Chapter 23
Penny
“Shit, shit, shit,” I mutter through my clenched teeth as I pace my office.
Six weeks.
Why the hell did I agree to Easton’s cheap blackmail?
I’m fucking rich. I know how to invest. I can help Dad build another company from the ground up.
No, you can’t. And you know it.
Levine Constructions isn’t just a business to Dad. It’s his legacy. Besides family, it’s the thing he’s most proud of. He built it with his own two hands, and he’d never recover from losing it. Especially not now that he’s sick.
My mind replays the moment I saw Dad’s medical documents. Tears stream down my face freely as the very real possibility of losing him crashes over me all over again.
Logically, I know everyone dies eventually. But I’ve never let myself think about losing Mami or Dad.
Until now.
I inhale deeply as I slowly make my way back to my desk. The second I sit down, I close my eyes and let my head fall against the back of the chair as exhaustion crashes into me.
When I open my eyes again, the first thing I see is the mason jar full of fresh roses.
Miles.
Everything with him has been going so well.
How am I supposed to tell him that whatever this thing between us has to end because I’m marrying another man?
A miserable groan escapes me.
He’s going to think I’m a hoe. Hell, I feel like one.
This is exactly why I don’t do feelings. I don’t want to hurt anyone—especially not Miles, who’s been nothing short of amazing to me since the day I got to Azalea Creek.
I take another shaky breath and try to pull myself together enough to stop crying when my phone suddenly vibrates against the desk.
Despite everything, a small smile tugs at my lips when I think of his last text message.
I read and re-read it.
I want to say yes. Fuck, yes. Let’s go have fun and forget the rest of the world exists for a little while.
But what if I keep falling for him?
Then again, Miles has been clear from the beginning: all the passion, none of the feelings.
One more weekend won’t hurt. After that, I’ll end things before this gets even messier.
Still, the truth stares me right in the face as I type my reply.
I’m not ready to let him go yet.
“Fuck it,” I say as I wipe my tears away and put on a little lipstick to perk up.
I might be signing my life away to Easton Ryan, but not today.
As I step out of my office pod, I can feel the tension hanging over the construction site.
A few workers glance at me before quickly looking away. Somewhere down the hall, I hear raised voices and the sound of something heavy hitting a wall.
I frown. Whatever happened must’ve been serious if the entire floor feels this oddly quiet afterward.
Dread curls low in my stomach.
Miles.
I pick up my pace toward the private suites. The second I reach the open doorway, the low murmurs inside abruptly die. Every head turns toward me.
A few workers immediately start filing out of the suite, brushing past me without a word and avoiding my eyes as they disappear into the hallway.
“What was all that commotion about?” I ask as I close the door behind me.
I take a moment to appreciate how much progress has been made since construction started. The lights, windows, walls, and molding are finally in place. All that’s left is paint, flooring, and furniture.
And then I’m done.
“Hey, boss. I see you decided to come find me.” Miles flashes me a predatory smile, his handsome, rugged face practically glowing with mischief. His blue eyes darken with want.
“Don’t try to change the subject. What happened?” I press.
Miles exhales and lets his head fall back. “Nothing. Just a little asshole talking about things he doesn’t know.”
I frown. “Care to elaborate?”
Frustration flickers across his face before his hands settle on my hips. I try not to melt into him—I’m his freaking boss, damn it—but his touch feels too good to resist.
“Miles.” I raise an eyebrow as I look up at him.
“A kid came in to tell me you were on your way and made a comment I didn’t appreciate.” He shrugs. “So I terminated his contract on the spot and told him not to come back.”
“Miles, you can’t do that,” I practically yell.
“When someone talks shit about people I care about? Yeah, I absolutely can.”
Before I can respond, he presses his lips to mine.
I’m not sure what leaves me more dizzy—his kiss or the fact that he just admitted he cares about me.
“Miles,” I whisper against his mouth.
“Yes, boss?” His lips move slowly against mine while his hands knead my ass.
“Weren’t you going to ask me something?” I lean back enough to look at him.
“Oh, right.” He acts like he forgot. “Would you spend Valentine’s Day with me? All the sex, all the spoiling, none of the feelings or attachments.” He wiggles his brows for emphasis.
I can’t hide the smile tugging at my lips. “I might be agreeable to that. But first, you’ll need to give me a preview.” I press my body against his.
When his hardening erection brushes against my stomach, my pulse flutters. I’m such a hoe for this man.
