"A life outside of this." I wave a hand at his desk and the stack of files sitting on it. "You're allowed to go out and enjoy yourself sometimes."
"I do." He flashes a quick grin. "I use your name to pick up women. It works like a charm every time."
I can't tell if he's kidding. "You do?"
"Shit no." He huffs out a deep laugh. "If a woman asks if I'm related to you, I tell her no. I can't compete with what you've got to offer."
I stand and extend my hand. "You're full of bullshit, Wolf."
He slaps my hand out of the way to pull me into a firm embrace. "If that's true I have you to thank for it. You and Sebastian taught me everything I know."
"Why are you here?"Sophia asks tersely as she rounds her desk.
I stare at her for a minute, taking in my first glimpse of her minus the oversized coat that's now hung on the coatrack behind her desk. Her long hair is styled in loose waves. She's wearing a red dress that's simple but elegant. The shoulders are cut bare to reveal her skin. "Did you design that dress?"
Her eyes brush over her body. "What? You didn't answer my question."
"Answer mine." I run my fingers over the spine of the book I'm holding in my hands. "Is that a dress that you designed?"
She takes a step back, her hip bumping into the corner of her desk. "Yes. Almost all of the clothes I wear, I've made. I design them and sew them."
"You sew them?" I glance down at the perfect hem of the dress. "You sewed this yourself?"
"Yes." Her eyes follow the same path as mine. "I've been sewing most of my clothes since I was in high school. I know what works for me. I'm an expert at creating things that fit me to a tee."
She sure as hell is. This dress clings to her like a glove. Her body is even more than I imagined it to be. Small tits, wide hips. She's ideal from head-to-toe.
"I answered your question, now answer mine. Why are you here?"
I push the book in my hands at her. "This is the new copy ofBurden's Proofthat I promised you last night."
She takes it from me, flipping open the cover to skim through the first few pages. A small smile ghosts her lips. "This one is good as new. I'll give it to Gabriel to replace the one you wrote in."
"I can sign it for him if you want," I offer without thinking. I know my signature is valuable currency. When I first saw signed copies of my books for sale online, I bought them.
Back then, I viewed it as a way to control my brand but I've learned that many people stand in line at my signings just for my signature. Once they've left the event, the book is sold with an inflated price tag. I've given up trying to curb that. It's the main reason I'll sign any book offered to me. If a fan of my work wantsa personal piece of me in the form of a scribbled signature, I'll give it, freely and without question.
"You don't need to." She snaps the book shut. "You signed one book for him. I don't think he expects more than that."
"Who doesn’t expect more?" Gabriel Foster steps out of his office and approaches us. "If you're talking about me, I'll take another signed book. If that is what you're offering, Mr. Wolf."
"Nicholas," I correct him. "Actually, I was offering to signBurden's Prooffor you."
He reaches past Sophia to pick up a blue ball point pen that's on her desk. "You can make this one out to me."
I take the pen and write a short inscription to him in the book before I finish it with my signature. "I should have signed this for Sophia on the day we met."
He takes the book from my hands. "I appreciate this but I've got to say that I'm surprised you came all the way down here to sign a book."
"I didn't." I turn to face Sophia. "I came down here to ask if you'd have dinner with me."
She looks at her boss before she trains her eyes squarely on my face. "When?"
"Tonight," I say without hesitation.
"I have plans." She pauses. "Unbreakable plans."
I drag my hand through my hair. "What about tomorrow night?"
