Page 6 of Off Limits Billionaire

Sonia ran her tongue over her teeth before jabbing a finger into my shoulder. “You’re gonna end up taking this job and sleeping with him again.”

I told her, “That’s precisely why I’m not taking the job. It’s too complicated. Besides, Paul will have a fucking aneurism and Hunter will literally hunt us down just to strangle Marcus with his bare hands. My parents would roll over in their graves if they knew I had sex with an Adler, let alone took a job to work with him.”

“Did you sign anything yet?” Nina asked as she began making her way toward my room. I knew what she was up to, but that was fine. I didn’t want to boggle my mind with what I should or shouldn’t wear on a night I still wasn’t sure I was participating in.

“No. He gave me until tomorrow. As of right now, travel’s included. I get paid a deposit for the authentication and full price probably after the auction. Then I get another deposit for the restoration at triple my rate.”

“That’s amazing!” Sonia beamed. “That means you can stop twirling those beautiful blonde strands of yours like you want a bald spot. Worry doesn’t look good on you girl, and you are worried.”

“Rightfully so! My grandparents are in their 80’s so they can’t run the business. Hunter isn’t interested in the industry at all and Paul is only looking for antiques to one-up Marcus, but none of the pieces he brings in are selling. The amount of time and work I spend looking for buyers is exhausting. Trying to talk to him is like talking to a brick wall.” I huffed out my frustration because it felt like I was the only person who cared enough about our family legacy to uphold it.

In moments like that, I wished my parents were still alive, but they’d been gone nearly 14 years. I hated it and hated it even more that I couldn't always remember them clearly. Their faces were becoming blurs of good memories and their voices were like songs I couldn't quite remember the lyrics to.

“And … that is a great reason for you to get your ass into this dress and come shake it with us at Neptune’s Bistro,” Nina said as she tossed a slinky piece of fabric at me.

I held up the thin black number like it was a used handkerchief. “It is January! I’m not about to freeze my tits off for mediocre margaritas off Front Street.”

“What about dollar margaritas?” Nina countered with a crooked smile.

“Dollar margaritas will certainly get my ass in gear!” I grabbed the dress and hauled myself off the couch and into my room to shower and change.

An hour later, we had a cab drop us off at Neptune’s Bistro, a cool club in Penn’s Landing with amazing views of the river and an outdoor heated area for us to unwind and enjoy the night.

We ended up in a booth with some appetizers just as the night started to pick up. The music blasted and drinks flowed. It wasn’t until I heard the deep voice of someone familiar that I felt like I should have stayed home on the sofa. There was a true crimeI Married A Serial Killermarathon on Netflix that deserved my attention far more than Marcus Adler.

I gulped down a few more margaritas, practically inhaling them because Nina had convinced the waiter to serve them straight up to our table. No ice, no frozen goodness, just straight fruity tequila to get us in great moods and make us want to call out of work tomorrow.

“Hey! Look who I found!” Sonia squealed as she waltzed back to our booth, latched onto Marcus and his friend. “Ana, you know Marcus. Nina, you—well, this is Marcus Adler and Wyatt Clark.”

“Nice to meet you.” Wyatt smiled as he took Nina’s hand into his. I could have sworn something sparked between them. I’d understand completely, since Nina’s beauty radiated from the inside out with her deep brown wavy hair and sultry grey eyes. I shifted my attention toward two women at the bar pointing in our direction.

“I think those women want you guys to go back over there,” I told Marcus with a tip of my head to the bar. He wore fitted jeans with a black button up shirt, opened to just above his chest.

He shook his head and pointed at Wyatt. “Those arehisfriends and they said they were leaving.”

“Doesn’t look like they're leaving to me.” I shrugged. “Ineed to leave. There’s murder waiting for me at home.”

“What?” He looked at me wide eyed with worry.

“Oh, there’s too many words to tell you what I mean. I just need some air.” I pushed past him and went toward the roped off area outside that the heat couldn't quite reach. There was a crisp breeze blowing off the water and every breath relaxed my stomach. Dollar margaritas were the devil.

“You okay, Anabella?” Marcus asked as he held me gently at the elbow.

“I’m fine! Just hot!” I fanned myself and yanked my elbow away, feeling my inhibitions slip away the longer those margaritas sat in my stomach.

“I think you should let me get a car to take you home.”

“Nope!” I poked him in the chest. “Don’t want you taking me home because then I’ll want to put you in my mouth and we’re not supposed to be doing that. You’ll make me want to work with you and then Paul will be mad you stuck your dick in me again.”

“Again? And I don’t want to talk about your brother in the same sentence as me having sex with you.”

“Yes again, dick again not Paul again. Paul doesn’t even know about the first time.”

Marcus leaned in close to whisper in my ear. “You know when you say the first time, that means you’re open to a second and maybe even a third.”

“I am open for it as long as your name isn’t Adler.” I touched the side of his stubbly face. Tiny hairs pricked the palm of my hand as I brought his mouth in front of mine. “Why do you smell so damn eat-able?”

“Edible?” He chuckled with a squint in those brooding eyes that made my walls clench. Shit, he looked good.

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