Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 43402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 217(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 217(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
“Hey, Livy. How are you doing, sweetheart?” Bear asks as he gives her a hug. As they break apart, I notice that his face softens in a way that I haven’t seen since years ago, when he first began seeing his old lady, Ayita.
“I’m good. How’s Ayi?”
I blink at the nickname she uses for Ayita. Bear’s the only one I’ve heard call her that. Who is this woman and why has Bear been keeping her hidden from me?
“Good. I’ll tell her you asked about her.”
“I miss her.”
“She misses you, too. She’ll like knowing that you were asking about her. We were beginning to think you’d forgotten us.”
“Like that’s possible. Tell her to call me and we’ll have lunch together or something—if you ever let her out of your sight,” she jokes. She lets out this little laugh that seems to wrap itself around my cock, affecting me as much as if she’d wrapped her hand around me and begun stroking. I’ve never had this kind of reaction for a woman and I’m not sure what to do with it now …
“Hey, it took me years to find a good woman. I’m not going to let a minute go by where she doesn’t know she’s valued.”
From where I’m standing, I can see her smile as she looks at my brother. It’s clear the woman is gorgeous. Yet, there’s something more about her. There’s a tenderness—an unspoken innocence—that brings light around you, just by standing next to her. When her laughter moves into a sweet smile on her full lips, I’m lost. Absolutely lost. Finally, her gaze moves to me, and I’m frozen in place by how beautiful her blue eyes are. It might be wishful thinking, but I think she is as affected by me as I am by her. I hear the slight intake of breath and notice the way her eyes slightly dilate. When she licks her lips—clearly nervous—I have to hold back the growl of arousal that wants to escape.
“Are you ready for the meeting?” she asks, pulling her gaze away from mine, although she does seem reluctant to do so. Which is the only thing that keeps me from putting my fingers under her chin and forcing it back.
“Definitely, I brought my ace in the hole. This is Blade Aetos, the lawyer we’ve hired. He’s going to do great things for the people here in Cherokee,” my brother promises. I look at him, confused. Why would he use our father’s name? Sure, that’s what is on our birth certificates, but we hate that Greek asshole that is labeled as our father. We always use our mother’s maiden name. Plus, he introduced me as a lawyer—not his brother. I thought he would, since he obviously trusts this woman. I also doubt he’s missed the way I’m reacting to her. Still, I don’t question him right now. However, I’ll do it as soon as we’re alone.
“Oh,” she exhales. “You’re a lawyer?”
It could be my imagination, but I swear she seems relieved. “For only the last couple of years, but yeah,” I answer.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Blade.”
“You, too …” I pause, arching a brow in a silent question.
“Olivia,” she murmurs, understanding exactly what I want.
“Olivia Davis is the wonder woman here, Blade. If it wasn’t for her, none of this would be possible.”
“I think you’re stretching it a little, Bear, but thank you. Everyone is kind of mingling around. You can join in or go straight to the conference room. The meeting is scheduled in about twenty minutes. Although, it wouldn’t hurt to talk to Commissioner Stevens before the meeting begins,” she responds, making her voice softer so that it’s not overheard.
“Thanks, Livy,” Bear says and starts walking away.
“I hope to get the chance to talk to you again soon, Olivia,” I murmur.
“I’d like that,” she says, her cheeks deepening in color.
“Me too,” I respond, forcing my feet to follow my brother and catching up to him.
“Shouldn’t we go talk to this commissioner Olivia mentioned?”
“He doesn’t like bikers. Marty Stephenson is that big, goofy-looking asshole by the punch bowl trying to will that woman’s dress to pop off so he can look at her tits.”
I look around the room and find him immediately. The man couldn’t be more obvious. Of course, the woman—who also has a rock on her finger—doesn’t seem to mind.
“I take it that woman isn’t his wife?”
“Not even close. She’s also on the council. She’s a clerk or something. Their votes are handled. I just had to grease their wheels, so to speak. I’m not about to tell Livy that. She’s too innocent for most of these vultures.”
“Innocent?” I repeat, my gaze moving through the crowd searching for her. I see her walking away from two other men. I have to bite down the growl I feel bubbling to the surface at the way they are watching her ass.