“You want a preview here?” Miles asks, lowering his mouth to my neck.
“Sure.” I shrug casually. “If the crew is already talking, we might as well give them something worth talking about.”
I’ve never thought of myself as an exhibitionist, but with Miles, the temptation to do reckless, unspeakable things feels irresistible. Around him, I can be whoever I want.
“Alright,” Miles murmurs as he pulls me flush against him.
A soft moan escapes me, relief flooding my body at the realization that what I’ve craved all day is finally within reach.
“Such a good girl,” he says roughly against my skin. “Always so responsive to me. To my touch.”
He squeezes my ass hard enough to make me gasp as pleasure races through me.
He guides us toward the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the future ice rink. A few workers still linger outside, but most of the crew has already left for the day. We have a small window of time before the night shift arrives.
“Spread your legs and kneel on the bench,” he commands softly from behind me.
He pulls out my ponytail, letting my hair tumble over my shoulders. I shiver at the sensation.
“Look at you, sugar,” he murmurs. “Confident. Gorgeous. No goddess in history could compete with your presence.”
A shiver rolls through me at the compliment. How does he come up with these things?
“Put your hands behind your back and lace your fingers together.”
He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear before blowing cool air against my skin. Goose bumps erupt down my spine.
“Are you ready, sugar?”
“So ready,” I pant.
“Fuck, yes,” he says while undoing the buttons of my white silk shirt.
“Red lace today?” His rough, calloused fingers trail over the tops of my breasts.
My head falls back, my resolve weakening with every touch.
I hear his tool belt hit the ground with a heavy thud. A second later, the sound of his belt buckle and zipper sends anticipation rushing straight to my core.
“Let’s see how wet you are for me today, sugar.”
I feel him kneel behind me, his hands gliding up my thighs.
“Please, Miles,” I beg, no longer caring who might hear us.
“Please what, boss?” he murmurs. “Ask nicely, and you’ll get whatever you want.”
He slides my thong to the side, and I shiver when I feel his breath against me.
“You smell so fucking good, Penélope,” he groans. “I wish I could bottle it up and sniff it anytime I want.”
Before I can process his words, his mouth is on me, his tongue licking and teasing my clit.
I lose my balance, and with my hands pinned behind my back, I have nothing to catch myself with. I tighten my core to steady myself as pleasure shoots through me.
“That feels so good,” I say, greedily grinding my pussy against his tongue.
“Do you want to come quickly, boss?” he says against me. “I’ll allow it today. Let everyone see how completely you fall apart for me.”
He slides two fingers inside me while keeping relentless pressure on my clit.
I suck in a sharp breath through my teeth, the sensation almost too intense to bear. The dangerous thrill of knowing someone could see us sends me spiraling even faster.
“Miles… Fuck, Miles,” I groan as pleasure crashes through me, so powerful it leaves my entire body shaking.
By the time the trembling finally eases, I feel Miles rise to his feet. A moment later, he steps in front of me.
“Fuck,” he says with a stunned grin. “I didn’t know you could squirt.”
A startled laugh escapes me as realization settles in. “I didn’t know I could do that either,” I admit honestly.
“I guess you just needed the right partner.” He winks before leaning down to kiss me deeply.
At first, I think I’m going to be disgusted by the taste of my own release, but the deeper the kiss gets, the more Miles’ hunger consumes me. Instead of embarrassment, heat coils low in my stomach, leaving me flushed and aching for more.
“So delicious,” he murmurs against my lips when we finally break apart for air.
“Ready for round two?” I ask breathlessly.
He raises an eyebrow. “That depends.”
“On what?” I ask, narrowing my eyes.
“On the answer to my question.” He wears that cocky, confident expression so well, but the slight tremble in his lips gives him away.
Beneath all that swagger, he’s actually nervous.
“Yes,” I say softly. “Of course I’d love to enjoy the benefits of spending Valentine’s Day with you.”
His smile could melt the panties off every woman in Western North Carolina. He’s a handsome devil, and he knows it.
And for a few more weeks, he’s mine.
I’d be stupid to deny myself the best sex of my life before committing the rest of my days to a man I don’t love.
That’s what I keep telling myself whenever guilt starts tightening around my chest.
I know I should talk to Miles. I should tell him everything that’s going on.
But I know him. The moment he found out the truth, he’d go after Easton without a second thought. Part of me would probably enjoy the hell out of it.
But the fallout would destroy my father—and his company.
And I can’t let that happen.