Page 71 of Leave Before I Love You
Me: Yeah? Planning on doing actual work today over there at Banks & McKenzie?
Avery: Ha. No. I’m not busy at all. I can be there in an hour.
A laugh jumps from my lungs.
Me: An hour?
Avery: I can’t leave in the middle of my mani/pedi.
I have the strongest sensation I have no fucking clue what I’m getting myself into with this woman, and yet…I like it. I don’t think I’ll ever know what to expect, and for an adrenaline junkie like me, there’s nothing more exciting.
Me: See you in an hour.
Avery: An hour. But get your tongue ready, okay? My pussy’s feeling greedy.
Fuck me. Yep. I’mnevergoing to know what to expect.
Avery
The elevator dings, and I step out onto Henry’s office floor. My freshly manicured nails gleam ballerina pink, the exact shade I chose because I thought it’d look best when I…well, when I wrap my hand around Henry’s cock later. I’m nothing if not thorough in my color coordination.
The space is as sleek and intimidating as I imagined. It’s all fucking windows, the sunlight pouring in from every angle, bouncing off the polished floors and high-tech. I’ve been to Adrenaline Junkie’s headquarters before but never to this floor. And now that I’m here, I can’t help but feel like I’ve walked into a king’s domain.
And there he is, the king himself, sitting behind his massive desk—in a sleek black suit jacket, perfectly-fitted black T-shirt, and black slacks—like he owns the world. Which, in a way, he does. It’s pretty fucking sexy, to be honest. He’s successful—at what he loves and because of his own drive and determination.
I’ve never showcased any of that same ambition, but if I’m going to live the lifestyle I’m accustomed to while maintaining that attitude, I’m going to need a man who’s the opposite.
A man who can take charge and take care of me—a man who’s already shown me in spades he’s more than capable of those things and, beyond that, can do it with a tenderness in his heart I’d never expect.
Henry looks up just as I’m walking toward his office, his lips curling into that wicked, knowing smile that makes my stomach flip.
Before I can reach him, his assistant intercepts me at her desk. She’s efficient and polished, her dark hair pulled back into a sleek ponytail. “Hi, Ms. Avery. Can I help you?” she asks, her tone polite but firm.
“I have an appointment with Henry,” I say, my voice breezy.
Before Cara can question me any further, Henry steps out of his office, still smiling. “Hold my calls, Cara,” he says without missing a beat. His eyes lock on mine, and he tilts his head toward the hallway. “Come on.”
He places a hand on the small of my back, guiding me away from his office and down the hall.
“Where are we going?” I ask, glancing over at him.
He smirks, his eyes glinting with mischief. “It’s a secret.”
We stop at a private elevator, and he punches in a keycode before the doors slide open. I step in beside him, my curiosity piqued. The elevator ascends smoothly, and when the doors open again, I’m greeted by bright sunlight and the sound of the ocean breeze.
“Wow,” I breathe as we step out onto the roof.
The space is stunning. A rooftop oasis perched high above Miami, complete with a pool, a Jacuzzi, glass balustrades that make the view of the city and ocean seem infinite, and a luxurious sitting area with plush couches and pillows. The smell of sea and salt is an immediate comfort.
The old Avery would’ve hated what this might do to her hair. So weird.
“This is a new addition to Adrenaline Junkie,” Henry explains, slipping his hands into his pockets. “But it hasn’t had the official reveal to my employees yet.”
“And what are we doing up here?” I ask, turning to him.
He smirks again, that same infuriatingly sexy look that makes my knees weak. “I thought you’d enjoy the view while I enjoy you.”
Before I can respond, he’s closing the distance between us. Inone smooth motion, he lifts me into his arms, making me squeak in surprise.
