Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 67711 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 339(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67711 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 339(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
I watched as he tried not to smile. “You’re terrible.”
I watched as he tasted the sauce I’d made. “This is incredible.”
I smiled. “Thank you. I would love to say it’s an old family recipe, but it’s a former family cook’s recipe.”
Jay shook his head. “Of course you ate like this growing up. No boxed mac and cheese for you. Did she teach you to make it?”
“No, Miles taught me to cook when we were in college.”
“Miles cooks? I would have expected him to have a whole slew of servants at his disposal.”
I laughed. “Actually, he only has a cleaning service come in every few days. He likes his privacy at home, even more so now that Ben is there. We see them go at it enough at the office. I’d feel sorry for anyone who had to live with them.”
“So when you suggested we fuck at my office, that’s just normal practice for Montgomery Enterprises?”
“I wouldn’t say normal, but Miles would have a hard time telling someone else off about it.”
“When this is over, expect a visit to your office.”
I laughed again. “I thought after this shit show you’d want to stay as far away from me and Montgomery Enterprises as you could.”
“Ford, I—”
Whatever he was going to say was interrupted by the doorbell. Fuck Carter and his impeccable timing. “I’m sure that’s Carter.”
Jay nodded. “I want to hear what he has to say.”
“I thought you would. I can’t promise Carter is going to love that idea, but you’re part of this.”
“Damn right I am. Those men were watching my grandmother.”
“I know. We’re going to keep her safe, but we need to get more aggressive.”
When I went to the door, I saw it wasn’t just Carter. Miles had come with him. This was definitely going to be a shit show.
I looked at Miles. “What are you doing here?”
“Visiting a friend?”
I shook my head.
“Assessing the situation.”
“The only situation that needs your assessment is how the hell we’re going to get rid of these enemies we’ve made. This whole thing is a fuck up, and we need to figure out how to put an end to it.”
“I didn’t think things would get this out of control.”
“It would have helped if you’d been honest from the beginning.”
Miles scowled. “I already admitted I fucked up. We’re going to fix it.”
“I have a feeling you’re going to make it worse first.”
“Are you talking about your personal life or the situation with the criminals?”
“Let me make my own mistakes. You’ve sure as hell made plenty of your own.”
Before I could say anything else, Jay climbed the steps from the floor below.
I glared at Miles, daring him to start something.
He ignored me and gave Jay an assessing glance. “Don’t you look comfortable here.”
“I am,” he said. “Very comfortable.”
Miles narrowed his eyes. “Don’t be. As soon as we solve this little problem, you’ll be back to your own apartment and out of Ford’s way.”
“Jesus, Miles,” Carter said. “We’re here to discuss strategy.”
“I’m here to protect a friend.”
“Miles, stop,” I yelled. “I’m not some little princess who needs protecting. I can handle my own business. This isn’t high school anymore.”
“He can definitely handle his business,” Jay said. “I’ve seen him.”
I knew he was referring to me taking out the assailant at the care center, but Miles clearly assumed it was something far more lascivious.
“Keep your hands off him,” he said.
“Get out.” I pointed to the door, but Miles shook his head.
“Can we all stop acting like this is high school? Because there are men out there who want to kill us and I’d like to stop them.”
“Same,” I said.
“Why don’t we all go sit down?” Carter said, gesturing toward my living room.
Jay turned and stomped off in that direction. Carter followed him, but I grabbed Miles’s arm before he could walk away.
“You’ve been a good friend for a long time, and I know you want to protect me, but you’re out of line.”
“I don’t like him. I don’t like the way he looks at you.”
“What if I said that about Ben?”
“Who wouldn’t like Ben?”
“We’re not all going to fall for sweet, innocent young men. I can take care of myself.”
Miles sighed. “I’m worried about you because Jay has manipulated you from the moment you met. I shouldn’t have left you on this case, but let’s go take care of this problem right now.”
I couldn’t imagine Miles having said anything that emotionally insightful before he met Ben. Miles did what he did, and it was up to anyone else to refuse to go along with him. I appreciated that he truly cared and wanted to keep me from getting hurt, but I wasn’t going to walk away from Jay, not yet anyway.
When we entered the living room, Carter was seated, but Jay was up, pacing. I moved to stand beside him, and Miles glared at him again.