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Chapter1
He’s hot, that’s a start
AVANI
As I look into the diner from the sidewalk, my new boss, Grayson, doesn’t notice me at first. We’ve only spoken over the phone, and when I see him for the first time, I realize he resembles his brother, my old boss, Jake.
He’s dressed in all gray—his slacks, shirt, even his shoes. His hair is pushed back but slightly mussed, like he’s run his hand through it multiple times. His skin is tanned, olive almost, and I can see the peeking of ink from under his dress shirt.
I’m not a woman who thinks men are beautiful.
I’ve seen the worst in them, been with the worst of them.
So, it’s shocking for me to come to the conclusion this man is beautiful. And I can tell he knows it too. I’ve made it my life to study men; I’ve had to in my career and because of how I grew up. As I look at Grayson sitting down at the table, he has confidence all around him, it lights off of him.
I continue to stare. Mesmerized when his tongue flicks across his lip as he listens to the guy speaking to him, a bored expression fixed on his face.
I place my bag on the ground and wonder if I should go in and introduce myself or wait to see if he comes out here. His eyes dance around the small but quiet diner before they fall back to the man talking to him.
Is he looking for me?
We had an appointment thirty minutes ago, and the flick of his eyes to his watch tells me he isn’t impressed I’m late.
I’m always late.
So he better get used to that fact.
Grayson nods at something the guy says, and then his eyes flick away and find me standing outside with a large smile. His stare zooms in as his brows pinch tighter together, and his lip quirks up in a smirk. He lifts his wrist and taps his watch.
Ha.
I reach down and pick up my designer bag bursting full of my things and strut into the diner.
The smell of burgers and fries assaults me.
Oh Lord, now I want fries.
It’s two o’clock in the morning, and we’d agreed to meet at one-thirty after my plane landed. I took a slight detour before the driver dropped me off here, which is why I’m late.
It doesn’t surprise me Jake didn’t warn Grayson I wouldn’t be on time. Jake doesn’t like many people, so forwarding information which could be useful isn’t something he would bother with.
I approach his table, and the man who was talking to him falls silent.
“I’ll have an order of fries, extra cheese, please,” I tell the man. He raises a brow, and then he looks at my new boss.
“You heard her,” Grayson says from across the table.
“I don’t work here,” the man responds gruffly, his gaze bouncing between my new boss and me.
“So go order them,” Grayson adds with no room for argument.
The man nods and heads to the counter. After sliding my bag across the table until it isn’t blocking my view of Grayson, I place my hands in front of me on the table.
“Did you get me what I asked for?”
Grayson ignores me, and instead, reaches for his pack of cigarettes placed next to the green vase holding the freshly cut peach roses the same color as the faux leather seats. “Don’t smoke around me.”
His hand pauses, and he taps his fingers lightly on the lacquered wood. “So, like I said… What I asked for?” I hold my hand out in front of me, waiting for him to place what is due to me in my palm.
