Page 13 of Bought By Torch

I duck back around the corner, bracing myself against the wall so I don’t lose my balance. My racing heart is almost making it impossible to hear.

“Angora, I’m not going to be able to visit with you this trip. There’s a very important client in town who needs all my attention. I’m sorry to have to disappoint.”

Client. That would be me. The one he’s trying to impress to ensure my father gives the Steel Sinners his money.

“I am disappointed,” she whines seductively. “I’m very disappointed. You know how much I long for that big dick of yours. I’m not going to be back for another month. Can’t you make just a little time for me?”

My stomach sinks as reality settles in. The closeness I had felt last night was nothing more than an act. He’s merely trying to impress “his client.”

I steel my shoulders and lift my head, before I turn the corner, heading straight to the door at the end of the hall. Walking right past the jerk and the bimbo with him. She’s exactly his type, exactly what I would’ve pictured for him. Big boobs, long legs, silky black hair. Exotic eyes and tan skin, with sex appeal oozing from her pores.

And here I am in my little red and white polka dot bikini, looking like a kid with my silly sneakers on.

A kid who he’s babysitting.

A kid who he took out for milkshakes last night.

Now, I know the real reason he didn’t kiss me.

“I’m sorry, Angora. I… Evie?”

My shoulders stiffen, wanting to keep on walking and ignore him, but that will just prove how immature I am.

“Good morning.” I plaster on the smile and turn. “I’m just heading to the pool. I assume it’s that way.” I point toward the door, hoping my finger isn’t shaking as bad as my insides.

“Yeah, here, let me take you. I’ll see that you get a cabana.”

“No need.” I shake my head. “Please carry on. I’m a big girl.”

I give them both a nod and steadily make my way outside. Breathing in deep as soon as I’m through the door, but the air almost stifles me. Maybe sitting by the pool is a bad idea. But there’s only one way back in, and there’s no way I’m walking by that man again. I’m going to sit down with my book and do everything in my power to forget he ever existed. I’m going toread about the ghosts in this city and not think about the woman who was cuddled up with Torch, rubbing her chest all over him.

Why do they all go for the same type?

My dad… Torch… They all like the bimbos who crawl all over them. The ones who offer sex on a platter. Even Caleb’s been making comments about me not being sexually expressive enough. The women he keeps pointing out for his fantasy threesome are just like the one Torch was with.

“Are you a secret ghost hunter in your spare time?”

I look up from the scrambled words on the page, and I’m thankful my eyes are covered with dark-tinted sunglasses.

“It’s just something I’m interested in.”

“Did you sleep alright, babe?”

“I slept fine.” I return my attention to my book.

“You sure? Seems like your mood is a little salty.”

“Don’t you have better things to do with your time?”

He takes a seat—right on my lounger. The one next to me is open and perfectly fine, but he’s now crowding my space, filling my nose with his aftershave. He looks good this morning dressed in his jeans and a white T-shirt. I doubt he could wear anything that would make him look bad.

“There’s nothing I’d rather do than spend time with you. Now, why are you tensing away from me?”

“Maybe because you smell like that woman’s perfume.”

He actually smells like her tanning lotion. Like big, bouncy coconuts.

“Ah, I see.” He leans in closer, crowding me even more. “She means nothing to me, Evie. I can promise you that.”