Page 211 of Damaged Mogul

Wow.

She leans into me. “In his world, nothing is impossible.”

I open my arms in an attempt to encompass this room and all the amazing people in it. “I get a sense of that now.”

“Between us girls, Mr. Hollingsworth is the paragon of masculinity.Quel mec.”

“What a man, indeed—” I laugh.

“What’s so funny?”

“The playlist in my head landed on Salt-N-Pepa’sWhatta Man.

“Good one.” She laughs. “Gage fits the bill. He’s the perfect Adonis.”She fans herself. “He’s this big, testosterone-ladenhunk. Confident and in command. And he’s not bad on the eyes.”

That’s the understatement of the century. “He’s freaking gorgeous.” I shift my attention to said gorgeous, testosterone-laden, perfect Adonis god.

He winks.

Be still my beating heart.

“Sexy gods hang out with other sexy gods,” Nads says. “Any single guys in his inner circle?”

I scan the room. “There’s Larkin.”

“The owner of this amazing hotel––where I’m staying, by the way––is dangerously hot, but he scares me.”

“Yeah, he’s intense.”

“Too intense,” she says. “I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to keep up.”

“Michaela”––I point to her––“is certain there isn’t a woman alive capable of handling Larkin.”

Nadine nods.

I keep searching the room. “What about him?” I point to Collin Dennison, leaning at the bar, involved in an animated conversation with Dominika and Rod who are sitting on stools.

“Oh, God, that man is also hot, but he comes with the same force as a Euro speed train.” I laugh. “His brother Shane on the other hand… I’d leave my life in Paris behind for that fine piece of man candy.” She leans in closer. “I’d even be willing to let him pop my cherry.”

I stare up at her. “I doubt you’d regret it.”

“A man like that would justify holding out for the right one…”

Both her mom and mine lost their virginity to married men and ended up pregnant and alone. The way we came into this world shaped us, which is why we held on tight to our V cards much longer than most girls we know.

I nudge her. “Are you going to go after him?”

“No. I’d never have the courage to approach him.”

“That can be arranged––”

“I’m here foryou. Not to get entangled with a hot guy. You know me… chicks before dicks.”

With that, she sets the tone to one of our favorite games. I pick up the baton.

“Queens over peens.”

“Sisters over misters.”