Page 6 of Miss Understood

I turn to face her, but she faces forward, refusing to look me in the eyes. I plant a hand on the back of the elevator and lean into it, and it pulls me closer to her.

“I think you mean intoxicating, mind-blowing, panty-dropping.”

Still she refuses to look at me. Instead, she gives me a sideways scowl.

“Guess it’s a good thing I can handle my liquor,” she says as the elevator doors slide open. “Have a good night,Mr. Davis.”

Luce steps out, leaving my name hanging like a threat in the air. I watch her cross the lobby, hips swaying with every click of her stilettos, catching the attention of the night guard, who peeks a look at her ass over his computer screen when she walks past.

Careful, buddy. Wicked things always come in the prettiest packages.

3

Luce

AdrinkarrivesbeforeI have a chance to order it, followed by an assuming wink from a man at the end of the bar. Dark hair, dark eyes, thick shoulders I wouldn’t mind wrapping my legs around. If I wasn’t meeting up with my girls, he wouldn’t be a bad option. Something to work out my irritation before I’m stuck dealing with Jesse all weekend.

It’s bad enough we’re working this case together, but spending an entire weekend listening to his alpha-male ego is going to be mind-numbing. At least his assistant is coming along. Mateo is used to being the human shield between the two of us.

Random hottie at the end of the bar winks again, and I consider whether a couple of orgasms will prevent me from throwing Jesse out of the plane.

Probably not.

I lift my drink toward the hottie who sent it and turn to find my girls at a table in a back corner. Thankfully, they’ve left their man candy at home. I’m happy they found guys who treat them right and keep them satisfied in bed, but lately I’m the fifth wheel in our girl gang, and I need some time with just my ladies.

Kennedy, Monica, and I have been friends since college, when I was their guinea pig for one of their psychology papers. They tried to solve the elusive mystery of what makes Luce Stevens impervious to love, speculating that it could be traced back to losing my mother so young. Or that maybe I had a hard time getting men to take me seriously, so I shut them out before they could leverage me with romance. But in reality, it’s because I know what I want. I have goals, aspirations. I’m not setting them aside for any man—no matter how drop-dead sexy he is.

It was just the three of us for years, having fun, casually dating. Until Cupid showed up and started picking us off one by one. Kennedy fell for her billionaire client after a drama-filled tug-of-war that gave me a headache, and Monica reconnected with her childhood first love after ten years apart—leaving me single, just as I intend to be.

And I’m happy for them—really—but I also feel the reality of the situation.

It’s only a matter of time before the two of them start popping out babies and things permanently change.

Kennedy waves me over with a smile, tossing her long brown hair over her shoulder, and Monica’s face brightens with a grin when she spots me.

“Mon, you’ve gotjust-been-fucked hair,” I tell her as I approach, and her eyes widen.

She pats at her curls and tries to get them under control in a bun, but a few rogues tumble out.

“No, I don’t,” she says, pushing the wild escapees off her face, totally flustered.

“No?” I raise an eyebrow.

“Okay, maybe a little.” She crinkles her nose.

“Define ‘a little’ fucked?” I smile at her over my martini glass, and she nervously chuckles.

Monica is a sweetie with a free spirit, but bring up explicit sex and she turns shades of red that give Kennedy’s cupid wardrobe a run for its money. Although, I get the impression that Carson is drawing out a naughtier side to Monica. I’ve never seen her so relaxed. Like getting-good-dick-on-a-regular-basisrelaxed.

I’m definitely jealous.

“Carson might have wandered downtown”—she points under the table—“in the town car on the way over.”

“Kinky,” I say. “With his fingers or his mouth?”

Monica almost spits out her drink, but Kennedy and I just laugh.

Kennedy and I are more alike. She doesn’t mind discussing girth and orgasms. Although, she’s become surprisingly tight-lipped about her sex life since settling down with Zac. Screwing a billionaire will do that to you, I suppose. Wouldn’t want kinks out in the open when you’re that high profile.

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