Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 82698 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82698 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Adrian had waited two days before she’d forced a meeting with Saskia—which for Adrian was being quite patient. Normally, she’d have called right after that first meeting. Saskia had let things slide because the commission was with Clay. And because she’d slept with him.
It wasn’t just one night. It wasn’t just two nights. She had no intention of stopping. Still scrutinizing the menu, she admitted, “I slept with him again. In fact, I’ve been at his place every night.”
Adrian clapped once, not enough to draw attention. “I knew you wouldn’t be able to stay away from him. Out of his bed, I mean.” A gleeful sparkle lit her eyes.
Saskia set down her menu, leaned her elbows on the table, laced her fingers, and rested her chin on them as she looked at her friend. “Here’s the problem.”
Adrian choked out a laugh. “How can there be a problem when you’re sleeping with a disgustingly sexy billionaire who wants to give you a commission where you command the price?”
Saskia pursed her lips.
Adrian rushed on, “Don’t tell me it’s because he’s Clay Harrington.”
“I’m over that problem,” Saskia said. “Now I feel bad that I’m not being truthful with him.”
Adrian stared at her long enough for their waiter to step up to the table. Dressed in a white shirt and black pants, he was far above casual. All he needed was a tie and a suit jacket and he could have been in a boardroom. “What can I get you ladies? We have an amazing peach mimosa.”
Adrian jumped on the offer immediately. “We’ll both have one.”
“Could we also have water, please?” Saskia added.
“Of course,” the waiter said effusively.
Before he could leave to get their drinks, Adrian said, “We’re ready to order as well.” She raised an eyebrow at Saskia, who simply nodded. “I’ll have the sand dabs.”
“Excellent choice.” He scribbled on his pad and turned to Saskia.
Still undecided, she said the first thing that popped into her mind. “Shrimp Louis, please.”
The man beamed. “Also excellent. I’ll be back with your drinks.”
“They’re very attentive here.” Adrian turned to Saskia when he was gone. “You probably thought I’d forget about what you just said.” She leaned forward, mirroring Saskia’s elbows on the table. “You’ve never had a problem playing the assistant before. What makes Clay different?”
Saskia heaved out a breath. “Because I’m sleeping with him.”
Adrian gave a jerky shake of her head. “You slept with him on Wednesday night and had no compunction about pretending to be San Holo’s assistant on Thursday. What’s changed?”
“He’s just…” She didn’t know how to describe Clay or her feelings about him. “He just seems like a nice guy.”
Adrian looked her over with a penetrating gaze. “You’ve avoided men like him for years. Even though he seems to be a nice guy—” She added finger quotes. “—he’s still a billionaire. I don’t imagine you get to that place without a few black marks on your soul.”
“That’s just it,” Saskia said with an urgent hiss. “I don’t think he has any black marks.”
Adrian stared at her. Finally, as if she were getting over her shock, she said, “Everyone has black marks on their soul.”
Saskia snorted a humorless laugh. “I thought that was only billionaires.”
Adrian growled. She was pretty when she growled like that. Men must love it. “I can’t believe what’s gotten into you. First, you sleep with a man for the first time in five years. Which I think is absolutely marvelous. But then, instead of shutting down this commission immediately, you want to investigate. And now you feel guilty about keeping secrets from the client? You have me worried, girlfriend.”
Saskia said in her own defense, “I’ve never had a problem keeping my secret before because I wasn’t sleeping with the client. This is completely different.”
The waiter brought their drinks at just that moment. How much had he overheard? Then again, who cared? Smiling, he set the glasses on the table. “Enjoy, ladies.” And whisked away.
Adrian picked up her glass, tilting it toward Saskia’s, and they clinked. The peach mimosa was delicious, sliding down Saskia’s throat, the bubbles making her giddy. But maybe that was Clay and last night. All the nights.
The interruption had given Adrian time to think. “He’s gotten to you in a way no one else has.” She stared Saskia down.
In little more than a whisper, Saskia said, “Yeah. He has.”
Adrian enjoyed another sip. “Which brings me to the real reason I asked you out to lunch. I gave you two days to think about the commission. I didn’t even call. Aren’t you proud of me?”
Saskia said dryly, “You already said you waited because I slept with the client.”
Adrian held up a silencing finger. “But I’m still proud of you.” She just had to push. “Have you made up your mind?”
Saskia needed another gulp of mimosa. “I want to do it. It’s a huge challenge. I can’t turn that down. It’s not just the money.” Finally, she sighed. “I just don’t know how I’ll keep my secret from him the entire time. He actually lives at the warehouse. He’s got his own apartment above all the artists’ studios.” Which was a major complication.