She rises onto her toes, her lips brushing dangerously close to mine.
Then she’s gone—walking away like she knows exactly what she just did to me, those damn hips swaying as she disappears into the shadows of the palm grove.
I stand there for a beat, staring after her.
Then I turn and head straight for the bar.
“Whisky,” I murmur, already reaching for it. I down it in one swallow, the burn doing nothing to settle the restless energy buzzing under my skin.
Is this really happening?
No strings. That’s what she said, right?
No expectations. No complications. Exactly how I like it.
I drag a hand down my face, exhaling slowly as I try to convince myself this is simple, that we’re on the same page.
Fuck it.
Let’s go.
Chapter 2
Miles
One Month Later
Penny Levine has been on my ass since seven this morning.
About materials. Timelines. Orders. Things I’ve been handling on my own for years without anyone hovering overmy shoulder.
And I get it. This isn’t just another job. There’s a lot of money riding on this project, and the community is amped up about it.
Still doesn’t mean I have to like it.
I let my mind wander for a minute to simpler times. To when she fit perfectly between the palm tree and my body. The way she kept asking for more as I slid inside her tight pussy, making her come again and again, while the ocean breeze cooled our skin as we burned under the moonlight.
A sharp tapping sound pulls me out of the memory.
“Miles, when did you order these pipes? I thought we agreed to place all orders on Fridays,” she says, her pen tapping against that fancy little notebook of hers. Or whatever the hell it’s called.
It’s been a week since we broke ground on the ice rink, and I’m already fucking exhausted.
I get it. Gio is the main investor on this project, and he wants everything to run smoothly. But I’m not used to someone overseeing my every move.
“Well, we needed those pipes first thing next week to start pouring the concrete columns and running the lines,” I say, my tone sharper than usual. “If we waited until today, they wouldn’t have made it on time.”
Penny closes her eyes for a second before pushing out of her chair. She’s got one of those converted shipping container offices set up on site.
Everything is white and gold.
In the middle of a fucking construction zone.
Yeah, Ms. Penny Levine is a millionaire bad ass, hotter than all other women. And because life apparently loves irony, she also comes from one of the richest families in Charlotte.
Not that I ever wanted that kind of money. I’m good with a solid house, food on the table, and enough to pay the bills without stressing.
So no, this isn’t me being upset because a woman is my boss. It’s about stepping into territory that’s way bigger than what I’m used to.
