Page 7 of The Enemy's Daughter

“You’re an old man, Ric. This is not going to end well.”

“Fuck you. You’re the same age as me.”

He heard Rex sigh on the other end of the line. “Fine. We’re both old. This is going to bite you in the ass. Besides, what has this girl ever done to you? Not to mention, what about the other women in your life?”

“They can be put on hold until after I’m done. I’ve already thought about it. I think I can get her to fall in love with me by Christmas, and break her heart by New Year.”

“A month. You’re giving yourself a month to do all of that shit?”

“Yep, and let’s face it. I’m experienced. I know exactly what I’m doing, and she’s going to be putty in my hand. I’ll have her on her knees begging for it.”

He was sure he could hear Rex’s eye roll.

“I’m going to leave this with you. I’ve got a case to deal with, and my bitch of a PA has just stormed out of the job.”

“The chubby chick?”

“Yeah. My fellow partners got sick and tired of me banging the easy ones that worked for me. They even tried to put a married woman with me. I had her panties around her ankles in no time. It’s not even a challenge anymore.”

Looking outside of his window, Alaric saw Bella leaving the practice with the vet who saw him. They stood talking for a few minutes, and if he wasn’t careful he was about to lose his opportunity. “I’ve got to go.” Hanging up the phone, he tossed it onto the car seat, and watched, waiting for the right moment.

Deidre said something that made Bella laugh. She threw her head back, and he heard her laugh. The sound was musical to him, which was crazy. He found women’s laughter irritating. The pathetic chuckle drove him crazy. The older woman left, and Bella made her way toward her car.

When she was alone, he climbed out of his car.

“Excuse me, Bella,” he said.

She spun around to face him with a hand on her chest. “Mr. Patterson, you scared me.”

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to. I, erm, I was wondering, would you like to go on a date with me?”

“A date?”

“It’s a little unconventional. As a thank you for, you know, helping me out?”

“You don’t have to do that. I don’t do it to get dates out of everyone, Mr. Patterson.”

“Blue.”

“Huh?”

“Blue. That’s my name.” No, it’s not. My middle name is fucking Blue.

“Well, as I was saying, Blue, erm, you don’t need to take me out to dinner or make anything up to me. I’m good. I promise.”

“I insist. Please, it would make me feel much better? Do you have a boyfriend? Is that why you don’t want to go on a date?”

“No. I don’t have a boyfriend or anything. This is a little unconventional. Guys don’t usually ask me out on a date when you’ve known me for ten minutes.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

She chuckled. “It’s not a problem. I’ll see you in two weeks.”

He watched her get into her car and leave. He was so pissed off that she didn’t jump to his offer of a date.

Climbing back in his own car, he drove toward the city center and made his way toward his penthouse suite. What the fuck was it going to take to get her to go on a date with him? He didn’t get it. She was plain, and he was sexy. Even though he was forty-eight years old, he was damn good looking. He’d fucked many models and actresses along the way. He didn’t see what was so damn special about Bella.

Pouring himself a shot of whiskey, he took a seat on his sofa, and rested his head. He was going to get his revenge no matter what. This was going to take a little longer than he’d anticipated.

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