The Scotch Series: The Complete Series (Scotch #1-3) - Penelope Sky Page 0,113

are we talking?” I wanted to keep listening to this, to hear her beg me to take care of myself. She sounded like a nagging wife, but I actually liked it.

“Three to four glasses a day.”

I laughed because it was absurd. “I have four glasses by the end of lunch.”

“Well, you’re gonna have to space it out. Drink more water.”

“There’s water in scotch.”

That glare was back.

I smiled because I liked the look. “Five to six.”

“Even that is too much. Three to four.”

I shook my head. “There’s no way I could do that. Just being honest.”

“Baby steps. Cut back one drink a day until you reach four.”

She made it sound so easy. “I’m addicted, Lovely. I need it.”

“You can always replace it with something else.”

“Cigars?”

Now that glare was more ferocious. “No smoking.”

“Then what?”

“Sex always works.”

I raised an eyebrow, hoping that was some kind of offer. “Sex, huh?”

“Yeah. When you get the urge, come looking for me instead.”

Scotch for sex. That didn’t sound so bad. “You’ll get my mind off it?”

“I’ll certainly try.”

With an offer like that, cutting back actually sounded possible. “I’ll try.”

“There’s no try. You seem like a man who always succeeds. Make this a success.”

“You should be a motivational speaker, you know that?”

She shook her head. “Very little things motivate me, besides health. I want everyone to live a long and happy life, free from disease that’s self-induced. I hate seeing it. It’s the worst.”

I always forgot about her medical background. When I looked at her, I just saw a beautiful woman at my beck and call. I didn’t think about her passions or her previous life. None of that seemed to matter. “Looks like I have a private physician.”

“I don’t know about that…never got my license.” The accusation was heavy in her voice.

I let it wash over me without any effect. If she didn’t want to be there, she wouldn’t be so seductive, so flirtatious. I suspected she wanted to stay there with me, to live like royalty every single day without having to lift a finger. Every woman wanted to be pampered. She was no different.

I held her hand as we walked back to my office. We had a nice lunch and talked about the beautiful weather. As if we were a couple, we were comfortable in mutual silence. We didn’t always need to talk, but when we did, it was nice.

But I didn’t feel like being nice right now.

I stopped in front of my office door. “I have a phone call to make. When I’m done, I’m going to go upstairs and see you naked on the bed, flat on your stomach. Do you understand?” If she wanted me to quit drinking like an alcoholic, she’d definitely have to distract me.

These situations were the only ones where she obeyed. Any other time, I had a face full of attitude. “Yes, sir.”

“Good.” I grabbed her wrist then pressed a kiss to the corner of her mouth. I had a lot of dirty things in mind for her. It would be a shame not to put that beautiful ass to good use. “See you in a few.” I turned my back on her and walked into my office. I didn’t have any such phone call to make. I just wanted to give her time to prepare for me. I intended to do something new with her, something she’d probably never experienced.

Hopefully, she would like it.

I sat at my desk and eyed the bottle of scotch sitting next to my laptop. I didn’t know how many glasses I’d had that day, but I was certain I was already over the limit. Cutting down would be a lot more difficult than I’d anticipated. It’d only been five minutes, and I was already struggling.

I really did have a drinking problem.

My cell phone rang, and I pulled it out of my pocket and glanced at the screen, expecting to see Ariel getting back to me with news about the shipment. I was supposed to call her back and never did. But she knew I was forgetful and busy.

But it was Josephine.

Why the fuck wouldn’t this bitch just disappear?

I didn’t need any more rumors about my love life. She humiliated me once, and I wouldn’t be dragged into scandal again. If people assumed I was contemplating taking her back, that would be even worse than when she left me to begin with.

That made me look like the biggest pussy in the world.

I didn’t believe in forgiveness.

Just ruthlessness.

I swiped my thumb across the screen