Page 54 of Nothing to Win

This… this was astounding.The glitter of the diamonds mesmerized.The riviera necklace was bold in its glamorous imposition.This kind of this, the beauty, it couldn’t be real.And this was… for her to wear?

“Turn around, I’ll put it on,” he said.“I’ll be insulted if you refuse.”

He battled her objections before she even voiced them.She did as he said and hooked her hair out of the way as he laid the weighty platinum against her skin.

“I can’t believe this is… How did you persuade them to loan this to you?”she asked, touching the jewels as she turned back to him.“Are we allowed to have it outside?”

“It’s not on loan, it’s yours.”The statement put the tip of her tongue between her teeth.That was all it could do; it lived there now.“When I give you something, it’s yours.I won’t ever take it away.”

Did that include himself?

He’d given himself to her temporarily, but a necklace like that screamed eternity.It would last long after their contract was over, long after their lives were over too.For the rest of hers, this may be all she had of him.

Somehow, she was lost in him again.It was his phone that snapped her from her daze.Worked for her, not so much for him.

“Your phone is ringing.”He didn’t respond.“We’re in the car.Conduct your business.”

His fingers skimmed into the slit of her dress, onto her flesh, high on her thigh.“Personal business comes first.”

“Brogan!”she shrieked but didn’t resist when he yanked her thighs apart.“There are people outside.”

He drove his fingers deep into her hair to snatch her mouth to his.“The only people are right here.”

His hands were on her.There was nothing else.They had time.The trip to her parents’ deserved a little distraction and she didn’t mind proving her friend right.She really would ride more than just the limo.

SEVENTEEN

SHE WASN’T READY.

She was.

They were.

Nope, not ready.

“Let’s go to a hotel,” she said, capturing his hand when the car stopped outside her parents’ imposing mansion.“We don’t have to do this.”

“What is your concern?”he asked.“That they will disrespect you?”

“I’m afraid they’ll disrespect you through me.I haven’t been in this house or with these people since…”

They’d gone official?Since they’d slept together?

“Don’t explain or apologize.”

Everything they’d been until their Jarrod deal was at odds.Spurns and Sears didn’t share dinners.They didn’t sit together around a table, break bread, in their private home.

Sears other than her.

She’d broken bread with Brogan in public and in private.In his bed.Without clothes.

And now she was bringing him home.The weird part of the agitation in her gut?It wasn’t for her.All she wanted was to be alone with him.

“Alone with you, I’m not afraid.”

“Alone or not, I’ve got you.Have faith in yourself, Irish.Use your fire.”

Again with the fire.How could he see it while she was blind?