Page 47 of Handsome Devil

“We are in Houston, in the summer, and I really do not care what people think of me.”

“You should care. These are the people you’ll be doing business with in the future.”

His lips flattened. He couldn’t argue because she was right. “One of these days, I am going to be so rich, no one would dare question me when I show up dressed however the hell I want,” he grumbled.

“Until then…” She smoothed the tie over his chest and stepped back to examine her handiwork. “You play by the rules, or you don’t get invited to the games.”

His conversation with Nolson had ended several minutes ago. She was no body-language expert, but if she had to guess, she’d say it went well.

She hadn’t heard from Albert again, and soon she’d have the CEO position locked down. Whatever Dante said to him must have stuck.

Very shortly, Dante might be able to purchase Hilderbrandt Plaza. They’d both get what they wanted out of this marriage, and then they’d only have to wait until the time ran out on their agreement.

One year.

The situation at home was certainly better since they had sex, but she felt more uncertain than ever about her relationship with Dante. She had moved into the master bedroom, and they were screwing like rabbits. Night after night, she wrapped her legs around him and welcomed his drugging kisses and the hard thrusts of his body into hers.

But what exactly were theydoing?

“You’re frowning,” a male voice said close to her ear.

The statement came from Vance Greenfeld, an old friend and chronic flirt who was rumored to have affairs with the married women he coached at the tennis club his family owned.

“Am I?” Annabelle tossed a mildly flirtatious glance his way. Vance loved women, period. He didn’t have a type and didn’t care about age.

He inclined his dark head, amusement in his eyes. “Mhmm. Frowning at your husband. Please tell me there’s trouble in paradise, so I can have my shot.”

Vance was an odd mixture of attractive but average. He didn’t turn heads, but he was always dressed in high-end suits and wore his dark hair parted on the side and combed into a neat style. At a few years older than Annabelle, he could be married by now but preferred the life of a perpetual bachelor.

“We’re newlyweds enjoying the honeymoon period. Sorry to disappoint you, but there’s no trouble in paradise.” Because there was no paradise, but at least the animosity was gone, and they had learned to live harmoniously.

Just last night, Dante had pinned her against the wall in the shower, palms flat and the tips of her breasts tight against the rigid, cold marble. Water poured down on them from above as he plowed her from behind until her moans echoed in the glass enclosure, both of them climaxing at the same time.

She suppressed a delicious shiver at the memory.

“I haven’t seen you at the club in a while. Have you given up tennis?” Vance asked.

“Temporarily. My weekends and days are busy.”

He leaned closer with a leer. “How are your nights?”

A heavy hand landed on his shoulder, and he winced.

Dante’s dark eyes glittered at her from behind Vance.

“Should I be concerned that you’re standing too close to my wife?” Dante positioned himself beside Annabelle.

Dangerous, raw power emanated from him. He sounded teasingly pleasant, but the loaded question definitely held a threat.

He slid an arm around her waist. Hip to hip, she experienced the warmth of his body all the way down to her knees.

Vance laughed nervously. “Not at all. In fact, Annabelle confirmed you’re enjoying the honeymoon period.”

“How did that come up in conversation?” Dante continued in the same overly pleasant voice.

Blood drained from Vance’s face. “I, uh?—”

“He was asking about marriage, and I gave him a little advice about keeping the excitement in the relationship long after the ceremony. Of course, I’m no expert since we’re newlyweds, but I gave him a couple of tips. Isn’t that right, Vance?”

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