Page 28 of The Smoke Hour

“Well, maybe you should find business constituents who have manners.”

“Maybe. Or maybe you should let me be concerned with how I stack my paper.”

I nodded and bit the inside of my cheek.

“So, did you do the homework that I gave you the last time I saw you?” Smoke asked as he walked toward me with our drinks in his hands.

“Homework?”

“Yeah. Told your ass to figure out how to get rid of your man,” he whispered into my ear.

A chill ran down my spine and then lingered. I shuddered at the feeling of him so close to me and the warmth of his breath against my neck.

“You think that you can just walk into my life and tell me to get rid of someone who saved my life? And all for what? A pair of shoes? That’s crazy work.”

“You’re the one who said you didn’t want to be married, and you’re also the one who was whining about them damn shoes. Now, either you come up with a way to get rid of him, or I will.”

“Excuse me?”

“I don’t repeat myself, sweets. So I suggest you learn to listen and catch everything that I say the first time.”

“I’m sorry you’re in a pissy mood because you had to check that man back there. Maybe I should come back another time,” I stated and rose in my chair.

“I’m sorry, sweets. I was frustrated, but I shouldn’t be taking it out on you. Please stay.” Smoke pleaded and tugged on my wrist as he nodded at my chair before I took my seat again.

He took the seat opposite mine and stared at me for several seconds.

“So, what’s the game?”

Smoke brought his glass to his lips. His eyes pinned me in place as he took several slow sips.

“Terry and I are getting married this Sunday.”

“I thought I told you to cancel that shit.”

I sighed. “It’s not that simple.”

“It’s easier than going through with a big, elaborate production.”

“No elaborate production. Just a simple ceremony in his office with a friend of his who happens to be a judge.”

Smoke’s gaze narrowed, and he pulled the glass from his lips and swallowed. He stared at his half-empty glass of bourbon, and my gaze flitted to his extended pinky, the one that bore the tanzanite ring surrounded by diamonds.

“Sweets, you deserve better than a ceremony in someone’s damned office. And you damn sure deserve to have it on a Saturday where you can be as corrupt as fuck and sin all night long.”

“I didn’t take you for a spiritual man, Smoke.”

“Couldn’t have made it this far without His covering. Now why the hell did you agree to that bullshit? Were you that desperate?”

I glanced away from him. I hated to answer the question because it would show how desperate I was to accept the terms and conditions of Terry’s contract.

“Can we get on with the game?” I mumbled.

“I was thinking about truth or dare.”

“Truth or dare?”

“To get to know each other better.”

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