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Chapter 1

Finn

“I am not in the market for a woman,” I tell myself This is a business dinner with the chairman of the O’Hare Foundation Trust, and we are here to talk about serious things such as this year’s recipients of the grant But as Rydell drones on about this cause and that, I can’t take ainst the balcony railing, a wine glass in her hand, staring moodily into the ocean

She doesn’t look like she belongs at Hastings, a restaurant so exclusive that there’s no signage outside You either knohere the place is or you don’t get in Every other person is decked out in designer gear, and not the kind you can buy in the departht from the runway into so a plain black skirt and a black lace top that’s fraying around the edges The heels of her shoes have little gouges in the leather and soling off her shoulder has worn away Also, she’s rounder than most of the women here who abide by the theoreer she is not and I like that look—a lot

“I also think that the dog fighting circuit should be given five million,” Rydell says

“Sure,” I reply absently Her curves are part of her sex appeal, which she has in buckets In fact, if I could bottle that up, I’d be able to sell it for millions Her ass is the perfect size and shape for my palms I wonder how hard the bloould be if I went over and cupped her ass Any blow n theuess I have a new assistant Name is Lucia Sanchez Leave the papers with her”

I reach over to the table next to rab their bottle of red wine

“What the hell?” squawks the le Cab”

“Sounds delicious” I reach inside and pull out my wallet “Reimburse yourself”

“Give me that” Rydell snatches the wallet away “How much is the wine?”

I leave the financial advisor to work out the gritty details while I ht not be in the et wealthy in this world is taking risks when others won’t

Halfway to ure steps in front of me

“Finn, er flicks my tie and then scrapes down the center of my chest