Page 17 of Negotiating Tactics

“Hey, Dad,” I said when my father answered.

“Hey, Alex,” he said, his smile practically beaming through the phone. “I’m glad you called back. I was hoping you were up for grabbing a bite to eat with your father,” he said.

I smiled, surprised by the request. “Sure. When and where?”

My dad named one of his favorite lunch places, and I told him I would meet him there in an hour.

I wasn’t even annoyed, even though I knew I’d have to pay for the meal.

Four

Noah

“Don’t move my shit,” I muttered in a singsong voice.

My pathetic attempt to mimic Alex’s grating tone and maybe get her off my mind.

As I stood at the threshold of my bedroom—the one she had stolen from me—I knew that would be impossible.

Were she here, my nonna would scold me for even being in front of the door after Alex had told me to stay away. Then she would remind me that she’d raised me to be a good, respectful man, especially to guests.

She would have been right, but I pushed the door open anyway.

My nonna’s advice had helped make me the man I was today, and I didn’t often ignore it.

Today was an exception.

Alex was an exception.

That thought in my head, I entered the room. At first glance, it looked like the same room I always used when I was in Boston. But on second, I felt the difference, and told myself it had nothing to do with her.

I breathed out a harsh breath and walked to the wardrobe, wondering if she had taken that over too.

A look inside revealed three hangers still wrapped in drycleaner’s plastic hanging next to mine.

Women’s clothes. Alex’s, no doubt. All shades of gray, black, and navy.

Not at all vibrant like the woman herself, though her personality still shined, even with the boring clothes.

Of course, lawyers weren’t supposed to dress for excitement.

I grabbed my things and then went to the drawers to grab a few more and almost tripped over the medium-sized, cheap-looking duffel bag with clothes spilling out.

A scrap of purple satin drew my gaze like a moth to a flame.

Definitely Alex’s.

I clenched my hands as I imagined peeling that scrap of fabric off her perfect ass, down those delicious thighs, and then making my way back up to her center…

I knew her pussy would smell delicious, taste even better, and grip my cock like it was made for me. Not the shit I should be thinking about the most annoying woman I’d met in years, but here I was.

I forced out a hard breath and then kept moving deep into the room, though I knew I couldn’t outrun the hold that infuriating woman had on me.

The first time I’d seen her, I’d been both irritated and impressed by how she’d stood up for her friend Birdie.

Seeing her at Birdie and Dominic’s wedding had been a kick in the gut.

I’d never seen a sight more beautiful than Alex in that pale pink dress that had hugged her curves, with a smile so bright it seemed to light her from the inside.

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