Page 12 of Broken Deal

1 Beautiful.

If there’s one thing I don’t have time for, it’s entertaining an overgrown, immature child.

“Let me make it up to you. How about dinner instead of coffee?” he offers.

My lip twitches with doubt. “I don’t think that’s a great idea, Lorenzo.”

“Call me Enzo.”

“I’d rather not,” I deadpan.

Having dinner with him is dangerous territory. If I have any chance of surviving this, I need to draw the line as soon as humanly possible.

This is what you get for having random one-night stands, Sophia. Here are the consequences of your damn actions.

Don’t I know it?

“Strictly professional. We’ll talk about the article and that’s it.” He raises three of his fingers. “Scout’s honor.”

A small laugh bubbles out of me at his ridiculous gesture. “Were you in the scouts?”

His lip twitches with a small laugh. “Oh, God no. But I do promise,” he says, sounding sincere.

I drop my shoulders with a sigh. The reality is, we need to talk about the article and come up with a plan. We’ll probably have to meet a few times so I can interview him. It’s not like I can avoid him forever. And more than anything, I take this job seriously.

He takes out his phone, handing it to me with the new contact page open. “Just give me your number and we’ll plan for this weekend.”

“This sure is a very complicated and creative way to get my number.” I glare at him, grabbing his phone.

Our fingers graze for a moment, and the simple touch makes me shiver from head to toe, making my body tense.

Lorenzo is a handsome man, there’s no denying that. After all, I let him give me multiple orgasms in a tiny cleaning closet for a reason—and it wasn’t for shit and giggles.

Oh, God. What is wrong with me? This meaningless sex needs tostop. That’s what toys are for. While my best friend is falling in love and getting married in a few months, I keep having these useless and meaningless one-night stands, knowing full well I wish formore.Morethan meaningless sex.Morethan random one-night stands. I want the type of love that consumes you wholly, to be with a man who makes my stomach flutter and my heart burst with a simple look. I want to feel that sting of electricity authors talk about in romance novels with every touch, every kiss, every look. To be protected and adored. But we can all agree those types of romances are just that—fiction.

“Nah. I’d rather you use the term original.” He winks.

With a scowl on my face, I finish putting my number in his phone before handing it back to him.

He shakes his head with a laugh, grabbing it. “I’ll pick you up Friday at 7?”

“Do I even have a choice?” I mutter.

He laughs again and starts walking backward, not breaking eye contact. “See you later,Blue.”

Blue? Seriously? That’s the stupidest nickname I’ve ever heard.

He’s pretty far now, so I shout, “My name’s Sophia. Or did you forget already?”

He shrugs with a smile that makes his annoying dimple pop before getting in his car and driving away, leaving me standing in the busy streets of the windy city wondering what the hell I got myself into.

For the better part of my day, I worked mostly on doing some research Max needed, because God forbid he asks anyone else. On top of doing my regular job, I have to do these extra tasks he asks of me, and I always end up working insane hours. My concentration was shit, though, and between Lorenzo’s shenanigans and the looming knowledge of my sister reappearing in our lives, I’ve been slowly losing my mind. As soon as the clock hit four in the afternoon, I ran out of work as fast as humanly possible.

Inserting the keys on Aria’s door, I announce, “I’m coming in, if there’s anyone indecent, it’s time to hide. And yes, I’m talking to you, Damian.”

As I’m opening the door, I hear Aria’s fit of giggles and Damian’s exasperated sigh.

Covering my eyes with my left hand and with my other hand extended, I walk into the apartment, moving it leftand right, trying not to bump into anything. “Everyone decent?”

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