Page 15 of Beautiful Beast

She gives me a wink. “His loss.”

“I got him something today.”

“What? You’re buying each other gifts now?”

“No, no. It’s from the library.”

“What did you get?”

When I explain my book choices, Ariel laughs and claps her hands with excitement. “Let’s go and give them to him.”

I shrug. It can’t hurt to bring my exuberant friend with me. “Let’s do it.”

We head back inside and I hook Buster’s leash on even though he really doesn’t need it. He never leaves my side, but the leash laws in the city have other thoughts.

“So, last time, I walked up these stairs,” I say, pushing the access door open. “It’s been a few days, but I guess he hasn’t called to complain and have the building people lock it up yet.”

“Why do we even like this curmudgeon again?” Ariel muses. “Oh, right. Abs. Tattoos. Probably a gigantic…”

“Oh, for God’s sake, you can’t tell something like that by looking at someone’s face.”

“You can so! He has big dick energy, I’m telling you,” Ariel insists.

“He’s also rich and doesn’t have to work for it. He could have a micropenis, and he would still have a line of women waiting to serve him wrapped around the city.”

Ariel’s melodic giggle makes me grin in return. She pushes the door to Adam’s floor open, and then we’re standing in his private foyer. My grandmother’s apartment is one of four on her floor, but Adam has his own exclusive entryway.

I barely get the chance to knock on the door before it’s cracked open, but not enough to actually see anything.

Of course.

“You’re back.” His voice is a baritone rumble that makes my toes curl, even when he’s being a gigantic asshole.

“That’s a somewhat nicer greeting than last time,” I note. “So I guess I’ll take it.”

“And this time you brought a friend.”

His words give me pause and make me fully realize that he can see everything through the peephole, but I can’t see him. It’s a huge disadvantage and makes me vulnerable and exposed while he stays hidden behind gilded doors.

Maybe he’s appraised me and decided I’m not good enough to be his friend. It’s clear I don’t belong here and I know old money hates new money, so maybe that’s what it is. Either way, he could still open the damn door and act like a normal part of a functioning society.

“You’ve already met Buster,” I say. “This is my best friend, Ariel.”

“Why don’t you open the door and shake hands?” Ariel demands, never one to pull any punches. “It’s very rude, you know.”

“So is trespassing,” Adam replies.

“That’s his favorite word,” I tell Ariel.

She snorts. “Maybe that’s the extent of his vocabulary based on the gift you got him.”

“Another gift?” Adam asks, ignoring my friend. “You didn’t have to get me anything. Though I did eat all the cookies, and they were delicious. Thank you.”

“You better be careful, or I’ll have to get you a book on how to maintain your abs.”

He laughs, and it’s a huge success that warms my entire body. “Don’t worry, I’ve got it down to a science.”

“I guess I’ll just leave what I got you on the floor,” I say, setting the books in the brown paper bag down in front of the door he’s hiding behind. “I know the drill by now.”

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