“I know I don’t deserve her, but I’m not letting her loose in Manhattan for some jerk to put a ring on it.”
“Cute of you to assume Gemma is yours to decide that.”
“You know what I mean.Can you please take this seriously?”I shoot back the rest of my liquor.
“What makes you think I’m not?”He swirls the ice cubes around in the bottom of his glass.
I lift a brow.
“Fine.”Zander taps his foot in the air.“I tell you what, let’s make a wager.”
“Continue.”
“I’m having a dinner party tomorrow night.Bring Gemma along.If she shows no interest in any of the other men and leaves with youafteryou tell her you want to be lovers, then I’ll give you a clean million.”
I snort.“Please.Easiest million I’ll ever earn.”
“Make it two.”
“Make it five.”
“Deal.”He tosses back the rest of his drink and stands.
“Where are you going?”
“To invite people to my dinner party.”He chuckles.“The theme is sexy cocktail.”
“That’s not a theme.”
“See you at seven.Bring your A-game, my friend.”Zander winks as he steps out of my office and starts whistling.
He never whistles.
Whatever.I’m looking forward to becoming five million dollars richer tomorrow night.
I pick up the phone and dial Gemma’s phone number.She’s been suspiciously absent since our delicious lunch earlier in the week.
“Gemma Ford.”Her feminine voice makes my chest all tingly.
“Gemma,” I rumble and wish she was beside me so I could kiss her mouth.It has been a busy week, and I hate that I’ve barely seen her.
Not tasted her.
“Hello, Drew, what’s the matter?”
“Why would there be anything wrong?”I lower my brows, staring into my empty glass.
“It’s six in the evening on a Friday.I thought you’d be out on anon-datewith some Manhattan model or actress.”
She sounds upset.I can hear it in her voice, and I don’t like it.Not her sass, but that she’s clearly not okay.
“What’s wrong?”
Gemma sighs.“Nothing.How can I help you, Drew?I don’t have very long.”
“This isn’t a business call.”
I can’t believe I have to clarify that, and I hate that she has an impatient business tone with me.What the hell have I missed since our lunch?When she was falling apart and coming on my hand.
