Page 170 of The Sinner: James

“He’s flushed with money. And Lex and Ed are not far behind. People, and I mean women, clamor over them. They throw party after party, the biggest gatherings in town.”

“Is he dating someone?”

She stares at me like I've lost my mind.

I roll my eyes, laughing.

“Never mind…” I say, gesturing softly.

“James Sexton? Does he need to?”

“I thought he was ready to settle down with someone. Get married and all that,” I mock.

“That’s him, baby,” Eve says, entertained.

“I bet women swarm his parties.”

“They do. But James is James, as you just said. You rarely see him with the same woman. Read the gossip columns. There’s plenty of that crap online.”

I flick my hand up.

“I’m fine,” I say.

She smiles, her fingers touching mine.

“Listen… You’ve got the most from him,” she says, and my grin fades. “The man’s heart is made of ice. He’s probably given you more than he’s ever offered to any other woman. So you shouldn’t feel bad. I don’t think there’s more to him than that,” she says.

I couldn’t agree more.

“Even so... One of those women will get him someday,” I say.

She searches my eyes, expressing disbelief.

“You think so?”

I nod.

“Mm-hmm... Yeah, I do. They all fall for someone in the end,” I murmur.

6

JAMES

Two weeks before Christmas.

“That’s a wrap,”a voice rings out behind me.

“It’s been a pleasure, Mr. Sexton,” the show host, a lean brunette with curly hair, says.

Her lips curve into a flirting smile as she pulls up to her feet and arches her back, giving me a good view of her perky ass.

Smoothly, I rise from my chair, remove the microphone from the lapel of my jacket, and tear my eyes away from her without a word.

Lex glances at me, already heading to the door. My feelings exactly.

The producer greets me as soon as I walk out.

“Thank you, Mr. Sexton,” he says, flashing a smile.

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