Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 83216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
I tell myself I’ve learned that lesson, that I’m too smart to let a man in far enough to hurt me again. But the knot forming deep inside me says otherwise.
Callie’s ex stalks past, alone and scowling as he mutters something about the auction being rigged.
“Poor Zane,” Callie says dryly. “Imagine the humiliation of coming in fourth.”
Sloane snorts and I almost laugh, but the sound catches in my throat instead. For one small, fragile moment, everything almost feels normal again.
Until I glance up and find Oliver still watching me.
He doesn’t smile or move.
Just silently stares.
The look on his face cuts through the noise and lights to land square in my chest.
It’s the kind that strips away all pretenses.
My mother’s voice circles through my head.
Never depend on anyone.
Don’t let a man be your undoing.
As his attention remains locked on me from across the room, I wonder if it might be too late for that.
14
Oliver
It’s been three damn days since the auction, and there’s been nothing but silence from Rina.
Not one text or call.
I shove the barbell upward, my muscles burning. But the sting in my shoulders doesn’t begin to touch the frustration that continues to gnaw at me.
Nothing helps.
Not drills.
Or weights.
Or music cranked so loud it rattles my skull.
“Bro, you’re gonna tear a rotator cuff if you keep abusing the equipment,” Steele mutters from the next bench over. He wipes his face with a towel as he watches me. “You’ve been in a shit mood for days. What gives?”
“Nothing.” The lie falls flat. Even if I wanted to share what’s going on, there’s no damn way I can tell them the truth. Rina would skin me alive for dragging our business into the light.
Jax grins as he racks his weights. “Want to know what I think?”
“Not really,” I say with a grunt.
He continues anyway. “That you’re sulking because Rina didn’t have the winning bid, and now you’re stuck spending time with the hot blonde.”
My jaw tightens until my teeth grind. “You think you’re so fucking smart, huh?”
He pops a brow. “Tell me I’m wrong.”
River glances up from his set. “Is there something wrong with the blonde?”
“She’s a little stalkerish.” I grab my water bottle, the plastic flexing under my grip. “Going out with her will only make matters worse.”
Knox smirks. “Must be hard being the Big O.”
From the squat rack, Jax calls, “You sure it’s not about Rina? You stare at her like she’s a juicy burger and you haven’t eaten red meat in months.”
For a guy who likes to play dumb, he’s dangerously observant.
Steele rolls his eyes. “You’re cracked in the head. Those two can’t stand each other.”
“Sure they can’t,” Jax singsongs as he flashes me a knowing look.
My fingers curl even tighter around the bottle. One more word out of this guy and I’m going to rearrange his smug grin. As tempting as it is to go off on him, I swallow down the urge and check my phone when it buzzes from my pocket. For a split second, hope flares that it’s Rina.
Instead, there are three new texts from Gabby.
In addition to the slew of others.
Without responding, I shove the phone back into my pocket.
Laiken, quiet until now, glances at me. “Call me crazy, but I think Jax might be onto something.”
“Fine,” I bite out. “You’re crazy.”
Before he can answer, Coach sticks his head through the door. “Van Doren. Ms. K wants you in her office.” When I don’t move, he says, “Now.”
Perfect. That’s exactly what this day was missing.
An ass reaming.
I towel off and head upstairs, each step tightening the coil in my gut. By the time I reach Evelyn Kingston’s office, I’m a fuse ready to blow.
Light spills through the slightly ajar door, and I give it a cursory knock before pushing it open the rest of the way. I find Hugh Landry leaning over her desk, his frame taut. Even though Evelyn’s posture screams composure, the pen clutched in her fingers tells a different story.
As soon as she notices me, she smooths her expression and straightens. “Oliver,” she says evenly. “Come in. Hugh was just leaving.”
The other team owner raises a brow. “Was I?”
“Yes, you were,” she replies sweetly. “You said something about a meeting.”
He pins her in place with his gaze for several seconds before turning on his heel and walking away. The door shuts behind him, and the tension filling the space evaporates.
I drop into the leather chair opposite her desk. “You wanted to see me?”
“Yes. I’m checking in with all the players regarding their auction dates.” She folds her hands neatly on a stack of papers. “And I believe yours is tomorrow.”
The reminder hits like a punch to the ribs. “I’ve got everything handled. We’ll start out at Navy Pier, then it’s off to the Art Institute for a private tour before stopping at Gold Coast Table for dinner. The champagne is already on ice.”