Page 7 of The Perfect Deception

Because Iamher world.

CHAPTER THREE

Frankie

Napa Valley is gorgeous. I mean, I’ve seen photos and heard the stories, but this is so much more beautiful than I ever expected.

And being here in wine country with the world’s most perfect man, I can relax. Hell, Iamrelaxing. And it feels good.

Maybe it has a something to do with the mind-altering orgasms I had last night and into the early morning. And in the shower before finally leaving the room to enjoy some of the beautiful Napa Valley air.

“What looks good?” Damien’s wearing an expression that tells me this isn’t the first time he asked the question.

I scan the menu quickly. “Is late enough for the brunch platter?”

“Absolutely,” the cheerful server answers with a bright smile.

“Make it two,” he tells her, but his gaze stays on me. “Mimosas?”

I shake my head. “I know it’s wine country and all, but that key lime pie martini is making my mouth water.”

“And I thought that was my job.”

Though I try to bite back a laugh, I can’t. “It might do your ego good to have a little competition.”

His gaze flicks to the clearly amused server. “Two key lime pie martinis, please.”

“Coming right up!” She practically bounces away from the table, leaving us alone.

Temporarily.

“I thought that was you, Wolfe.” An older man with a shock of unkempt silver hair stops at the table, his tone familiar, as if he and Damien are old friends.

But one look at Damien and his face is not at all welcoming. Not that the man seems to notice. “Ben.” That’s rich people speak forhow fucking dare you stop and address me with such familiarity.

“You haven’t gotten back to me about investing in my new bio-hacking startup.”

Damien’s jaw ticks, but it’s so slight that a layperson might not notice. “There’s a good reason for that. I have no interest in it.”

The man flashes a smarmy grin that makes him look like a complete asshole. “Afraid you might lose a few million?”

“I didn’t become a billionaire by making poor investments, Ben and your prospectus is more science fiction than science.” I can see Damien’s annoyance growing by the way he clenches his jaw. “When you have something more concrete, you know how to reach me.”

Ben’s face hardens, and without another word, he turns and leaves. I watch him storm off before leaning in closer to Damien, a smile tugging at my lips. “Did you really just dismiss him like that? I thought stuff like that only happened in movies.”

Damien chuckles under his breath and it’s the most relaxed I’ve seen him since we’ve met. “It’s a talent.”

“Apparently,” I say with a laugh.

Just then, our drinks arrive, and Damien lifts his glass, giving me that intense look that always makes my stomach flip. “To the detective who’s turned my life upside down.”

I raise my glass, grinning. “And to the billionaire who threw coffee on me and somehow got away with it.”

Heat flares in his eyes as he puts his lips to the glass and drinks from it. “Damn, this is great.”

“Damien Wolfe, you handsome devil.” A slender blonde with perfectly painted red lips leans over our table, giving Damien a good long look at her tits.

His gaze is still on me, smiling as if we’re still alone. He takes another sip of his drink, sighs and leans back before flicking a bored look at the woman. “Taylor Perkins.”

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