The Arrogant Architect by LK Collins Read Free Book Online Page B

building?”
    “I do.”
    Wiping my eyes dry on a paper towel, I ask him, “Why? You
don’t even know me.”
    “But I want to. My back is against a wall when it comes to
you, Ever. You confuse me and challenge me and make me want you. You’ve left me
no choice– I heard the pain in your voice when you called me.”
    “But it wasn’t your place to fix.”
    “What’s done is done. We started off on the wrong foot and I
want to make that right. I want you to go out on one date with me, that’s all
I’m asking.”
    “So, that’s really why you did this? Not because you saw how
hurt I was, you wanted something in return.”
    “We all want something in return. I just thought of it
first.”
    “No, you stooped to that level first. I’m not going out with
you.”
    “Then I’ll serve you with an eviction notice myself.”
    I scoff at him. This motherfucker is so twisted, he’s
leaving me with no choice. I have to.
    Holding his hands out in a conciliatory gesture, he says,
“One date, then the building is yours and you can stay here for as long as
you’d like. You can even sell it and pocket the money.”
    “You’re fucking crazy, you know that?” I toss the paper
towel into the trash and he says, “Come on, one date.”
    I contemplate my options as I don’t fully trust him. I’ve
seen that he’s…loony. And that’s me stating it nicely.  He’s got me stuck
with my back stuffed so far into the corner I don’t see another option. He’s
manipulating me, the way Mistee wants me to do to Ross. What is wrong with
people?
    “One date?” he pleads for a third time, like a kid begging
their parents for a new puppy.
    “Fine, but I want it in writing,”
    “Absolutely, that’s fair. I’ll have my attorney draw it up.”
He’s dead serious, and I tell him, “No, I meant on a napkin or something.”
    “Oh…okay.” He pulls a pen out of his jacket pocket and takes
a seat on my couch. I watch him closely, his coat unbuttoned, his tight dress
shirt straining the muscles of his stomach, and he writes deliberately on the
back of the notice that I was holding. His face is strained as he concentrates
on what he’s doing, and I find myself undressing him with my eyes for the first
time. Feeling damp between my legs imagining what he looks like underneath.
Then he says, “How’s this?” and hands me the paper.
    Reading the back of it, I can’t help but chuckle. Clearly
he’s an architect, the way it is all mapped out and perfect. It reads, I,
Kingsley Lennox, promise to gift Everly Adams the building located at 1888
Rawlings Avenue and will not evict her if she will go out on one date with me , and it’s already signed by
him.
    “It’s perfect.”
    I set it on the table as he stares at me. My breathing
quickens and he reaches for my lips, touching them. His fingers are so soft and
warm. But I pull away, not letting him touch me. One date is all I need to get
through, and then I am done with him. I’ve hurt him pulling away, I can see
that. His forehead is creased and he says, “Six o’clock tonight?”
    “No, seven.” Maybe I’m being unnecessarily contrary, but I
won’t give in on one more thing to this man.
    He takes the paper back and folds it, placing it back into his
coat, then buttons it and walks out of my home. Completely dumbfounded, I’m not
sure how to feel. Part of me is pissed at the fact that he’s manipulating me
into going out with him and the other finds it kinda sexy that he bought me a
fucking apartment building.  I mean, it’s not everyday that you find
someone who is willing to go to such great lengths to get your attention.

Chapter 10
     
    Rummaging through my closet for something remotely nice to
wear, I’m beginning to realize that I need to go shopping. Besides my workout
clothes and random tank tops, I really don’t have anything. And I can bet that
King will be wearing a suit, ready to go to the most expensive restaurant there
is.
    Which is so not like me. Lying