Page 9 of Sugar

“Then who?” I asked, totally lost.

At least I was until the doors opened, and Doug walked out. Another man swaggered out behind him, and no lie, time slowed. I was sure of it. He wasn’t a celebrity or a model—though he was hot enough to be. He should’ve been plastered on every billboard, website, and screen across the world. It seemed like a crime against beauty that I’d never seen him before.

And I knew for a fact that I hadn’t. I would’ve remembered.

Every woman who’d ever crossed his path likely remembered each exhilarating second of the interaction, no matter how brief.

He was beautiful. It was an odd description for a man so overwhelmingly masculine, but there was no other word for him. And, honestly, even that one was lacking. The angled, square jaw. Full lips that were set in an indifferent slash. Intense brown eyes that were so dark, they were nearly black. Chestnut hair that was brushed back like he ran his fingers through it often.

Each detail was better than the last.

His gorgeous face was a gift from God. But his tall, built body was from below.

Sin wrapped in an expensive suit.

Proving my assumption correct, he ran a hand through his hair as his sharp eyes scanned the room.

For half a second, I wished I’d taken more care with my appearance. Or any care. After a long day of packing, I’d quickly showered before tossing on baggy sweats and a cropped tee. My hair was piled in a messy bun, and I wasn’t sure whether the pieces that’d escaped made me look alluring or like I’d stuck a fork in an electrical socket.

Since I was there for movie night and not a singles event, I quickly shook off the stupid insecurity.

“I take it he’s why you look two seconds away from needing smelling salts and a fainting couch?” I whispered to my usually chill friend.

“Yup,” Greer whispered back. “He’s some big shot lawyer to all the even bigger shots.”

“Why is he here?”

“Dad wants to hire him.”

My stomach dropped, and I opened my mouth to ask if there was a problem.

She beat me to it. “Not for anything specific. He says it’s smart to have a shark lawyer on retainer.”

“What’re we whispering—never mind.”

We both jumped at Wren’s words spoken right by our sides. I’d been so busy perving on Counselor Handsome, I hadn’t even heard her arrive.

“Not cool,Wrench,” Greer muttered, trying to downplay the embarrassing jolt.

Wren cut a glare at the nickname, but it smoothed out when she looked back at the man. “Who’s the hottie?”

“Some VIP lawyer,” I filled in like I had some immense knowledge of him and hadn’t just learned that fact.

“Yeah, very important peni—oof.” Greer’s sentence ended in a wheeze when I elbowed her at our moms’ approach.

“See?” Eve hissed to my mom and Dina as they passed. They paused outside of the walk-in pantry and wine cellar, whispering to each other.

Seeing them together usually made me smile. It was like getting a glimpse of my future with Wren and Greer. But as they continued to steal peeks at the man, I grimaced.

Eww, I think they’re perving on him, too.

Awkward.

“Damn, that’s disappointing,” Wren said before turning away from the man. Dismissing him. “All that outer hotness wrapped around no soul.”

Her opinion of lawyers hasn’t softened.

I wonder if she still doodles mustaches on their ads…

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