Page 103 of Inflame

I suck both of my lips into my mouth, before saying, “Thanks for the…” How do I even respond to this?

“I was one hundred percent offering.”

“I’m not a good fit.”

His eyes twinkle. “To be determined.”

He makes me want to take a shower. I am starting to smell like fake cheese.

29

NIC

I’ve been pissed off from the moment Claire decided to activate her Entice account. As expected from a pretty girl like herself, she is causing quite the war over potential dates. Some clients have even resorted to private messaging me to try to sway the decision.

I want to break something. Smash someone. Think about anything other than Claire sitting and enjoying dinner with some rich asshole, whose only motivation in engaging in small talk is getting her into bed. Sure, Entice is a legitimate escort service that specializes in high-end dates and the elite status of catering to a plethora of personality traits. But off the books, many women engage in counteroffers that typically involve sexual favors. Angie was not one of those women, not that I would ever think of my future sister-in-law in that type of scenario. My brother will take an ice pick to my brain if I do. As for Claire, I’m really not too sure. She kept a low profile during her active status days and when she met Maxwell, her random dating came to a halt. However, Claire is struggling financially, and when someone gets desperate, there’s no telling how far they will go.

It has only been a couple of days since we returned from Vegas, and I have the fiery dark-haired beauty on my brain. I can’t stop thinking about her. It doesn’t help that I have seen her in a bikini. I have seen her in lingerie. I have seen her after I’ve kissed the hell out of her lips. It is too much for my fantasies to endure. It is like having a meal entirely made up of appetizers, when all you really want is the main course.

Claire is naively optimistic on a good day, and her bright personality is strong enough to attract most men. However, she is equal parts sweet and sexy. That combination alone is lethal on my senses. I want her like I have never wanted anyone else. Just the thought of her entertaining some man for the simple price of money makes my blood boil. She is playing with fire and doesn’t even realize how badly she could get burned.

I can provide for her. I can give her everything she needs…

Except real stability.

And no matter how much my conscience is telling me to run to her and force her to accept help, I know that I already blurred too many lines. For someone to be with me, they really need to know the score.

I run a hand down my face as I lean back in my office chair at Hoffman Headquarters. I should be installing all updated cameras and security features right now. I should be familiarizing myself with every employee’s profile and doing my own thorough background checks. I just cannot stop thinking about what I really want with Claire, because even if I get her, I’m not quite sure our goals align. In fact, I’m nearly positive they do not.

I am not a forever type of person. I am not even into anything that remotely resembles a relationship. Everything that I partake in when it comes to the opposite sex is temporary. The women all know that, so it’s not like I bait and switch things to suit my needs. The ones that hold my attention all fit the same mold, so it should be no shock to them when I fade out of their lives as fast as I enter.

My phone buzzes and I check the caller ID to see that it is Penny.

“Hey sis,” I greet.

“Hi.”

“To what do I owe this pleasure?” I ask, trying to keep the hesitation out of my voice.

“I was hoping you can convince Mom and Dad to let me do an early release from the center.”

I swallow hard and play with my ring, rotating it around and around. “Oh yeah?”

“I just would like to start living again. Plus, Graham and Angie are getting married soon.”

“You being officially released or not isn’t going to affect your attendance at the wedding, Pen.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. But, I want to be able to reach my own milestones too. Everyone here says I am doing great. I’ve hit all my goals. I will be enrolling in a maintenance counseling program no matter where I move. I have done all the right steps.”

“Have you talked with Graham about this?” I ask, already knowing the answer.

“No. You know how crazy he gets when it comes to control. If it isn’t his idea, then it isn’t the right idea.”

I chuckle over her exasperation. “Okay, fine. I’ll look into it and verify with your doctors that things are going well. If I can put the seed into Mom and Dad’s ears, I will do my best.”

“That’s all I ask,” she says, relief flooding through her words.

“I just don’t want to be responsible for any relapses or downslides.”

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