Page 112 of Fifth Avenue Fling

Counselor Menendez and his wife. JP Wolfe, the Quinns’ third business partner, arrives alone. He looks Spanish or maybe Italian and has the lowest drawl I’ve ever heard.

“Clodagh,” Killian murmurs as I come up behind him. He puts his hand on my lower back. “Would you mind taking their coats, please?”

Killian helps Mrs. Menendez remove her coat, engaging in small talk with the couple.

Huh. So he can be charming. Just not to me.

I take the ridiculous fur coat from Killian just as the bell goes again.

Folding the coat over my forearm, I open the door.

My heart plummets.

Maria.

TWENTY-FOUR

Clodagh

Maria.

The beautiful brunette from the hotel. Her dress goes past her knees, but the slit leaves nothing to the imagination.

Everything is perfect. Her brown hair is styled in curls that float around her face and shoulders. Her beautiful features are done up in natural makeup, while her tailored, royal-blue dress hugs her body. Is she trying to match her outfit with Killian’s eye color?

There’s no way a guy wouldn’t find her attractive.

Her eyes scan me, assessing me.

“Hello. And you are…” she asks in a clipped tone.

“Clodagh’s my staff,” Killian casually announces behind me. “She’s serving drinks tonight.”

“Hello,” I say just as stiffly back.

Upon learning I’mjust staff,Maria’s annoyance immediately dissipates.

She walks past me into the hallway and pulls Killian in for a hug, kissing him on the cheek. Laughing, she murmurs something to him so I can’t hear it. He chuckles back.

“Let me take your coat,” he says, helping her lower it.

My heart burns with pain as I watch their exchange. Killian puts his hand on her lower back, just as he did with me. There’s an intimacy shared between them as if they’ve slept together.

He leads her into the lounge, but not before handing her coat to me, mouthing a “thank you.”

Turning away, I put the coat in the closet.

How could he do this to me?

How could he make me watch him with another woman?

Because my feelings don’t count.

As long as I live in his house, I can’t date anyone because I’m his convenient fuck. But not if there’s a better alternative. Everything is starting to make sense.

Teagan isn’t here. Oh God, he’s going to have sex with Maria. She’ll stay over.

I feel sick. This is why I need to go out with Alfred, the cute guy I met in the park. That’s what I need. A guy who is straight up and doesn’t blow hot and cold. And Killian can’t stop me. I have a constitutional right to pursue dick.

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