Page 7 of Rinkmates

Attie smiles and nods at me. “We’d be thrilled to have you, Miss James.”

What. The. Actual. Fuck.

I just stand there, staring as if I’ve forgotten how to speak.

Their eyes are fixed on me, probably already sensing that something’s off. I want to speak, to say anything, but I’m completely stunned. And when you’re stunned, you’respeechless—or at least, I am.

“Um, th-thank you?” is all I manage to say. Nina has a doorman. Holy shit.

As we enter, I strain my neck trying to take in the opulent ceiling of the fancy building.

The walls are covered withItalian Renaissance–esque paintings.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

This can’t be real, but Attie is just like a security man, so if Nina planned to sell me to a mafia boss and ship me across the world, he wouldn’t play along, would he? Oh boy. I should stop reading mafia romance novels. I’m getting delusional.

“Come on, you look like you’re going to faint,” Nina says and motions to an elevator. “You’ll love it.”

We enter, and she takes me right up to the top with a…secret key. I swallow. She has a secret penthouse key. And I thinkI’m actually fainting. Or puking. Something along those lines. I thought she was taking me to a ramshackle house. I never thought she’d bring me…here. I had braced myself for a filthy rug and creaky floors. Maybe even a cat to add to the expected musty smell.

“A-a…penthouse?”

“Well, Riley loves to be alone most of the time.”

“Um…okay.” I recall that she talked about another friend living there. But she’s busy and away most of the time, or something like that.

When Nina unlocks the door to reveal a spacious living area bathed in the soft glow of afternoon sunlight, I actually gasp. I’m 100 percent sure she’s going to introduce me to a Russian don now and this is my last day. Fuck me. I should know better than to trust random people over the internet. Just because it’s a woman, doesn’t mean I’m safe. Women can be snakes. This is my last day on Earth, and—

“Riley? Where are you?” Nina sighs and curses, as if mentioning any ordinary roommate. But anyone living in this kind of space couldn’t be ordinary. Why would anyone who lives in such a place be in need of a roommate? Nina and Riley must be rich as fuck. They don’t need me.

Nina slams the keys onto a white cupboard, causing my jaw to drop once more or possibly just remain hanging open—I am not aware of its current position. I just—I’m downright shocked. This apartment is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

I wander around in a daze.

The floor-to-ceiling windows flood the space with natural light, illuminating the sleek, contemporary decor around me. It’s an open-concept layout with the living area seamlessly flowing into the dining space and kitchen. It’s all white, black, and gray. I practically stumble over nothing to the expansive views of the city skyline, feeling humbled by the towering skyscrapers andthe vastness of the urban landscape below. I think a little screech left my lips. At least, I hope it was little.

This is insane. The kitchen itself is bigger than my trailer…

I’m struck by the attention to detail, from the elegant artwork adorning the walls to the luxurious finishes throughout the apartment. And then I spot various hockey trophies and some pictures of…and more pictures of…I gulp.

Hell no.

My heart drops into my pants.

What’s his name again…

Oh no. There’s this really funny feeling in the pit of my stomach now.

This can’t be true.

“Um, Nina? Riley is agirl, right?” I ask, trying to keep my voice level as I turn to face her.

“Who says I am?” a dark voice rises behind me.

I jerk around.

First I see the shadow, and then I look up and up and up and see him.Him.

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