Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 24977 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 125(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24977 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 125(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
“But what about the club? What about us?”
With that, I turn and shoot him a wry smile.
“I’m sure you’ll meet someone else at the club, and there is no ‘us,’ Bruce. The truth is that better late than never doesn’t apply here. If you’d called me six months ago, then maybe we’d have had a chance. But now? No, I’m not feeling it. Your opportunity has passed, big boy, but I’m sure you’ll meet another girl soon enough. So ta-ta! Have a nice life.”
Then, I spin on my heel and exit the bar before breathing in the chilly evening air. It feels extraordinarily fresh to me, but maybe it’s just because my mind is clear for the first time in months. I’m not interested in Bruce Chapman anymore, and I probably never really was. Instead, I have three men that I need to talk to, and there’s no time to waste.
CHAPTER 9
Carrie
I hold my breath while waiting at the penthouse door. The massive oak slab swings open, and Brad stands there, surprised. He looks incredibly handsome with his penetrating blue eyes and dark hair, and I swallow, nervous all of a sudden.
“Hey hon,” he greets. “I didn’t know what to think when I got your 9-1-1 text. Is everything okay?”
I nod, swallowing hard.
“Yes. But can I come in?”
He stands to the side to let me in.
“Yes, of course. James and Casey are in the living room already. Are you sure everything’s okay?”
Of course, things are fine, even though I feel insanely anxious inside. But I have to be brave because I need to fess up to these men about what I’ve been doing. After all, I’ve been using them shamelessly, but now it’s time to lay it all out there.
I move into the living room, and a low wolf whistle greets me.
“Hey sweetheart,” growls James. “You look beautiful. Were you out tonight?”
I blink before remembering that I’m still clad in my short purple cocktail dress. Oh shit. It looks like I’m dressed for a date, and the truth is that I was out on a date. It would be much easier to lie and say something about a night on the town with my girlfriends, but instead I swallow hard and take a deep breath. I need to be honest because this is what I’m here for: to bare my heart and reveal that I’ve been shady ever since I met Brad, Casey, and James. Maybe we’re not in a relationship quite yet, but we’re doing something together, and I can’t let things keep going the way they have.
“Are you okay?” Casey asks, a little more perceptive than his friends. “Here, sit, sweetheart. I’ll get you some wine.”
With that, vino is poured and I take a seat on a stunning white sofa while sipping gratefully on the wine. Of course, their penthouse is gorgeous. I’ve never been here before, but it’s everything the girls at Club Z describe. There are soaring triple-height ceilings, as well as floor-to-ceiling windows that show off the Chicago cityscape on one side. On the other is a dazzling view of Lake Michigan, although at this time of night, the water is dark with just a few sparkles glimmering in the moonlight. But still, I can’t be intimidated by my lovers’ obvious wealth because I’m here to be upfront. If James, Casey and Brad hate my guts after tonight, well, I only have myself to blame.
With that, I take another deep breath and meet their piercing blue gazes.
“Thanks for responding to my text,” I murmur. “I’m here for a purpose, and it’s been weighing on me for a while. Not that long,” I add hastily. “But after I had my breakthrough, I wanted to tell you guys about it.”
Black brows lower as the handsome men stare at me.
“A breakthrough?” Brad asks gently. “About what?”
“You know you can tell us anything,” James adds.
I take another deep breath, summoning my courage. Then I look them straight in the eye and blurt my truth.
“Well, the fact is that I’ve been using you,” I say in a rush. “I’ve been meeting with you at Club Z and doing naughty things, but I had an ulterior motive all along.”
The men stare at me, their handsome features still.
“And that motive is…?”
I take another deep breath.
“Well actually, I’ve been using you to get another guy I was interested in. He was my real target, and somehow, I had this mixed-up idea that if he saw me with you, he’d want me.”
The air is still for a moment. I cringe internally, half-expecting the men to throw me out. But instead, Brad’s deep baritone breaks the silence.
“Really. Is that so?”
I nod, suddenly ashamed.
“I know it sounds crazy,” is my whispered admission as tears spring to my eyes. “But basically, it was just … I don’t even know how to explain it. This was a hare-brained scheme, and totally idiotic, now that I look back. I realized that tonight because Bruce finally asked me out, but I just wasn’t interested. I’m interested in you. All three of you,” I say with a hitch to my words.