Page 35 of Reckless King

Once the room has cleared out, I make my way to the elevator. When I exit on the top floor, I go right and head toward Cole’s office instead of going left toward mine.

Cole’s PA, Samson, nods at me as I pass his desk. I don’t bother to knock before opening the door and walking in. Samson would have stopped me if Cole didn’t want to be interrupted. And about the only reason my brother would care about me walking in unannounced is if Delilah was in here with him.

He’s on his phone when I enter, and he waves me toward a seat.

He hangs up a moment later and straightens in his chair. “That was the UK office,” he says. “They have the results of the feasibility study, and it’s positive. It highlighted a growing interest in owning luxury high-rise properties in London among affluent professional and international buyers, specifically with a focus on luxuryandsustainability. That’s good news for us, since it’s exactly what we’re offering with Genesis-1. If we move fast, we can corner that market before our competitors catch up.”

“It’ll be about marketing it correctly.” I cross an ankle over my knee and lean back. “We’re selling an exclusive lifestyle. A chance to be part of something groundbreaking. Have they started looking at potential sites?”

Cole doesn’t answer. He’s picked up his phone and is staring down at it.

My brows rise. “Cole?” I prompt him.

“Yes, sorry. What?”

I cock my head. It’s rare for Cole to tune out like that, especially during work discussions. “Something on your mind?”

He rubs the back of his neck. “Sorry. I’m just… distracted.” He slumps back in his seat and drums his fingers on the arm of his chair. “Delilah and I had an argument this morning, and it has me on edge.” His brows pull down. “I don’t like when she’s angry at me.”

I hide my smile. It’s hard to believe this is the man who spent years being cold as fucking ice to everyone around him before he met her. “What did you argue about?”

He picks up his pen and fiddles with it. “She was making suggestions for the new King International hotel. And I got distracted by… something.” He glances at me, then quickly away. “I lost track of the conversation. She accused me of not caring about her input, and I may have responded by telling her that I wasn’t interested in mixing business and pleasure right then,and that if she wanted to talk business, she should make an appointment at the office.”

A lungful of air escapes me, and all I can do is stare at him. “You told your fiancée to make an appointment to talk to you?”

Cole grimaces. “I wasn’t thinking clearly at the time. She was wearing this little low-cut—” He shoots me a glare, as if it’s my fault he was half a second away from describing what had the power to make him so lust-drunk he told Delilah to schedule a time to talk with him about work. “And to be honest,” the smallest of smirks curves his lips, “I like when she comes to the office to see me.”

I bet he does. I eye the desk between us, which has no doubt seen a lot of action. They’ve probably done it on every surface of this office by now. Suddenly overly conscious of what might have occurred on or around the chair I’m sitting on, I edge forward, minimizing my contact with the possibly contaminated leather. “Not the most tactful way to request some afternoon delight, I would imagine.”

His smirk disappears, and he runs a hand through his hair. “She was less than impressed.”

I can’t help the laugh that escapes me. Delilah may be a sweetheart most of the time, but she doesn’t hesitate to call Cole out on his bullshit. And clearly, that’s what happened this morning. Her ability to ruffle Cole’s feathers never stops being amusing.

She’s good for him. Since they met, he’s less the guarded COO of the King Group and more the brother I remember from our childhood. And by childhood, I mean the years before the three of us discovered what a farce our family actually was. Before we found out that the ties that bound us together were made up of money, power and our shared bloodline, with no room for love, and definitely not for affection.

We were brought up to believe that the King name and the wealth and influence associated with it were the only things that mattered. Dad made sure to drill that into our heads from the minute we could understand the concept. Of course, without ever saying the words, he made sure I was aware that none of his blood runs in my veins. I could probably credit that for why I took all his lessons with a grain of salt.

“How are you feeling about your first public appearance with Violet?” Cole asks.

Tomorrow night is the annual Save the Rainforest charity ball, and our first appearance as a couple. “What should I be feeling?” I ask, ignoring the kick of anticipation that tightens my muscles. “All we have to do is show up and make sure the photographers get a few good shots of us.”

The corners of Cole’s mouth twitch upward. “Just make sure your girlfriend doesn’t look like she wants to strangle you while they do it.”

I laugh. After our almost kiss two days ago when we signed the contract, Violet was anything but the warm, loving girlfriend she was supposed to be portraying. She barely looked at me as we signed, and she rushed out before the ink had a chance to dry. Considering we weren’t on display at the moment, I wasn’t particularly bothered.

“Delilah’s going, isn’t she?” I ask Cole.

“She’ll be there. Hopefully after having forgiven me.” His expression shifts into a smug grin. “Multiple times.”

I groan. “I don’t need to hear about your plans for makeup sex. Just don’t do anything stupid to make things worse. I want to introduce her to Violet. I’m sure Delilah will be happy to have another woman to talk to instead of having to deal with your possessive ass hovering over her all night.”

Cole’s brows draw together. “I don’t hover.”

“You absolutely do. And you glare at any man who even considers coming near her.”

He doesn’t argue that point. “You’re just lucky I letyouget anywhere near her.”

I grin. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’m a taken man now, don’t forget.”

---