Page 16 of Obeying the Owner

“My friend and I have a real estate and redevelopment business.”

“That sounds like it could be fun. As long as he’s dependable.”

“He is. We’ve been friends since we were eighteen.”

“That’s impressive. I don’t have any long-term friendships.”

“You might by the time you’re my age,” I say, smiling.

“Maybe. I moved to this area around Christmastime, so I’ve only made a few friends.”

“Where did you go to school?”

“In Virginia.”

“What brought you to Charleston?”

“I have an older brother here. I’m living with him at the moment. But I’m hoping to remedy that soon.”

“Is he your only sibling?”

She shakes her head and smiles. “No, I also have a younger brother who’s in college.”

“Are you all close?”

“Yeah, we are. Don’t get me wrong; sometimes I want to strangle them both. Well, mostly my younger brother. He likes to push my buttons like only a sibling can.”

I laugh. “I have an older brother, so I understand that all too well.”

“My brother’s been great about me staying with him, but he’s got a serious girlfriend now, and I don’t want to be in the way.”

“I bet he likes having you there.”

“I like to think so, but my social life has been almost nonexistent since I arrived, so I’m willing to bet he wouldn’t mind me disappearing for a little while.”

“You’re not home right now,” I point out.

“True.” She smiles, raising her glass toward me. “Cheers to being out.”

“Cheers.” I tap my glass to hers. The ice cubes clink as I sip my drink.

“Have you ever been married?” she asks.

Swallowing another gulp of gin and tonic, I place my glass on the table. “No, I haven’t. But I have a thirteen-year-old daughter.”

Her eyes widen. “Ooh, a teenager. How’s that going?”

I smile. “So far, so good. She’s still sweet, and I hope she’ll stay that way.”

“Do you get along with her mother?”

“Claire and I were never together as a couple. We had a brief interlude, which resulted in our daughter. Claire’s since married a great guy, and they’re having a baby in a few months.”

She sips from her copper mug, then her tongue drags over her pouty bottom lip, removing the leftover moisture. Just watching her makes my dick semi-hard and reminds me of why I’m here.

“How do you feel about going to my house after we finish our drinks?” I ask.

Her eyes flash wider with surprise.

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