Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 156029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
I roll my eyes and exhale heavily, choosing not to answer that particular question.
The music grows louder, and people flock to the dance floor now that the formalities are officially over.
I haven’t spoken one word to Charlotte since Alexander dragged her away from me.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I take it out to read the message. It’s from her.
Hi
I smile and text back.
Hi.
She replies.
Meet me at the bar?
“She’s texting me as we speak.” I smirk to my friends, and then, without thinking, I stand and make my way to the bar as she requested.
She appears beside me a moment later, and my heart flutters in my chest.
“Hello.” She smiles up at me, her face full of hope.
“I don’t like you here with him,” I tell her honestly.
“We’re just friends, I promise.” She glances over at Alexander who is talking to a group of people, while we are shielded from the crowd. “You and Alex don’t get along?” She makes it sound like a statement and a question.
“Not at all. It started with work a few years back. Since then, we’ve had a few run-ins with each other over the years. He doesn’t get on with Masters or Seb, either.”
“Masters?”
“Julian. His last name is Masters. He had a run in with Alex at work, too.”
“What does Julian do?”
“He’s a judge.”
“Oh.” She frowns.
“He will warn you away from me, no doubt,” I mutter into my drink. “Apparently I’m the devil.” I raise my eyebrow in a silent dare.
Defend him to me. See what happens.
She stares at me for a moment, and I have no idea what she’s thinking.
Have I misjudged this whole thing with us?
“We haven’t spoken about you at all,” she tells me.
My eyes hold hers and I know that she’s lying. He did warn her away from me, and God, I would like to rearrange his face for his efforts. Unfortunately, I’m a lover not a fighter.
What I should do is let my friend Joshua Stanton take care of him instead. Joshua cage fights… for fun. That bastard is mean as shit.
“I’d like to see you alone.”
Her eyes hold mine. “I’d like that, too.”
“I can come to you. Tonight?” I offer.
She frowns again, her mind going into overdrive.
“Give me a key to your room, Charlotte. I’ll wait for your guards to leave and sneak in. They won’t even know I’ve been. We can have coffee and dessert.” I shrug. “We can just talk…”
Her chest rises and falls heavily.
I can almost hear her brain ticking.
She glances over to the side of the ballroom, and I follow her gaze, only to see Wyatt standing silently, his back against the wall. I hadn’t even noticed him, I was too preoccupied with York.
“They will see me give you the key,” she whispers. “And how will I get into my room when I get home?”
“Leave the key somewhere here for me to pick up without being seen, and then just ask them for another key at reception when you get there. Tell them you left it in the room.”
“Where?”
I think for a moment. “Go out the foyer. There’s a storeroom. Just text me to tell me where you leave it.”
Her eyes hold mine as she swallows a lump in her throat.
I link our pinky fingers again. “I need to see you alone,” I whisper. “And this is the only way we will get any privacy.”
Charlotte licks her lips. “Okay?” She nods softly, not saying another word before she heads off in the direction of the foyer.
I turn and order my drink, elation filling me.
Finally.
* * *
I clutch the key in my pocket and casually stroll through the grand foyer of the Four Seasons. Charlotte left the function an hour ago, but she’s only just text me to give me the all clear.
Don’t get caught, don’t get caught, I remind myself.
I don’t really care if I get caught, but not getting to see her if I do has me worried.
I’m having trouble walking to her… I want to run.
Fast.
I get into the elevator and scan the key. The penthouse floor lights up, and I exhale heavily, my heart racing. Being nervous around a woman is new for me.
Don’t fuck it up. Don’t fuck it up.
The doors eventually open. I drop my shoulders, exhale heavily, and I walk out into the foyer. A large set of black double doors stand before me, and I tentatively turn the door handle.
It’s open, and I walk in.
Charlotte is in front of me, still in her ballgown and just as beautiful as I remember. My heart skips a beat at the sight of her.
Her eyes search mine.
I smile softly and then step forward to take her into my arms. “Alone at last.”
Charlotte
He’s here, and I’m finally in his arms. Arms that are big and warm and hold onto me tight. The smell of his aftershave is all around me. He’s tall—so much taller than me without my shoes on—and his hair is messed up to perfection.