Twisted Love (Modern Romance #3) - Piper Lawson Page 0,90
us he’s proposing soon, and though he wouldn’t admit how, given Hunter’s affinity for big gestures, I’m confident it’ll be spectacular. I’d love to see him and Kendall engaged. He adores Rory and he’s become reliable since they got together.
“You must have to leave for your plans soon. The weekly ones with Ben.” Rena grins. “Now you can’t say you’re not fucking him tonight.”
“If he behaves."
A familiar man catches my eye as he approaches us. “Daisy. It’s been a while.”
Shit. “Hey, Marc.”
He looks me up and down in my red dress, clearly pleased with what he sees. There’s intent shining behind that expression as he goes on. “You here for happy hour? Some friends and I had a hell of a week, but we’re getting over it right over there, if you’d like to celebrate with us.”
I’m conscious of my friends and colleagues as I step toward Marc, smiling. A ribbon of guilt runs through me as I think of how I’ve been out of touch. “Thanks for the offer. I’m sorry I haven’t messaged in the last couple of weeks—things have been crazy, and a lot has changed for me. But I don’t think this is going to go anywhere.”
He cocks his head, undeterred. “Hey, if you want people to think you’re busy, I get it. No one likes the chase to be too easy.”
The chase? I’m glad I didn’t waste more time on Marc after all.
I’m about to shut him down when his gaze shifts from me to a place over my shoulder.
I glance back to see Ben looking casually elegant and deceptively relaxed in a dark navy suit, a pale blue shirt making his dark hair and eyes entrancing.
“Wall Street,” Ben says pleasantly as he rests a hand on my shoulder.
Barely there.
Blatantly possessive.
I glance back at Marc, who looks torn between arguing and slinking off.
“I think we’re heading out shortly,” I say. “It was nice to see you, Marc.”
His gaze flicks between the hand on my shoulder and my face. “Sure.”
I grab Ben’s wrist, a warning he ignores.
Kendall sighs as the man leaves. “Poor Marc.”
“Fuck Marc,” Rena decides.
Ben’s hand relaxes on my shoulder, sliding back to rub circles just behind my neck that make me want to arch into his touch. “No one’s fucking Marc.”
I tilt my head to peer up at him.
It doesn’t escape me that I’m a lucky woman. My best friend is also the man I’m in love with. He’s ambitious and gorgeous and commanding and has a heart the size of the ocean for the people he lets inside it.
Including me.
“What happened to no PDA?” I ask, not because I hate it but to give him a hard time.
“This isn’t PDA. It’s a statement. Making sure every man in here knows you’re with me.”
“I thought you could do that without touching me?” I tease as I rub a hand over his jaw, which has the faintest hint of shadow.
"I don't want to,” he says evenly.
“Leave.” Rena waves us off. “Please take this and go.”
I grab my things, say goodbye to my colleagues, and head for the door. Ben’s fingers link through mine, a sweet and sexy promise.
“I agree with Rena,” Ben tells me. “We have a lot of making up to do.”
“I thought that happened after the Vane wedding?” I tease. “And then Tuesday. And Thursday, at your office. Which was bold considering you’re still digging yourself out of trouble.”
“I’m done digging. I made a deal that will make millions more than the previous one. Xavier told me today he knows the shit Holt’s been up to. One of the associates overheard Xavier warning Holt that he’d have to do a better job of retaining staff or he won’t have anyone to support him.”
I bite my cheek. “That sounds fitting.”
“Mhmm. Actually, Xavier was impressed by how I handled the fallout from my mistake. He wants me to start taking over some of the senior partner duties informally, and assuming that goes well, he’d like to formalize the succession plan in the next six months.”
“Really! That’s amazing,” I breathe, excitement and pride clashing in my chest. “You must have done something right,” I tease him.
“It’s a wonder. I was out of my mind thinking I’d lost you.”
Joy blooms inside me, the kind of happiness I never expected to find.
“Well, it’s a good thing you didn’t,” I say with a smile.
A town car rolls up to the curb, and we take it back to his place. The entire ride, he’s touching me. My wrist, my