Page 17 of Misguided Vows

“Why would I willingly choose that for myself?” I scoff. It’s flattering to be chased by a man such as Will. But I know this in no way will end well. Even if I have thought about the encounter on the flight more than once. Not that I would ever admit that to this arrogant prick.

“So you don’t feel so detached when I fuck you later on.”

I might not be fully awake yet, but even when alert I can’t believe the confidence this guy boasts. Especially with that ever-present smirk. The one I want to slap off his face. Potentially also fuck off his face. I internally growl; this man is insufferable and I shouldn’t fall for this charm.

“Does that work on other women?”

He shrugs casually. “To be honest, I haven’t really tried it on anyone else. You seem to be a special case.”

I throw my head back and laugh, clutching my coffee.

This man.

When I stop, I wipe the tears from my face.

“Special? Oh, you’re right there. I am special.” I shut the door in his face again. I can hear him chuckle, and I can’t help but feel mixed emotions about him.

Is he hot? Yes.

Is he a serial killer? Possibly.

He said he was a tracker, and I don’t really know what that means, but I don’t want to be intrigued about this man. It’s been years now that I only do sex, and I certainly don’t hang out with men for the day. Especially not when I have a new project to focus on.

I sit down at the edge of my bed and flick through the photos I took of the shop. I wonder if I should call Maria to tell her about her brother and ask her to have him back off. But if I do, could it possibly ruin my chances of getting this job?

He irritates me beyond measure, and that’s because I haven’t decided whether I want to punch him or fuck him.

I’m certain it’s a bit of both.

I take another sip of coffee as my mind starts bubbling with ideas for the space. I reach over to my bag and pull out my tablet. As I flick through different color schemes and palettes, a few ideas start forming.

This is where the magic starts.

The shower can wait for later.

CHAPTER 10

Will

She’s a spicy one, that’s for sure. And I like it. I’m humming her praise all morning.

“Will you stop smiling? It’s freaking me out more than usual,” River says as he inspects his new shipment.

I’ve been working with River Bentley for years. If he needed someone found, I was his guy. I’d recently spent the past year here in the States, predominantly in New York, because there was a lot of money to be made here. But I also take great pleasure in pissing him—and Alek, especially—off. It was also the most settled I’d been in years, even if I still lived out of a suitcase. If I didn’t stay anywhere for too long no one asked questions, no one tried to delve deeper. The only other person who knew about my demons was River but never asked about them. If he did, I’m not so sure I’d stay around.

“Did you get laid or something?” he asks as he leans down and opens a crate with a crowbar.

“Nope,” I reply with a shit-eating grin.

He looks up at me then. “Alek told me you have your eyes on some brunette who’s working for Dawson. Is that true?”

I lean back against one of the other boxes. “For a man of few words, he seems to like to gossip a bit. Do you think he’s jealous?”

River shakes his head and chuckles. “Just don’t piss my wife’s brother off too much, okay? So, what, you like this woman? More than just wanting to fuck her?” he asks.

“Not particularly. She just won’t fuck me.”

“Ah. Not used to hearing no?” he teases as he drops the crowbar. Reaching into the crate, he pulls out a gun and inspects it appreciatively.

---