Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 132097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 660(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 660(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
Cooper leans in, lowering his voice playfully.
“Take it from me, Miss Sage, you could do a hell of a lot better than a Blackthorn. No offense. Are you ready for that drama?”
I gawk at him, unsure what to say.
What drama does he mean?
And do better than one of the richest men on the East Coast?
That’s just raw, ridiculous flattery.
But Cooper winks at me, taking the edge off my uncertainty.
He must be joking, I think. I’m sure he’s one of those socially stunted rich guys who like to push the line between hilarious and weird.
Just laugh and nod.
That’s what I should do.
And that’s what I tell myself, but I’m still trying to form an intelligent response when Ethan lunges between us, one possessive hand digging into my arm. I don’t recognize his face.
He’s wearing the angriest look I’ve ever seen.
6
ALL THE JEALOUSY (ETHAN)
Cooper fucking Daley.
I should’ve known he’d be the only man ballsy enough to flirt with my fiancée in the middle of a crowd worth over a trillion dollars combined.
Touching her, leaning in like they share some kind of intimate, private joke.
No.
Absolutely fucking not.
He grins at me like he can read the violence in my head.
I have no idea how Hattie even managed to smile at the guy.
He drips smarmy, and he also needs a haircut for that mop attached to his scalp.
Hattie’s arm presses against my side, and it’s the only reason why I loosen my grip slightly.
This isn’t her fault.
She didn’t know what she was getting into with this gladhanding fuckstick. I only hope she doesn’t fight me on this as I face him down.
“Daley,” I clip, keeping my voice calm, like I’m not about to lose my shit. “Don’t you have a family—a wife—to get back to?”
“Aw, why so serious, Blackthorn?” he drawls.
Hattie stiffens.
I have to unclench my jaw.
“I don’t want her missing out on anything important. We have other people to talk to,” I tell him.
“She’s good. And hey, Ethan, I’m sorry as hell about the old man. He lived an incredible life. So many wins, up and down the coast.” He’s shitty enough to frown like he’s genuinely upset while my insides blaze with grief that has nowhere to bleed. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without his insight.”
No lie.
I’m sorry as hell I didn’t sign on to Blackthorn Holdings sooner. Then maybe inhuman slimeballs like Daley never would’ve been mentored by Gramps, handing him the keys to a rapid career climb.
His rise has been shady from the beginning. I don’t believe for a second that insight has gotten him this far.
When I don’t respond, Hattie steps forward.
“Thanks, Cooper. We appreciate it,” she says. “Don’t we, Ethan?”
Daley flashes her a million-dollar smile. Almost literally—the man must’ve spent six figures on dental work and jaw surgery.
The first time I saw him, years ago when he was just an intern, he had crooked teeth. One hundred miles from the modelesque smile that’s plastered on all of his ads.
No wonder Hattie blinks like she’s dazzled. Should’ve warned her to borrow some fucking shades from Margot’s collection.
What Gramps saw whenever he brought him on as an understudy, I don’t know.
“Thanks, Hattie,” he says before he turns to me. “You’ve got a good one here, Ethan. Look after her, will you?” He grins. “Wouldn’t want to lose her. Make your granddad proud.”
Is that a threat?
I almost snarl it in his face, but priority number one is getting Hattie the hell away from him.
She doesn’t protest as I march her to the other side of the room, but when she looks up at me, she’s frowning. I do my best not to notice the tiny crease in her brows or the way her eyes look close to panic.
All evening, I’ve been doing my damnedest not to notice how stunning she looks tonight.
That red dress accents curves for days. The way it clings to her should be criminal.
I’m here for business, to make this engagement look legit, and she’s stolen the show.
Who knew she could clean up so well?
No one can keep their eyes off her for long.
Probably something to do with the flirty slit up her skirt, revealing that flash of leg every time she takes a step.
Or maybe it’s the wide, doe-like innocence in her eyes.
Hell, maybe it’s just the cleavage that drew Daley in like a piranha.
Fuck.
“Are you going to explain?” she prompts.
“No.”
She huffs. “What was that all about?”
“That was Cooper Daley.”
“Uh, yeah, he introduced himself. But why are you freaking out?” She snags a glass of champagne as we pass a waiter, holding it like a weapon.
Her other hand stays tucked in my arm reluctantly.
“There’s nothing to explain,” I bite off.
“Whatever. You guys don’t like each other, clearly.”
“Nothing new. Lots of people I don’t enjoy, especially in these circles.”
“Yes, but you really don’t like him,” she presses.
I’m forced to look down at her again. Her eyelashes sweep up toward her eyebrows as she meets my gaze.