Naijhel calmly took another sip of his bourbon, set it aside, rested his elbows on the table, and clasped his fingers together. The look in his eyes was dangerously intimidating but sexy as hell at the same time.
“I never said that I was a perfect man, but I’m a damn good one. I know a good woman when I see her. Because of client-attorney privilege, there is a lot that I cannot say to you that I know about. What I do know is that you didn’t get the fair end of the stick. You deserve nothing but happiness and good things coming your way, and I’m determined to make sure that you receive them. You’re going to give me the chance to do that, as well as prove to you just how good I am.”
“And why should I do that?”
“Because you want to. Aside from the anger, the harsh tone, and that glare in your eyes, there’s a burning deep inside of you that wants me to prove to you how good I am. You’re not angryabout any knowledge you think that I’m withholding. You’re angry because your body is betraying you. You’re angry because you want me as badly as I want you.”
“You’ve lost your goddamned mind. You helped that conniving bastard take everything that I owned and worked hard for, you dragged my name through the mud in court, allowed him to ruin my name on social media, and left me with nothing, and you think that I want you? It’ll be a cold day in hell before that happens.”
“Minx or leather?”
“Excuse me?”
“That coat that you’ll need walking beside Satan?”
“I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me what is the best coat to wear when I’m a guest in your home, Satan?”
6
NAIJHEL
ONE WEEK LATER
Our first date was nice, but Delaney made it clear, in no uncertain terms, that her obligation to me was fulfilled. She did not want to date me or see me again, but I wasn’t done with her yet. I was just getting started.
Initially, I just wanted to find a way to empower her to get the knowledge she needed to get back at Clayton. But after that date and talking with her, I not only found her attractive, as I had upon first meeting her, but I wanted to get to know her better.
I glanced at my watch, wondering how long it would take Professor Settles to get here. I had been sitting in his little apartment for a while waiting for him to show up.
“Hello?” I answered the phone call that came through on my cell.
“Mr. King?”
“Yes.”
“The breakfast you ordered to be sent to the museum for Ms. Synclair, along with two dozen dark and light pink tulips was delivered this morning.”
“How long ago?”
“At a quarter to eight.”
I glanced at my watch and noticed it was now three minutes before one.
“Did she receive them directly as I instructed, or was the delivery given to someone else?”
“They were given to her directly and no one else. The receptionist at first insisted they had to be left at the front desk, but when I started to leave and she realized that I was taking the delivery with me, she called Ms. Synclair to the front desk to sign for them.”
“Did she say anything? Was she surprised?”
The caller cleared his throat.“She did not show any outward reaction. She simply said thank you and walked away.”
“Did you include the card instructing her to call me?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Thank you.” I ended the call abruptly and checked my call log again. I had no missed calls from her.
I sighed in frustration, just as the door to the tiny studio apartment opened. Professor Settles stopped just beyond the threshold and stared at me.
