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)
“Interesting,” I mumble. “I think I’ll go rescue her now and have a word with the commissioner.”
“Sounds good,” he says. “I’m going to go sit outside and call Ayi before the meeting starts.”
I nod and move toward the woman who is setting up residence in my brain. I need to convince her to go out with me. I know without a doubt that’s going to be priority number one with me. I want her.
And I always get what I want.
2 OLIVIA
“You did good, Olivia,” my boss murmurs, standing a little too close to me.
I sidestep to put a small space between us. “Thank you, Mr. Lockhart.”
“Olivia, I told you, call me Alan when we’re alone.”
I try to hide my grimace with a smile. Hopefully the lighting is diffused enough that I pull it off. I love my job. I’m lucky to have it. The only education I have is an online college degree. That’s becoming more and more normal these days, but I can tell you from experience that a lot of the positions that I’ve interviewed for, look down on my degree. For that reason alone, I skate a thin line. Thankfully, my boss is married so he mostly stays in line.
“I hope everything goes well. This is very important for this community,” I reply, ignoring his millionth invitation to call him Alan. That’s never going to happen.
“I’ve had talks with the town council. I think it will. I’m trying to use whatever influence I have to push it. It would have helped if that damn gang member would have at least tried to clean up for the meeting. Thank God his lawyer seems to have good breeding.”
I bristle at the asshole’s words. He’s a prick and I know it, but I can’t stand when people say anything about Bear. They see his MC cut and immediately dismiss him as a thug. I would have more reason than anyone to feel that way, but Bear is the furthest thing from that. He’s a beautiful human being. He treats his Ayita like a queen, despite having been betrayed in one of the worst ways possible by someone he loved previously. They have the kind of relationship that I’ve been jealous of and always wanted. I’m not sure I’ll ever have it. With my history, being close to a man is extremely hard. I’ve had sex twice in my life. Once was not by choice and still haunts me. The second time was a guy who helped pull me out of the misery I had wrapped myself in. It was awkward and just not good. It kind of ended our relationship. He lives in Townsend now, which isn’t that far away. I see him here and there, but other than a very uncomfortable ‘hi’ or ‘how have you been?’, we avoid each other.
I bring my attention back to the event when William’s deep voice hits me. I look up to find him walking towards us. “Alan, I was hoping I could have a moment to talk to the mayor of this town before the meeting actually starts. I don’t suppose you’ve seen the asshole, have you?”
“I hear he’s slumming with the newly elected county judge,” my boss—being the mayor—jokes back.
William—the county judge—laughs as he’s intended to, before turning his attention back to me. “Hey, Olivia, you’re looking gorgeous as ever.”
“Thanks, William,” I laugh. “I’ll leave you two alone to discuss business. I’m just going to make sure everything is ready in the conference room.”
With a muttered goodbye, I walk in that direction, only to be waylaid by the county commissioner. I resist the urge to bang my head with my palm. What is with my luck tonight?
“Olivia, you’re looking beautiful tonight,” Marty says. He’s almost as bad as my boss. The only thing that gives him a slight edge at being a better human being is that other than staring at my tits, he leaves me alone.
“Thank you, Marty. You’re looking pretty dapper yourself. Wasn’t Ella able to join you tonight?” I ask sweetly. I know already that he won’t bring Ella anywhere that he is close by Josie—the circuit clerk here. She’s married to a good man, who is a deputy on the police force. It doesn’t stop her from spreading her legs to other men—one being Marty.
“She’s not much for crowds,” he says, and I want to roll my eyes. I want to explain that Ella doesn’t like crowds who are talking about how much her husband is cheating on her. I have to bite my tongue. I seem to have to do that a lot.
“Miss Davis, I was wondering if I might bother you for a second.”
I turn behind me to see the man that came with Bear. “Of course, Mr. Aetos. What can I do for you?”
“Mr. Aetos?” Marty interrupts. “Are you the attorney representing the Cherokee delegation tonight?”