Page 55 of The Deception: Hercules Valentine and I
PG
Hercules Valentine
Twenty Minutes Earlier
I glare at the name on my screen. I changed her name on my contacts list from Lark Davenport to PG. She’s so damn good at playing the part that I don’t want to forget who she is. On the drive to her apartment, my plan vacillated between straight-out asking her why she’s working for me while pretending to be someone else and just going with the flow.
Damn, why didn’t she just apply for the job, using her real identity?I would have interviewed her myself to figure out her motives, and if I could trust her, I would have hired her. My family wouldn't have agreed, especially my mother, but I wouldn't have cared. Ever since she's come on board, Paisley's been doing a stellar job. Her intention can't be to sabotage us. With theShop-a-Lotgame, she’s offered our sinking ship a lifeline. So she’s infiltrated our company for another reason.
But what is it?What does she want?
I called her before I arrived at her building. Parking can be a nightmare, even at this time of night, but I have a blue chip on my front and back bumper, which gives me access to any participating parking garage on the East Coast and West Coast. Luckily, her building grants me access, and I pull into a blue-chip guest spot and turn off my engine.
I sit behind the steering wheel, twisting my neck, trying to loosen up. I still haven't settled on what to do next.Do I confront her or not?I open the door and my feet hit the pavement. I take a series of breaths as I walk to the elevator that takes me up to the lobby. I wish I had the answer already, but I don’t.
* * *
I knockon her door and look down at the carpet.Damn.I’m nervous, and I shouldn’t be. I should be infuriated. And I still haven’t decided how to tell her that I know the truth. I have to say something. I’d be betraying my family if I didn’t.
The door opens.
“Hi,” she says in a sweet voice.
Damn. Look at her.
“Hey,” I whisper and then swallow to take the tightness out of my throat.
She smells good.What’s that scent? It’s driving me crazy.On top of that, her cheeks are glowing, and her smile lights up her eyes. I visualize her with her natural big beautiful topaz eyes that contrast her soft red lips. I want to kiss her. But I want to wait until I figure out what I'm going to do about her.
I have to come up with something fast, though. My cock is already at attention.And that red dress she’s wearing…
“Please come in.” She steps back and opens the door wider, giving me space to enter. “I cleaned up the best I could.”
She wants me to notice her apartment, but I can’t look away from her face.Damn… it’s Paisley Grove.
“You look beautiful tonight.” I can’t stop myself from being dragged into her allure.
Her face turns red and her smile even prettier. “Thank you. You too.” She frowns as if she didn’t mean to say that I was beautiful. The embarrassment on her face is a classic Paisley Grove expression. It’s still sort of surreal that after all of these years, I’m standing in front of her. And I could have her. Nobody could get in the way, not her family or mine.
Finally, I let my gaze roam the room. “Your apartment is cozy.” It’s shoebox sized. It has to be pretty uncomfortable for someone who used to live in a mansion in Carnegie Hill.
She views her apartment with admiration. “I like the coziness. It feels like a hug.”
Interesting.Being in the small space with her and this close to her is driving me crazy.
“Come here,” I whisper as I tug her against me. Running may hands down her hips makes my wood turn into steel.
We lock eyes. She’s always had an intensity about her that I found so sexy. Head tilted back, lips parted as her warm breath wafts across my mouth, she’s like putty in my hands.
“Hey,” I whisper.
* * *
