your second family home.” I give him a sharp smile and take a long drink. “Whereas I have exactly zero family homes.”
“It’s not as interesting as it sounds.”
I stand in the kitchen wondering if I could grab a picture off the wall and make a run for it. He comes closer and I back up until my back bumps against the counter. He licks his lips and a thrum runs down my spine again, deep into my core.
“You’re right. I’m very bored of fancy houses. We should go back to the Sterling Duck. That was my sort of place.”
“What’s your favorite thing about the Duck?” He brushes the back of his knuckles across my cheek. I resist the urge to follow them with my mouth.
“I’d say the atmosphere. I like that it still smells like cigarettes and puke.”
“You’re right, the vomit really lends the place character.”
“Don’t forget about the bartender. He looks like he hasn’t left that place in fifty years and he’ll end up dying right there near their single tap.”
“I’m sure he will, and they’ll bury him under the floorboards.” He’s smiling as he steps closer, erasing the distance between us. His massive body pushes onto mine and I draw in a sharp breath to keep myself from letting out a surprised groan.