Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 111443 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 446(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111443 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 446(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
“Ahem.”
I blinked up and caught Gray and Charlie giving me matching side-eye. For two people who didn’t share a drop of blood, they were eerily alike sometimes.
“What are you two looking at?”
“Nothing,” Gray and Charlie said in unison, followed by, “Jinx. You owe me a soda.”
“Don’t you have a dog to catch?” I snarked.
Gray cast an amused glance at the mayhem outside. “I think they’ve got it under control. And I wanted to thank you for last night. It was…perfect.”
“You’re welcome. It was my pleasure.” And I meant it.
Mostly, anyway.
I didn’t have that sick to my stomach, “I can’t believe this is who we’ve become” feeling right now. I’d been one hundred percent honest when I told Trent I wasn’t in love with Gray. I wasn’t. It was the post-love moving-on part I struggled with, but not so much tonight.
Maybe it was finally getting better…easier.
Gray clapped his hand on my shoulder. “I feel like playing guitar. Char, you’re in charge of dessert. I think we have cookies. Just don’t touch my ice cream.”
“Ice cream it is,” Charlie teased. He waited for Gray to walk out of the great room before zooming on me. “I was worried sick about you last night. And then I was mad at you.”
I frowned. “Why would you be mad? I told you I was leaving early.”
“With my new employee? I don’t think so. And now you have a dopey happy look on your face, which most likely means something X-rated happened and—”
“Whoa.” I pointed a parental finger at his chest. “For the record, I’m the dad here. And you’re out of line.”
“Dad…”
“Charlie.”
He gave up a little too easily, sighing as he perched on the empty stool next to me. “All right. I’m sorry. I was worried about how you were…feeling.”
“I’m good. I promise.”
“I’m glad.” Charlie bit his lower bit when he continued. “Your speech was wonderful. Even Rita teared up.”
“Hmm.” I smiled at that.
Rita wasn’t known for emotional generosity unless Oliver was concerned. Don’t get me wrong, I respected that. And I had nothing but respect for her. We weren’t typical exes, though. We’d never had a huge love affair. Drunken sex had led to an unexpected pregnancy and a marriage proposal designed as a last-ditch effort to please my family and cement a business deal. I know, I know. That sounded bad.
Needless to say, our divorce was a no-brainer. But I had no regrets. In fact, I was grateful to her for Oliver…and for being an amazing, nonjudgmental co-parent.
“Don’t get mad, but I have to ask. Were you seen in public? And if so, did you engage in any licentious activities?”
I fixed him with a sharp stare, smiling to myself when he didn’t flinch. My padawan had learned well.
But I was still the master here.
I shook my head ruefully as if exasperated at the notion that my extracurricular activities would be of interest to anyone. Which was obviously not true since my own PR department was on alert.
“Char, I’m leaving for London tomorrow and I’m taking a break from this nonsense.”
“With Pierce.”
“No. By myself,” I corrected.
“Hmm.” He worried his bottom lip and frowned. “When will you be home?”
“I’m not sure. I have to be back for the unveiling of the next segment of the Claymation killer Oreo,” I replied, tousling his hair as I stood. “Shall we raid Gray’s ice cream supply?”
Charlie rubbed his hands together and let out a cartoonish evil laugh. “Bwahaha. Yes!”
My work here was complete. I’d set the wheels in motion and stepped aside, knowing that the subtlest form of manipulation often worked best. I’d bet big bucks Charlie was dreaming up a new scenario of Trent as my bodyguard. He might send him to the airport to pick me up when I got home from Europe or maybe he’d show up at the office.
I didn’t have to tell anyone what I wanted. I had a strong feeling it would come to me if I was patient.
And what did I want?
A little mayhem, a little distraction. And ideally, Trent.
There were no losers in any conceivable scenario. A hint of mayhem equated to sales for everyone involved, especially…Baxter and Zero. A little distraction was good for one’s sanity. As for Trent…he was a wild card.
I wanted him.
He’d gone from being the perfect diversion from Gray and Justin’s announcement and my own self-absorption to being someone who felt significant. But I couldn’t tell how he felt about me. Sure, I think he liked me well enough, but for as open and kind as he could be, I sensed the heavy armor around him…probably erected to protect him from jerks like me. Smart man.
Obviously, I couldn’t persuade Trent that my intentions were pure. They weren’t. I wanted sex. I also wanted intelligent conversation and the company of someone who made me laugh. And more sex.