Page 21 (1/2)

And I worried if I refused to tell her, she’d keep digging She struck ive up easily

“I realized dating you would piss my father off”

A dubious look slid down her face “Why? Because I don’t come from money?”

There was a time that would have been a factor, but no Royce hadour families as my mother had wanted It meant I was off the hook when it came to love “It’s because you’re toosexy”

She jolted with surprise “Uh, what?”

I tossed a hand toward her “Have you seen yourself? You’re fucking gorgeous, and that dress flaunts it” I said it like I wasthat hot?”

My words literally knocked her back, and she ripped her gaze away froh it

But she didn’t

She rened this for ht”

“Don’t misunderstand, he’s the one who has a problem with it” I didn’t intend for it to co don’t”

For effect, I let aze sweep over her appreciatively Her lips parted so she could pull in a sip of air, and color flashed across her cheeks Heat stirred insidefor her

Shit, I was already failing at thinking of E more than a partner

“I didn’t want to talk tothat dress that he probably thinks is inappropriate, I saw an opportunity”

She didn’t exactly like hearing that “That’s it?”

“No” I walked to the bar, set my hands on top, and leaned forward to look behind it “I think your theory about Jillian hasfor, “and I want to help you find out if it’s true”

She watched me with suspicion as I pulled the pour spout out of the top of the pre straight from the bottle

But rather than sound shocked, she was faintly a”