Page 55 of Cocky Prince
Her eyes narrow and her chin dips. “You look rosy. And flustered. Hayden, what have you been up to? You haven’t—Did you hook up with someone? I know we’re work friends, but I thought you’d share that kind of juicy detail.”
I roll my eyes. How does she read me so well? Oh, right, Adam said my emotions play out on my face like a book. Gotta work on that. “We are more than work friends, Mira. You’re one of my best friends in town.”
“Damn straight, so spill these horny details you’re hiding.”
I jump up and cross the room, sticking my head out the door to make sure no one overheard her. I close the door and swing around. “Keep your dang voice down,” I whisper loudly. “And there’s nothing to tell.”
“Of course there is. For one, who is he?”
I slump into my chair. And then I lower my forehead back onto the desk. “You don’t want to know.”
“Oh, I think I do.”
I look up to find her sitting forward. “I have a crush on someone I shouldn’t.”
Her eyes sparkle. “Those are the best kind.”
I shake my head and let out a sigh. “No, they’re really not.”
Mira’s warm brown gaze, a couple of shades darker than my own, drifts to the side. “Hayden, didn’t Adam come by this weekend to pay off his bet?”
I don’t say anything.
“Holy shit.” Her voice goes up an octave. “It’sAdam? I told you to get close, but I wasn’t suggestingthat.”
I stand and walk around the desk, sitting in the chair next to her. I glance nervously at the door. “Keep it down already.” I take in her expression and cock my head. “You know, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you stunned before. Is this what it takes?”
“You and Adam? Um—yeah. I mean, I figured you two would go at it eventually, but I thought it would be wild monkey sex and you’d get him out of your system. I didn’t think you’d fall in love.”
“Lo—What? Why would you say that?”
Ignoring my question, she rattles on. “Adam is working for the bad guys, Hayden. What are you thinking?”
Over the weekend, I didn’t think once about the Blue Stars and Adam’s role in what might be going on.
I bite my bottom lip. “Is he, though? Maybe I’m wrong. I’m not sure about anything anymore.”
Mira shakes her head slowly, as though she can’t believe what she’s hearing. I don’t blame her. “Don’t let your vagina speak for you.”
I give her an incredulous look. “Leave my vagina out of this. She hasn’t been as active as you’re imagining.” Not that shewouldn’thave been active if Adam hadn’t pulled the plug this morning, but Mira doesn’t know that.
Mira is silent, and then she asks softly, “You really like him?”
I nod, my lips pressed together. “I really do.”
* * *
Adam
Paul is standingin the middle of the third Bliss suite by the time I catch up to him late in the morning. This suite is identical to the first one I visited the other day, except that it’s entirely furnished. They all are now. The only workers milling around are the decorator and her assistant. The contractors have cleared out.
And the place is spectacular.
I can’t say I understand why members would pay a quarter of a million plus annual dues for Bliss, but they will have access to a celebrity-worthy lounge and suite when they come.
“Decided to show up?” Paul says.
I may have arrived a little late for work after my impromptu sleepover. The best night of my life, and sex wasn’t even involved.
