Page 10 of Never Gonna Lie
“James, it’s so good to see you,” Emma purrs, air kissing both of my cheeks before going back to stand next to Drew.
Those two have been disgustingly in love for the past ten years. I mean, I’m happy for the guy. After Sophia died, he went into a depressive state. Raven and the company were the only two things that kept him going until he met Emma at a work function. She’s definitely brought him back to life, but there’s still a spark of the old Drew missing, like a part of him died the night Sophia did.
“Ah, there’s the birthday girl,” Drew calls, loud enough for everyone to hear.
Turning around, I stop, my mouth dropping open at the goddess standing in the doorway. Raven’s wearing a long white dress; thin straps hold onto delicate shoulders, and a material that hugs every inch of her curves. Her fiery red hair’s been straightened, flowing in soft waves, and her makeup is subtle, giving her an airbrushed look.
As I watch her gracefully walk toward us, my chest constricts and my breathing grows uneven. An unsettled feeling sits on my chest as I fail to remove my gaze for even a second. Never in my life have I ever looked at Raven as anything other than Drew’s daughter, but here she stands, looking like a complete wet dream, and all I want to do is bend her over the table and fuck her until neither one of us can remember our own names.
Fuck. I’m a dead man walking if Drew ever catches wind of where my dirty mind just went.
Guilt flashes through me as Drew clears his throat, bringing me out of my gawping. I glance out of the corner of my eye, checking to make sure he hasn’t clocked me eye fucking his daughter. Thankfully, his gaze is firmly on Raven, pride shining in his eyes.
My palms feel sweaty as I hold my glass, but when she gives me a shy look, brushing her hair behind her ear and biting her bottom lip—a bottom lip that I’m suddenly desperate to bite myself—I know I need to get the hell out of here.
Knocking back the glass of whiskey in my hand, I grit out, “Excuse me.”
I walk toward the balcony, needing air and to get the raging hard-on in my slacks to calm the fuck down because Raven Carter is completely off limits.
Chapter Seven
RAVEN
PRESENT DAY
Throwing my pen down on my desk, I exhale slowly and lean back in my chair, facing the ceiling as I contemplate giving everything up and just becoming a trophy wife.
This assignment’s kicking my ass, like literally booting me so hard I can’t think straight. The overthinking of every tiny little thing, only to barely scrape by, is unreal. The overwhelming need to give up and work at the Honey Pot full-time is sounding pretty good right about now. At least that way I wouldn’t have to use my brain to figure out what part of the body does what and where.
The door bangs open, alerting me to Felicity’s arrival, and I inwardly groan. I really don’t need her shit right now.
I know it sounds like I hate her, but I don’t; I just don’t understand her brash ways. She reminds me of the popular girls in high school who used to pick on me. I don’t know what I ever did to her, but she clearly dislikes me and makes it known every time I’m in the same room as her.
“Raven, are you here?” she calls out, slamming cupboard doors in search of who knows what.
Pushing myself up from my desk with a sigh, I amble through to the kitchen to find out what she wants. “What’s up, Felicity?” I ask as I lean against the door frame.
She’s currently rifling through the cupboards, pulling out various bottles of alcohol and glasses. Felicity bends over to grab the mixer from the bottom drawer, and her tight black dress hikes up, showing me more of her ass than I ever needed to see.
That’s me bleaching my eyeballs tonight.
She looks up at me as she replies, “I’m having company over tonight.”
I roll my eyes inwardly. Felicity always has ‘company’ over. She’s a beautiful girl, and I can see why guys go nuts over her—long, blonde hair, pink pouty lips, and a slim figure tends to send them into a tailspin.
“That’s fine. I’m going home for the weekend, anyway. I don’t have class until Monday, so I’m heading up tonight.”
Felicity shrugs her shoulders, not interested in a word I’ve just said. “Cool.” She brushes past me, and I teeter on my feet with the force of it as she storms off to her bedroom without a backward glance.
I honestly don’t know why I bother.
Times like this, I really wish I hadn’t refused Dad’s offer of an apartment. Living with Mia would be a hell of a lot better than this.
Sighing, I go to my own room and clear everything away. Deciding that my assignments will still be there on Monday morning, I grab my bag and keys before locking up and heading down to my car.
It takes me an hour to get to my dad’s house, but it feels like it doesn’t take any time at all. Seeing as I’ve made this journey so many times, I could probably do it with my eyes closed. The rolling hills and neighboring streets give me something to focus on while I’m driving. I’ve always loved the commute, putting on an audiobook, winding down the windows, and just being in my own head for a while is actually quite therapeutic.
Slowing to a stop, I pull up to the gates and key in the code. Dad lives on an estate in one of the more popular towns of Darlington. It’s where I lived and went to school until starting at Abingdon. I’ve got some good memories in this house and some not-so-great ones.
