Page 52 of Inflame

“Hey you,” she greets.

“Hey yourself. How did you sleep?”

A blush reaches her cheeks as she looks away. “Really well.”

I chuckle at her unintended reveal. I wiggle my eyebrows, making the pink turn to red. “I bet.”

“Marrying that man is going to be the best decision I ever make. To think that he’ll be bound to me for life could be a little daunting, but I know we’ll always have adventures and never get bored with one another.”

I want that. How could anyone not want that for their future? “I am so happy for you. I can only wish I find what you have.”

Her brows furrow. “Things seem to be progressing with Ethan. You definitely have been dating him longer than your other conquests.”

“This is true.” As for progressing, however, I wouldn’t call it an easy journey. We seem stagnant. Everything is a struggle right now. “I usually burn through men much faster. This has to be a sign he’s a keeper.”

Angie helps me wipe up water that I splashed onto the vanity unknowingly, looking at me in the mirror while we talk. “Any idea what we are doing today?”

“I have no clue. Nic and I didn’t correspond on this. Your guess is as good as mine.” I am excited to find out what he has planned. Maybe he can take some initiative after all. The more we hang out, the more he surprises me. I lumped him into a category early on, and he is breaking down the walls of the box each minute I get to know him more.

We finish up and head out to join the men who are having a heated conversation. As soon as our presence is made known, they change their demeanor.

“Ready to go?” Graham asks, hugging his fiancée to him.

“Everything okay?” I ask, looking at Nic.

“Yeah, of course,” he lies.

“You are a horrible liar,” I whisper, as I watch him lock up the room. Angie and Graham go off ahead toward the elevator, and I linger back with Nic.

His eyes lighten with humor. “How can you tell?” he asks.

I stare into his baby blues. “Your eyes give it all away.”

“I better wear sunglasses during the next round of poker, then.”

“Pretty sure I’d still see through your attempt.”

His eyes move down my body. I instantly feel vulnerable under his watchful gaze. Despite being able to decipher when he is lying, I am unable to read his other thoughts. Does he approve of me? Disapprove? Does my outfit meet his “more fabric” request? Maybe he doesn’t even have an opinion about me. More importantly, why do I care so damn much?

I rarely care about anyone’s approval. I have always done things my way. On my terms. Yet, here I stand at the doorway to our suite and feeling judged by his penetrable appraisal.

His fingers meet my chin, lifting it gently to meet his eyes. “Quit doubting yourself.”

“Hmm?”

“You look amazing no matter what you wear. I was just enjoying the view.”

“Oh.” My eyes look away, at the artwork on the wall. He releases his hold on my chin.

“Hey,” he says drawing back my attention. “Don’t be shy.”

I’m usually not. Never, really. Yet, here I am standing before him, and I can’t seem to understand why he challenges me and shakes up my confidence at the same time.

“You have to realize what effect you have on men. You can’t be that oblivious.”

“I’m sure a handful find me attractive. I work hard at it, though,” I say, looking up at him. “Doesn’t come easy.”

He swallows hard and rubs his hands over the back of his neck. “You have caused quite the stir at Entice, you know? You’ve created bidding wars.” His sigh is heavy. “At least early on when you were not with Maxwell. I’ve had numerous recent requests for your company. You must have made a lasting impression at a mixer or something.”

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