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“I need her to marry me. You’re supposed to be the best in the business, Mr.

Knight, so make it happen.”

“You would like it if she agreed to go on a date with you,” I clarify. “Marriage is that spot on the horizon that starts coming into view after a few months of dating, some serious discussion, and, in your case, an appreciation for the true gift that Miss Waverly is.”

I half-expect Percy to get up and march out of here, but he wants this woman so he doesn’t move an inch. “Yeah, of course. I know we’re meant to be, so I’m a little eager.”

“A little?” I tip my coffee mug in his direction. “The contract you signed was clear. You’ll have my guidance in becoming the best version of you possible. I’ll aid in that by dropping myself into Miss Waverly’s life so I can pick up cues regarding what she likes and what she hates.”

I stress the last word because I’veyet to meet a woman attracted to the stench of desperation. Percy may be wearing expensive cologne, but his expression since he sat down across from me is giving everything away.

He’s got it bad for this woman, and if he hasn’t dropped to one knee to pledge his undying love to her forever, he’s on the cusp of that. Percy needs to be schooled in how to endear himself to Miss Waverly so he does indeed become a man she sees as her future partner.

I can already tell that lesson one for Percy will be the concept of self-control, which he is seriously lacking at the moment.

“I fucked a blonde last Monday!” A man’s voice bellows over the dim hum of the people in this café. “I followed that up with a leggy brunette and then finished the week off with a pair of redheads. My balls need a bag of ice.”

I need a drink that is stronger than this cup of coffee.

I push my chair back from the table. “Excuse me for a moment, Percy.”

His eyebrows dart up. “Yeah, sure, Mr. Knight.”

“Call me William.”

“Will do, Will.” He huffs out a laugh at his unimaginative play on words.

“William,” I correct him because if we’re going to work together until Miss Waverly falls in love with him, I need him to be on the same page as me when it comes to my name.

“Right.” He nods.

“I can top that!” Another guy’s voice booms through the coffee shop. “In the past three days, I’ve had two brunettes. One with tits the size of cantaloupes and a blonde who swallowed every last drop of my load.”

“Jesus,” I mutter as I button my gray suit jacket. “It’s not even nine a.m. yet.”

I approach the two men who can’t shut the fuck up about their sexual conquests. I don’t care if they’re real or imagined. The pressing issue is that there are too many people in this morning hotspot being forced to bear witness to their over-zealous bullshit.

“Gentlemen,” I say as I approach where they’re standing. “I’m using that term loosely.”

They laugh it off like I’m kidding.

I’m not.

“What’s up, bro?” One asks as he taps my shoulder with his hand.

I glance at the grime under his fingernails. “I’m not your bro, and you need a manicure.”

They laugh harder. The blond one in the dark blue suit doubles over.

I’m straight-faced as I go on in a lower tone, “I also need you both to shut the hell up.”

That gets their attention. The brown-haired one, who looks to be around twenty-five, eyes me up. “You’re serious?”

I cross my arms over my chest. “Very.”

“Are you not getting any?” His blond counterpart asks as he takes a step toward me. “Your pecker is lonely, isn’t it?”

I don’t want to crack a smile, but seriously…pecker?