My Destiny by Adrianne Byrd Read Free Book Online

Chinese since they’d bailed on Destiny the night of the party and had never returned on the agreed upon hour.
    Lu Jin glanced at her watch. “I don’t know, but I’ll give Zack a ring on his cell phone.”
    Destiny nearly choked. “He bought a cell phone?”
    “Yeah, can you believe it? Poor schmuck is finally getting with the nineties.”
    There was a knock at the door.
    “Finally.” Destiny jumped up from her seat and went to answer the door. “It’s about time you...”
    “Good evening,” Miles greeted.
    Destiny froze as she took in her neighbor’s immaculate presence. If she thought him handsome before, it was nothing compared to what he looked like in a suit.
    “Destiny, who is it?” Lu Jin asked, jerking Destiny out of her stupor.
    “I-it’s, uh.” She blinked, and then noticed the lopsided grin sloped across Miles’s face. “It’s nobody.”
    His smile disappeared.
    She pushed him back and stepped out into the hall. “What are you doing here?” she asked in an angry whisper.
    He held up a manila folder. “Imagine my surprise when I received this today.” He lowered the folder, and then crossed his arms. “I didn’t know you were an attorney. Though after experiencing your sense of justice firsthand, I shouldn’t be surprised.”
    Destiny frowned. “Did you just insult me?”
    Miles smiled again. “Ms. Brockman, I didn’t come here to fight. I merely thought we could discuss this case over dinner. And maybe I can get you to accept my apology for my behavior yesterday in the elevator. Who knows, perhaps we could even resolve the Boylan case quickly and, hopefully this time, painlessly.”
    Destiny crossed her arms and evaluated her opposition. “Mr. Stafford, I accept your apology, but I’m going to be frank with you. I don’t like you and I don’t appreciate you dropping by my home after hours to discuss work.”
    Destiny noticed a twitch along Miles’s jawline.
    “Do you ever get tired of playing Ms. Hardass?” he asked. His eyes darkened as they narrowed on her.
    “Who’s playing?”
    Miles stepped back as if he didn’t trust himself around her. “All right. We’ll play this your way. I’ll just call my client and tell him that you refused to hear our offer.”
    “What offer?”
    “Oh? You’re interested now?”
    Destiny clenched her jaw and reined in her irritation. “I’m not in the position to accept or turn down anything, Mr. Stafford. You know that. If you want to talk business then come by my office tomorrow. I’d appreciate it if you called first. You think you and your cousin can do that?”
    Miles paused. “How did you know that we’re related?”
    A wicked sense of pleasure filled Destiny at seeing his surprise. “One thing to remember about me, Mr. Stafford—I always do my homework. See you in court.” She turned and reentered her apartment with a wide smile of satisfaction.
    * * *
    Miles entered his condo wanting to throw something. That damn woman had a way of getting under his skin. Until he’d met Destiny, he was convinced he had a certain way with women. Once, he would have considered her behavior a challenge. Now, he considered it annoying as hell.
    His phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and mumbled under his breath before he snatched it up. “Hey, Freddie.”
    “So did you talk to her?”
    “Yes and no. I’ll have my secretary get us on her calendar tomorrow, but I don’t have a good feeling about this. I don’t think Ms. Brockman is easily intimidated.”
    Fred sighed wearily into the phone. “You’re not going to suggest that I settle again are you?”
    The fact that this case was weak at best worried Miles, and his suspicion of Destiny being a tough opponent worried him more. The only thing his cousin had in his favor was his money, and with Destiny Brockman that wouldn’t be enough.
    “Miles, are you still there?”
    “Yeah, I’m still here.” He glanced back at his door and hoped there would come a day when he would get