Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 86510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
But I hardly know Ronan.
The problem is…
I want to know him. I haven’t been able to get him out of my head since I first laid eyes on him, and now that I’ve had him sexually?
My God, I felt things that I thought were dead in me forever.
I felt things I never wanted to feel again.
Now that they’ve edged into me? All I can think about is more.
God, I’m fucked. In every sense.
“I’m seeing him tonight at the club for a scene,” I tell Brenda. “We’ll see how it goes.”
“Dalton’s still out of town,” she says. “You want me to be there?”
I open my mouth, ready to tell her yes. Please be there.
But I’ll never be able to deal with this if I can’t meet it head on. I’ve already been alone with the man. I’ve already allowed him to dominate me.
There’s no reason to be apprehensive at all.
“As much as I want you there, I think I’d better go alone,” I say. “I’m never going to get over this hump if I need a security blanket, you know?”
“I do know. Dalton comes back to town Friday, so maybe we’ll see you both at the club this weekend.”
“Maybe. We’ll see how everything goes.”
But already I’m looking forward to the weekend. I’m thinking about all the scenes Ronan and I can play out together. And all the scenes I can’t even conceive of because they’re in his head, not mine.
I’m looking forward to it.
I’m excited just thinking about it.
And that…is the problem.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Ronan
“What are you doing here?” my administrative assistant, Jennifer Morgan, says. “You were supposed to be gone all week.”
“You know me. I micromanage.”
It feels pretty good to be back. I hate leaving my business in the hands of others, even those I completely trust, like Jennifer.
“I read through the notes from the meeting with Braden Black yesterday,” I say. “I should’ve been there.”
“Why? Everything went smoothly.”
“I know. I should’ve at least teleconferenced in.” I shake my head. “I’m here now.”
I’m not sure what I was doing. Taking a virtual stranger to my hometown and leaving my business in the hands of, yes, perfectly capable businesspeople, but they’re not me.
“Well, since you’re here”—Jennifer hands me a manila folder—“you can sign these documents yourself. I was going to have Brody do it. He’s got your power of attorney.”
Brody is my legal counsel. He’s an American, but he was with me in Glasgow. So was Jennifer, who’s also an American, as well as my second-in-command, Sabrina Ellis. They’ve all been with me in the business since I took over for my father. They’re all sitting in my office with me.
Besides Brody, Jennifer, and Sabrina, I hired four others once we relocated here a month ago. They’ve all proved to be invaluable.
So yes, I trust them implicitly.
But still… They’re not me.
“All right.” I grab a pen. “So I checked my calendar. It looks like once we get these documents signed, we can move forward with hiring an architect to design our hotel.”
“Correct,” Sabrina says. “I’ve been looking into that. I found a good firm. Or what I thought was a good firm. But Braden Black recommended someone else.”
“Why?”
“He wouldn’t say why, only that he thought the first firm skated on ethics a bit.”
I nod. “Let’s go with Black’s recommendation.”
“That’s what I figured you’d say. I’ve already set up a meeting for next week.”
“Now that I’m back, can we move it up?” I grab my phone and open the calendar app. “This afternoon, if they’re available?”
“Jennifer?” Sabrina says.
“I’ll get right on it.” Jennifer whisks out the door to her own office next to mine.
“I know I originally wanted this resort in Las Vegas to have a Scottish theme,” I say, “but I’m rethinking that. What do you think about a New Orleans theme?”
“It’s not exactly original,” Sabrina offers. “The Orleans already has that theme.”
“Yes, I know. But I was thinking of really diving into the culture. Recreating some of the cemeteries, the seedier side of New Orleans.”
Sabrina shakes her head. “Ronan, we’ve had these plans drawn up for a year. Now that you’ve purchased the property from Braden Black, redesigning everything will take more time, and that will take more money. Besides, a Scottish theme, with all the dealers and employees wearing kilts? There’s nothing like that now in Vegas.”
I sigh. She’s right, of course. I just enjoyed getting back to my roots the last couple days.
But Scotland is also my roots. This way my company will offer something that isn’t currently available.
“You’re right,” I defer.
“Why the sudden change of your mind?” Brody asks.
“Just my time in New Orleans. You know I was raised there. It’ll always be home to me. Even though I look like I belong in a tavern in Scotland.” I laugh.
“How about a restaurant?” Sabrina says. “We all know that Scottish food in general isn’t anything exciting. You’ve already planned to have five restaurants in the hotel. Why not devote one of them to your grandmother’s Creole recipes?”