Page 188 of Soul Mates: Hercules Valentine and I

Damn he’s hot.

Nope, Miss Grove went right for the package. FYI, staff here at TRM have reached the consensus that Paisley Grove is more familiar with that particular body part of her PDA partner’s than we know. How could we have missed it? We all bent over and spanked ourselves for not breaking the news earlier.

Ooh salacious…

But oh no… Hercules Valentine is engaged to Rain Mueller, and the last I checked, Paisley Grove is not Rain Mueller. Sources also say the couple’s families are still mortal enemies. Nobody knows why they hate each other. But as the song goes, instead of “If you’re happy and you know it…” We’re singing, “If you’re out there and you know why, give a girl a buzz or shoot an email.”

But don’t wander too far from this developing story. The pages are only beginning to turn on this version of super-wealthy people’s hot mess. I don’t know… Who do you think wears Hercules Valentine better? The Grove heiress or the hot young thing from the other side of the tracks?

Answer the poll down below. Inquiring minds want to know what you think.

Well…

No poll. Because it kind of sort of doesn’t matter.

From the tongue work in that hot-ass kiss that one of our readers so daringly captured, it looks like Rain Mueller has already been replaced and forgotten.

My jaw has drops. All I picture is my mom and dad reading this. And Max… He’s going to lose his mind.

Dang it.

My eyeballs shift from to the left. I did put my hand on his magnificent erection, didn’t I? And yes, no alleged to it—I am very familiar with his cock. Maybe Lake was right to always defend the credibility ofTop Rag Mag. They pretty much nailed it with that article about Hercules and me, sealing it with factual evidence.

Standing in front of my bathroom, I gnaw on my bottom lip as I consider calling my mom. Sure, she’s always prepared to push my dad’s and Max’s agendas, but I can always convince her to be on my side. She didn’t have a good relationship with her mom, who died when I was too young to remember her. That’s why Heartly’s always worried she’ll do something that’ll make me decide to never have anything to do with her—even though I’ve told my mom on numerous occasions and in several ways that nothing she could ever say or do will make me banish her from my life.

But do I believe the same is true for her? If Hercules and I ever become one in holy matrimony, will I lose my family for it?

I shake my head. I shouldn’t call my mom. Not yet.

“Treasure,” I whisper then spiral around to dash back to my bed.

Shoot.

I don’t take a step. Treasure’s in Iceland. She landed a role on her fiancé’s TV series. It’s one of those period pieces where all the characters are killing each other with swords and magic.

I raise my palms, close my eyes, and take a moment. I have too many avenues to travel down at once. Something’s got to give. In a few hours, I’ll have to face the team I lied to for two weeks. I would say that should be a priority. As far as theTop Rag Magarticle, I’m not sure if my family will ever hear about it. None of them besides Treasure read it. The only reason why Treasure didn’t call me before Lake to report my indiscretion to me is because she’s far, far away. Nope. I have nothing to worry about from my family.

So I’ll focus on work. I stare at my bed, calculating how long I have to slip in a cat nap before my alarm chimes. My eyeballs shift right to left. They’re too awake. I should go back to sleep, but I can’t.

I turn to pad over to the bathroom. I’ll take a long shower, relax, and pretend my life isn’t in disarray.

Yes. That’s what I’ll do.

And avoid my family like the plague.

Chapter Sixty-Four

The Crasher

Paisley Grove

8:15 a.m.

Ibound to my cell phone sitting on my bed when Hercules calls.

“Hey. Are you ready?” he asks.

“Yes,” I say, biting back my nerves. I wonder if he’s heard about the article.