Page 7 of His Rules

I found a parking spot close instead of using valet parking, taking my time studying the parking lot before heading inside. I’d learned a long time ago to be very careful with my surroundings. And that had nothing to do with nasty reporters.

Grinning, I shoved my keys into my pocket and walked toward the main set of doors, immediately turning toward the elevators. I slipped inside, almost grateful to be alone.

When the doors closed, I rubbed my eyes. I’d been getting more frequent headaches over the past few months. It was all aboutcrunching numbers well after midnight. By all rights, I should take over the CEO and marketing positions from Drake, but he needed to do his share of work. I had no time to add anything else to my already overflowing plate.

The sharp pinging let me know the doors were opening, but I quickly realized we weren’t on the rooftop. The elevator had stopped on the sixth floor. I was already grumbling more than usual until a woman stepped in. She immediately lifted her head after noticing me, offering a smile.

One that could light up the entire downtown.

She was beautiful in a nontraditional way, her long legs accentuated by a form-fitting dress that hugged her curves perfectly. She was voluptuous, a body designed for a man such as myself.

Her hair was a stunning shade of flaxen, curls tumbling over her shoulders. But it had been the light green of her eyes that had drawn me in much like her smile. She was truly a beautiful woman.

And far too young for me.

She settled in for the one-floor ride and I resisted saying anything to her. She was likely meeting friends or worse, her boyfriend. I shook my head. Now I was stooping to entirely new levels of debauchery.

The stunning girl immediately headed for the bar near the rooftop’s edge while I took my time walking in. It was early enough that there were only two people at the bar, sitting together at the other end. She took a position far removed, sliding onto the barstool and immediately grabbing the drink menu in the plexiglass sleeve.

I headed in her direction, taking a deep whiff of her perfume as I passed, taking up residence a few stools down. She didn’t so much as look in my direction, but I’d felt a crackle of electricity shared between us.

Her perfume settled into my nostrils and for the first time in as long as I could remember, I was immediately aroused.

The bartender approached her first, conversing with her about the various concoctions highlighted. She selected one of them, offering a laugh at something he’d said. Her tone was hushed as if she didn’t want anyone overhearing her conversation.

Her action amused me more than anything.

The bartender quickly made her drink, a strange aqua-blue mixture that had to be sweet to the taste. Just like she would be. My thoughts were already turning filthy. I was in rare form today.

“What can I get you, sir?” the bartender finally asked after sauntering in my direction.

“Kentucky bourbon. Neat.”

“Coming right up.”

I tried not to study her, instead paying attention to one of several televisions hanging over the bar, but the draw to her was strong. I was genuinely surprised just how much.

She toyed with her drink, running the tip of her nail around the rim before taking the slice of orange into her fingers. As she began to suck the pulp from the rind, I imagined how it would feel to have her full lips wrapped around my cock.

Seconds later, her appeal attracted the attention of a man sitting with friends at a table in close proximity. He approached her with a swagger and instantly, my hackles were raised. Not a word had been said between us, yet I felt strangely protective.

“Hey there. I noticed you were all alone,” the guy said in a cavalier way. “Would you like to join me and my buddies for a drink?” He nodded toward the table and she did honor him by glancing over her shoulder.

“No, thank you. I’m just fine.”

The woman had a surprisingly smoky voice, the tone meant for reading romance novels over the air. My balls immediately tightened.

“Ah, come on. A pretty gal such as yourself shouldn’t be sitting alone.” He crowded her space as he leaned against the bar, his elbow on the surface and his knee drifting against hers.

Her expression was blank except for the venom in her eyes as she rolled her gaze slowly down to the man’s cheap, scuffed loafers. When she lifted her head, her lips were curled in a smirk.

“I’m enjoying my drink very much alone, butthankyou for the offer.”

The woman had claws. I wanted to applaud her.

She was holding her tongue, yet the girl had grit, the kind developed from experiences that had likely taught her a lesson in lack of trust.

“Come on now, sugar. You don’t know how special we can make your lonely night.” The jerk was licking his lips, the buddies he was with snickering behind him.

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