Page 112 of The Bad Girl

“I mean, wow.”

“Thanks, Tom.”

“Look, it’s not that she’s hotter than you, it’s just she’s an international celebrity.”

“Trust me, I know she’s hotter than me.”

“She has a different look, but you’re just as attractive.”

“That’s beside the point. I just can’t stop thinking about him. It’s bad.”

“Nadine, you’re the smartest woman I know. Don’t let yourself get hung up over some guy. You’re also about to blow up in a major way. You’re going to have so many options, you won’t know which one to choose. Don’t close doors because you’re hung up on some rich playboy.”

Tom said exactly what I needed to hear, but my heart still feels empty.

“Get your ass over here,” Tom says, holding out his arm for me to burrow into his nook.

It feels good to be wrapped in his embrace. I feel safe, protected.

“I’m not watching Shades,” he says.

“Well, I’m not watching Blindside or any of that sports nonsense.”

“Beefy Bohemians?”

?

Maxwell

I hand my card over to the cashier, eyeing the dressings on my arm.

“Who would have thought that the great Maxwell Stryder would be so low-classy,” Harry chides.

The cashier smirks but says nothing.

“And there’s no telling what Nadine is going to think, especially after having a chunk of Tom.”

“Seriously, that’s what you’re gonna tell me? After all that, ‘stick your neck out,’ bullshit!”

“Clearly, I am not cut out to be a motivational speaker.”

“Speaking of what you are and are not cut out to be, I have to say, you’ve impressed me.”

“Oh, thank you, great overlord, for bestowing your—”

“No, I’m serious. Nadine wasn’t the only one I was underestimating.”

“Unless the praise comes with a rather large pay bump, I’m not—”

“It does.”

That got his attention.

“Harry, you’re good at so many things, you’re just not industrious. Honestly, if you actually applied yourself, I could see you as my next COO.”

Harry’s brow draws in like I’ve just said something crazy.

“I wanna see you handling more things, start to finish. Projects, people, schedules.”