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Cullen nudges my foot with his own before grazing his ankle up my calf. The contact is distracting, threatening to break my already fragile resolve.

“You’ll be mine by the end of the night, Verity. You’ll find I can be very convincing.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

VERITY

Iam already convinced. I’ve been convinced for the last two weeks. I am just delaying the inevitable.

Pushing Cullen away has been a form of torture upon myself. I am a leopard that can’t change its spots. Even though I’d told myself I needed the distance from him so I wouldn’t get invested too fast, my heart didn’t listen to my brain.

I want him. I’m not interested in meeting anyone else.

“I’m so sorry to interrupt.”

The British accent cuts into our moment, and I turn to look at the owner of the voice. A stunning specimen of a man grins as his mischievous stare bounces between Cullen and me.

“I just saw Cullen and wanted to extend my greetings.” He extends his hand toward me, an expensive watch shining on his wrist. “I’m Jace.”

“Verity.”

I place my hand in his to give it a shake but am shocked when he leans down to place a kiss on my knuckles. Jace’s gaze cuts to Cullen, a smirk on his lips as he pulls back and relinquishes my hand.

I clutch it close to my chest, trying to get a read on the situation.

“All right, you’ve greeted us. Get a move on.” Cullen glares at Jace, and I question how well they know each other.

“Fine, fine. I hope to see you again, darling.” Jace gives me a wink, his accent teasing around his words. “See you tomorrow, Cullen.” He gives a rap on the table before heading to the exterior doors and disappearing into the outdoor area, which has only gotten busier and louder.

“Friend of yours?”

“Business acquaintance. Remember the guy I said was from the UK and kept calling me at four in the morning? That’s him.”

“I thought you said that was your friend?”

“Friend was a loose term.” Cullen leans back in his chair, but tension still pulls at his shoulders.

“I think the green in your eyes is showing again.”

“Don’t let Jace fool you. He’s a shark under that playboy exterior.”

“Okay, sure.” I stifle a laugh, not wanting to rile him up again. “Is there anyone in the city you don’t know?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, at first it was the secret speakeasy your friend owns and then the viral donut shop your sister owns. Now, you have your friend with a private jet who owns resorts, plus a mysterious British man.”

“I see your point, but it’s nothing that fancy.”

“That’s the sort of thing fancy people say.”

He chuckles, the low rumble causing my core to swirl. “I grew up here and went to college upstate.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. People rarely leave the city, so the ones you meet tend to stick around. Tack on working in real estate, and you never really stop meeting new people. Everyone knows someone, and networking is key for my career.”

“That makes sense.”