“I hate to tell you, no one here is going to invest in that.”
I could feel myself deflating. “I didn’t say I was looking for investors.” Even though I for sure was. “But why not?”
He threw back the rest of his drink and set the glass down, but instead of leaving it, he spun it absentmindedly on the table. “Do you see anyone under the age of sixty five besides me and the pretty young people hanging off their arms?”
I took account of the room once more, and realized he was correct. There were some younger people, but none of them were alone, all of them connected to the arm of someone much older.
“What’s your point?”
“Let me clue you in, since you’re not used to any of this.” He leaned in closer, so close his breath whispered across my face. “The Bakers, who put this on, are one of the best private equity firms in the area. That’s why you see all these people here, because they want just what you want. To stay in good graces the next time they need a loan. They host the most tragic parties of the year, if the food didn’t tell you anything. But they onlyinvest in sure fire things, or in people they like. Plus they can barely turn on a computer, much less have any idea what AI is, that’s something they let their interns deal with. So, since I’m assuming you don’t have a friend of a friend, you’re not going to get very far.”
Every word felt like a blow to my confidence. And I realized every word was the truth.Fuck.This was supposed to be good for us, a way to make the connections we needed, but now we were back to square one.
I let out a sigh, realizing what a waste of time this all was.
“We are going to start announcing the winners of the silent auction,” a voice from the front said. People began filing that way. I hadn’t placed a bid, so there was no reason for me to stay.
“I should probably go.” I set my glass down and turned. “Thanks.”
I needed to go home and burn some sage. Get rid of the bad energy covering me after being around these people.
Before I could get far, he grabbed my arm. “Wait,” I turned back and he had that heated gaze once more. “Maybe the whole night doesn’t have to be a bust.”
I raised my brow, waiting for him to explain.
Then he was on me, his hands on my waist and his face pressed in my ear. “I got a room upstairs. Why don’t we go have some fun?”
I was stunned. Never had a man been that forward with me. “Fun?” I repeated.
He hummed his confirmation. “I can be a lot of fun.”
His hands on me made my head spin. They caressed me so gently, yet so seductively I could hardly think straight. I didn’t want this night to be all for naught, and some good sex could hardly be considered a waste. And he seemed like he could be a good ride.
“Just tonight?” I asked.
“Just tonight,” he confirmed.
Which was good. I didn’t have the time to date. Between my job and the app development, I had no time to see anyone regularly. I didn’t think I was his normal type anyway.
I wrapped my hand around his tie, pulling him ever so slightly closer. “I’d like to know your name first.”
His smirk alone had me wetter than I’d ever admit. “Ellery. Ellery Scott.”
“I’m Juniper Thistlerose,” I said.
“Juniper,” my name sounded harder on his tongue than it ever had. “What do you say?”
In a moment that felt like insanity, I said, “Lead the way.”
Juniper
Ellery ledme up to his room, opening the door to a beautiful four poster bed, a lavish couch, and a window that showed off all of the city below. I moved to the window, looking down at all the twinkling lights splashed across the skyline. It was too cloudy to see the moon right now, but it was still a breathtaking vista.
“Would you like a drink?” He asked.
When I turned back, he’d taken his jacket and tie off, leaving him in just the dress shirt that he’d popped the top button on, exposing a bit of his chest. I could see how built he was from here, and I was ready to run my hands all over him.
“Please,” I said.
