Page 53
Story: Beyond the Hate
He groans. “My brothers are the bane of my existence.”
“And yet you built this company for them so you can spendtime with them.”
“I’m sorry, Lace. I wish you had the family you deserve but your family being a den of assholes doesn’t mean you should avoid relationships.”
I disagree. I’ve tried enough relationships in my thirty years. I have my friends. I’m perfectly happy to spend the rest of my life being the fun aunt.
My heart clenches at the thought of always being alone. Attending every event by myself. Never having a partner who understands me.
Fine. I’m lying to myself. I’m not perfectly happy being alone. But I don’t want to have my heart broken either.
“I’m not interested in a relationship.”
Eli smirks. “I’ll change your mind.”
“You can try.”
“And I’ll succeed.” His phone rings and he swears under his breath. He digs it out and reads the display. “I need to answer this but this discussion isn’t over.”
“You can’t have a discussion by yourself.”
He kisses my nose. “Which is why we’ll be having the discussion together.” He opens the door and saunters away.
I glare at his backside as he hurries down the hallway. He reaches the door to the offices and glances over his shoulder at me. He winks before disappearing.
Eli thinks he’s won this round. He has no idea how stubborn I can be.
Chapter 17
“You can catch more flies with a dare than with honey.” ~ Eli
Eli
Paisley opens the door and scowls at me. “What are you doing here?”
I let my gaze linger over her, taking in every detail. She’s wearing an emerald green dress that clings to her figure, the neckline dipping just enough to reveal a hint of cleavage. The skirt splits high on one side, stretching well past her knee, promising to reveal her bare legs with each step she takes.
My Lace is cute in her jeans and t-shirts but in this dress? She’s sexy as fuck.
“You look gorgeous.”
Her cheeks darken and I watch as the blush travels down her neck to her chest. I want to follow the path with my tongue. My cock hardens and lengthens as I imagine drawing those spaghetti straps off her shoulders to reveal her chest.
“You didn’t answer my question. What are you doing here?”
She taps her foot and I notice she’s wearing a pair of matching emerald green stilettos. Damn, how I’d love to sink into her while she’s wearing nothing but those shoes.
Paisley snaps her fingers in front of my face. “Earth to Eli. What are you doing here?”
I force my thoughts away from bending Paisley over the couch and grin. “I’m your date for the evening.”
She purses her lips. I know those pretty pink lips taste sweet with a hint of the exotic. Just like Paisley. She’s sweet but she’s also unconventional. I will never get bored of this woman.
“Date? I never agreed to go on a date with you.”
I feign confusion. “You didn’t?”
She narrows her eyes on me. “You know how I feel about miscommunication regarding dates.”
“And yet you built this company for them so you can spendtime with them.”
“I’m sorry, Lace. I wish you had the family you deserve but your family being a den of assholes doesn’t mean you should avoid relationships.”
I disagree. I’ve tried enough relationships in my thirty years. I have my friends. I’m perfectly happy to spend the rest of my life being the fun aunt.
My heart clenches at the thought of always being alone. Attending every event by myself. Never having a partner who understands me.
Fine. I’m lying to myself. I’m not perfectly happy being alone. But I don’t want to have my heart broken either.
“I’m not interested in a relationship.”
Eli smirks. “I’ll change your mind.”
“You can try.”
“And I’ll succeed.” His phone rings and he swears under his breath. He digs it out and reads the display. “I need to answer this but this discussion isn’t over.”
“You can’t have a discussion by yourself.”
He kisses my nose. “Which is why we’ll be having the discussion together.” He opens the door and saunters away.
I glare at his backside as he hurries down the hallway. He reaches the door to the offices and glances over his shoulder at me. He winks before disappearing.
Eli thinks he’s won this round. He has no idea how stubborn I can be.
Chapter 17
“You can catch more flies with a dare than with honey.” ~ Eli
Eli
Paisley opens the door and scowls at me. “What are you doing here?”
I let my gaze linger over her, taking in every detail. She’s wearing an emerald green dress that clings to her figure, the neckline dipping just enough to reveal a hint of cleavage. The skirt splits high on one side, stretching well past her knee, promising to reveal her bare legs with each step she takes.
My Lace is cute in her jeans and t-shirts but in this dress? She’s sexy as fuck.
“You look gorgeous.”
Her cheeks darken and I watch as the blush travels down her neck to her chest. I want to follow the path with my tongue. My cock hardens and lengthens as I imagine drawing those spaghetti straps off her shoulders to reveal her chest.
“You didn’t answer my question. What are you doing here?”
She taps her foot and I notice she’s wearing a pair of matching emerald green stilettos. Damn, how I’d love to sink into her while she’s wearing nothing but those shoes.
Paisley snaps her fingers in front of my face. “Earth to Eli. What are you doing here?”
I force my thoughts away from bending Paisley over the couch and grin. “I’m your date for the evening.”
She purses her lips. I know those pretty pink lips taste sweet with a hint of the exotic. Just like Paisley. She’s sweet but she’s also unconventional. I will never get bored of this woman.
“Date? I never agreed to go on a date with you.”
I feign confusion. “You didn’t?”
She narrows her eyes on me. “You know how I feel about miscommunication regarding dates.”
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108
- Page 109
- Page 110
- Page 111
- Page 112
- Page 113
- Page 114
- Page 115
- Page 116
- Page 117
- Page 118
- Page 119
- Page 120
- Page 121
- Page 122
- Page 123
- Page 124