Page 39 of When It Rains He Pours

Chuckling, I poured myself a glass and held it up. “I'm still paying his salary, I might as well use it once in awhile.” Winking, I took a sip of the champagne, just watching her.

I couldn't stop staring at her, there wasn't a way for me to move my eyes off of her.

She was so beautiful, a vixen to the eyes and a siren to the muscle in my chest. My cock thickened as I watched her cross her leg slowly over her knee. The diamond between her thighs was a hidden treasure I wanted to capture and claim as mine and mine alone.

There was this feral need building inside me, one I couldn't shut off, one I couldn't quite tame. It was as if all the rest of what made me human had dissolved the second this woman walked into my world.

Resting her hand on the edge of the window, she laid her cheek against it. “So tell me, what is it exactly that you do? I know you're in some sort of construction, or investment company, but what is it really?”

“Does it matter?”

“I'm curious, so yes, it matters.” Her lips pulled back into a bright smile as she veered her stare. “The fancy hotel, the mill, this limo. . .” Pausing, she sipped her drink, delicately licking the small droplets that had come to balance on her lip. “I can sit here guessing, but it would be easier if you just told me.”

Leaning over my knees, I threw my hand out and ran a single finger up and down her calf. “Let's not have this conversation tonight, the last thing I want to do is talk business.” Her skin was soft and supple, so smooth it felt like velvet. “I'm sure there are other things we could talk about.”

I wasn't ready to have that conversation with her. What she wanted to know was tangled so intricately into her world, that telling her could mean the end of this—of. . . us.

It was a gamble I didn't want to take, not until I absolutely had to.

“Alright, like what?” Bringing the glass to her lips, she took a huge gulp. I watched her throat expand to make room for the liquid as a shiver ran up her body.

“Have you thought about me? Because I haven't been able to get you out of my head.”

“Are you trying to seduce me again? Is that what all this is?”

“Is it working?” Slipping my finger higher up her leg, I teased the edge of her dress, gently plucking at the seam.

Glory's cheeks turned the prettiest shade of crimson as she glanced away and looked out the window. Pursing her lips, her fingers played with the wispy loose strands of hair around her face.

“I'm going to take that as a yes.” Cocking my head, I held my breath for a long second. “But I'd prefer to hear you tell me the answer yourself.” The limo came to a stop and I heard the driver's door open. “Looks like you just got saved from answering my question.” The door opened, so I held out my hand. “Shall we?” I asked.

Flicking her eyes in my direction, Glory took my hand and let me lead her out of the car. Her heels clicked against the sidewalk as she stepped to my side, her eyes wide, glazed over in shock.

“Are you fucking serious?”

“What? Do you hate this place? We can go somewhere else.”

“No, it's not that. It's just, this place has a waiting list of six months for reservations, how the hell did you get us into The Crow's Nest?”

“I know people, Glory. . .” Pausing, I braided our fingers together and started for the entrance. “A lot of people.”

Huffing, her eyes shot up to mine, her stare full of curiosity and questions. “I can see that. And yet you refuse to tell me much of anything about who you are.”

“I'll tell you about myself, I just don't want to talk about what I do.”

Thinning her lids, she peered at me. “So are you being closed off or guarded? Because both seem to be true right now.”

Shrugging a shoulder, I let her question dangle between us, leaving it unanswered. “Ready?” I asked, bending my arm for her to take.

Glory stared at me for a moment, finally slipping her hand into the crook of my arm and walking with me inside.

We were brought right in, no waiting required, and sat at a small two person table in the back corner of the restaurant with a view of the harbor. It was my favorite table in the whole place, and I had a permanent reservation.

Years ago my father had invested in this place. The owner was an old family friend, he had fallen on rough times, so my father stepped in to help him. My father was a good man, he went out of his way to help people, it didn't matter to him what they needed.

That's the kind of man I wanted to be. Jacob however, was on the opposite side of the spectrum. All he cared about was himself, and this project was the perfect example of that.

The candle in the center flickered red and orange, the thin tendrils splashed her skin, giving her a sun-kissed glow.

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