Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
“No one you’d know,” Alex said. “How is he? Is he okay?”
Was Stuart a love interest? An ex-boyfriend? A crush?
Millie looked down the table. “We’ll talk later.”
He didn’t like that. No one was going to keep secrets from him. One look at his men, and they nodded. They knew what he wanted. By the end of the night, he would know everything there was to know about Stuart, unless that was another barrier Liam had imposed. The fucking meddling bastard.
He scooped some mashed potatoes onto his fork and ate. The taste was incredible. Creamy, light, and so soft. Seasoned to perfection. He watched Alex eat. He hadn’t noticed before, but she was a delicate eater. Cutting up her vegetables and sliding them around her plate to gather some gravy before taking a bite.
Millie left them alone, and silence fell across the table.
Roman continued to watch Alex, expecting her to break the silence. His previous lovers had always filled the silence with their endless, inane chitchat.
She stayed quiet.
Cash spoke up first. “So, Alex, did you grow up here?”
“Yes.”
That was it. No follow up, just a simple yes.
Cash glanced toward him, and he raised a brow.
“Was it just you and your dad?”
She lifted her gaze once again. “I don’t have any brothers and sisters.”
Liam had to have trained her in some way. She avoided answering questions directly.
“It must have been pretty lonely,” Marlo asked.
“Do you have siblings?” she asked.
Marlo pursed his lips. “A younger brother and two sisters.”
“Were you ever lonely?”
Marlo clicked his tongue and then opened his mouth.
“I’m ever so sorry, but I am feeling really tired. Thank you all for driving me home. I hope you enjoy Millie’s food.” She gave them a forced smile that didn’t reach her eyes before getting up and with her plate in hand, turning to leave.
Which pissed him off!
She was leaving them.
“Does she even realize what she’s doing?” Cash asked.
“You mean by avoiding questions, directing the conversation toward her opponent?” Marlo asked. “Yeah, I saw it.”
“Antonio believes she is innocent.”
In response, Antonio rolled his eyes. “Look, you’ve asked us to test her, and I can tell you. I threw on a whole load of charm, and she wasn’t buying it. Not one bit.”
“Maybe you’ve lost your charm,” Marlo said.
“Not a chance.” Antonio picked up his glass of water and took a sip. “I have fucked every single woman you’ve asked me to. It’s not hard, and it wasn’t difficult to get into their pants. I’m telling you, Alex is different.”
In the past, they had all had some fun in seeing how long their current flavor of the week would last when met with another man willing to take them to bed. Out of all his lovers, Denise was the easiest. Within hours, Antonio had her on her knees, sucking his cock and then taking him deep into her pussy.
Roman wasn’t upset. He didn’t love or have any kind of feelings for Denise. She was a woman he enjoyed, nothing more, nothing less.
He dabbed his lips with his napkin and got to his feet.
“You ever thought about treating her like a girlfriend or your wife?” Antonio asked. “She might open up to a guy she trusts.”
Glaring at his friends, he left the room and headed toward the kitchen. When he heard Alex talking, he slowed his pace so she wouldn’t hear him.
“He must be so scared,” she said.
“You know he has grown attached to you. I did worry how this distance would make him, but now, he’s … maybe tomorrow you can go see him.”
“I don’t know how my dad is going to do that. You heard what happened today.”
“I know. I know.”
“This is all so nuts,” Alex said. “I miss Stuart. I miss going and being with him, you know. Helping.”
“I’ll find a way to convince your father, Alex. For the both of you.”
She sighed. “Thank you, Millie.”
“Always. I will do anything for you, darling.”
“I’m going to head up.”
“I will serve those men,” Millie said. “Don’t worry.”
“Thank you.”
Roman hid down the long corridor and watched as Alex appeared, closing the door behind her. Since leaving the table, she looked exhausted. Like she’d just been given some bad news.
He watched as she stood, pressing her hands to her face. Her shoulders rose and fell with what he imagined were several deep breaths before she dropped her hands and then headed toward the main stairs.
Following behind her, he only made his presence known when she entered her bedroom, and he nudged her inside as he joined her. “What are you doing?” she asked, stepping back from him.
This was another thing about Alex. She never reached for his touch. Never made any excuse to put her hands on him or to be near him. She always created a distance between them.
“Who is Stuart?” he asked.
“Roman, why are you here? Millie made up the spare bedrooms. They’re on the main floor. She’ll show you and your friends where you’re supposed to be sleeping.”