Page 55 of Beyond the Hate

“You could pretend to be impressed by my wealth,” I joke.

“The way you pretended the jet wasn’t yours?”

I offer her my elbow. “Would you please accompany me to the fundraiser? Or are you scared?”

“I’m not scared to attend an event with you.”

I lean forward and say the words I know will guarantee her attendance. “Prove it.”

She snatches her purse from the table next to her and waves me toward the limo. “Let’s go.”

I cough to hide my amusement. Paisley is a complicated woman but she can’t resist a dare. Never could. It’s why she spent nearly as much time in detention in high school as Sophia and Chloe.

She marches toward the limo and I fall in line behind her. Sex may be off the table but I never said I wouldn’t stare at her ass. And her ass in this silky dress is a thing of beauty. She turnstoward the limo and the slit in her dress widens to allow me a glimpse of her bare leg.

My cock twitches. Shit. I can’t get hard in this outfit. Tuxedo pants would telegraph my excitement to Paisley. I’d rather keep my horniness out of the conversation. For now.

I recite the quarterly figures forApparoountil my cock gets the message. Once it calms down, I follow Paisley to the limo. The driver steps out but I wave him away.

“I’ve got this.”

I open the door and usher Paisley inside. Goosebumps break out on her arm when I touch her elbow. I can’t resist stroking my thumb against her skin. She shivers before yanking her arm away.

We settle in the back seat and the vehicle begins driving toward the private airfield across the bridge on the mainland.

Paisley caresses the leather seat as she scans the interior. “Do you own this limo as well?”

“No.”

She raises an eyebrow.

“I rented it for tonight.”

“I’ve never been in a limo before.”

“Not even for prom?”

“High school kids don’t ride in limos to prom on Smuggler’s Hideaway. They use golf carts decorated like smugglers.”

I chuckle. “I forgot. When Zane went to prom, he dressed up as a bootlegger. His date was not amused.”

“Bootleggers can be quite dashing.”

I narrow my eyes on her and feign irritation. “Do you think Zane is more handsome than me?”

“More handsome? You’re presuming I find you handsome at all.”

I grin. “You think I’m handsome. Paisley Bardot wouldn’t let just any man into her pants.”

She glances away. I notice her bare shoulders have a smattering of freckles on them. I want to trace them with my tongue. When it comes to Paisley, what part of her body don’t I want to trace with my tongue?

“You don’t know me as well as you think you do. Maybe I sleep around. Maybe I have one-night stands more often.”

I growl at the idea of my Paisley letting anyone besides me into her body.

“I know you, Lace. I know you’re the smartest person I’ve ever met.”

She rolls her eyes. “You own a business with Jeremy Holland.”

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