Just One Night: Part 5 by Elle Casey Read Free Book Online Page A

graces them with the sexiest smile I’ve ever seen. “Thank you, sir. We appreciate the faith and trust you’re putting in us. We won’t let you down.” He pauses. “By the way … are you by any chance related to Gloria Goodman?”
    Agatha brightens. “Why yes, of course. She’s Lionel’s sister. How do you know her?”
    “She and my brother are both wine collectors,” he says, smiling politely.
    “You know …” Agatha looks at Lionel, “…Lionel you should talk to her. Maybe she’s like to be involved.”
    He nods and looks at me. “Shall I give her a call?”
    I nod, my pulse picking up with excitement. I know Gloria doesn’t own this building, but if she wants to invest in the project, I’d be thrilled to have her on board. “If you’d just let her know we’ll be contacting her and that we have your blessing, that would be great.”
    The older man smiles. “I’ll do that today.”
    “Thank you very much, sir,” William says. “And madam, it was a pleasure meeting you both today.” William gives them a short bow and then shakes Agatha’s hand, remaining bent at the waist a little. It makes it easier for them to look up at him since he’s at least a foot taller than them both. It’s little kindnesses like that, that make my heart go a little crazy for him.
    “I just love his accent, don’t you?” Agatha asks as they walk away.
    “Where’s he from? Australia?” Lionel asks. They climb into a giant Cadillac and I never get to hear her answer.
    I burst out laughing as soon as we’re in William’s car.
    “What’s so funny?” William asks.
    “I’m not sure,” I say, feeling a little lightheaded. “It could be the fact that they think you’re Australian, or the fact that they play handball, or the fact that just when I think Hank can’t be any more of an asshole, he surprises me by proving otherwise.”
    William pats me on the leg, his fingers warm and strong. “Don’t worry, darling. He’ll get what’s coming to him, trust me. In the meantime, I believe we’ve earned the right to celebrate.”
    I look at him out of the corner of my eye. “Are you talking about another quickie?”
    He blinks his eyes a few times before responding. “Actually, I was thinking about a drink at the local pub, but if you insist…”
    I laugh, feeling the tension leave my body. “No, I think I’ll go for that drink, actually.”
    “I knew it,” he says, banging on the wheel. “It was too fast, wasn’t it? Damn those breasts of yours.”
    “Damn my breasts?” I’m feeling giddy with happiness. He’s so silly.
    “Yes. I cannot hold back when I’m in their thrall. I tried to think of ugly old hags when we were making love, but it didn’t work.”
    “I’m not sure whether to be disturbed or impressed that you’re thinking of those things when we’re in the middle of having sex.”
    “Be impressed, I beg you.”
    I can’t stop smiling, even when we walk in the pub near my apartment and find Mia, Edward, and Rachel there finishing up what looks like a very long and involved lunch together.

CHAPTER SIX
    William

    A CONSPIRACY. THAT’S WHAT THIS is. My throat seizes up as I walk into the British-style pub and find my brother and former assistant canoodling together over fish and chips. I nearly choke with it.
    “Oh my god, what is she doing?” Jennifer asks under her breath.
    “Miss Meechum, do you mean? Who would know? She could be planning an assassination of the president for all we know. Don’t trust her.”
    “Are you serious?” Jennifer looks up at me with concern in her eyes.
    “No, not really. While she may be constructing the assassination plan, I don’t think she’d be able to pull it off. There are too many paper trays between him and the rest of the world.”
    She nods. “I was actually thinking about Mia when I said that, but I know what you mean.”
    “That’s your friend there, isn’t it?” My nostrils flare. “With my brother, no less. How