I cross my arms over my stomach. “How do you know he’s never come?”
He’s right, but it’s none of his damn business. He must be spying on me through one of the contractors. Or maybe he talked to January. I thought she and I were friends, but maybe she told Dayton I hadn’t had a visitor, not knowing how much he and I despised each other.
He doesn’t answer my question. Whatever he’s doing on his phone must be vitally important.
“Okay, so if you don’t have a girlfriend, do you sleep around? Have a regular hookup buddy?”
He smirks. “Why the sudden interest in my sex life, Cupcake?”
Wish I knew.
I shrug. “You saw me … like that. I feel like we’re uneven now. I know nothing about your personal life.”
I feel vulnerable and exposed as hell, knowing Dayton saw the photos. My body isn’t perfect by any means. It certainly wasn’t sexy enough to keep my ex-husband’s attention, and now I’m beginning to feel like it’s not interesting or sexy enough for Axel either. He didn’t even ask if I’d send the pictures to him, never mind the fact that we haven’t had sex in months.
I’m sure whatever women Dayton does sleep with have to be models with long legs, perfect and round boobs, and no cellulite in sight, even on their inner thighs. And now he’s seen me in lingerie, attempting to be sexy, and I’m terrified he’s laughing to himself about how sad my life is and how myboyfriend never visits me because I’m not even hot enough to tempt him.
I am pathetic.
“Forget it.” I turn around to walk away, tail tucked between my legs with embarrassment.
“He’s an idiot, by the way. You should dump him.”
My steps falter at the sound of his gravelly voice. The worst part is, I know he’s right.
chapter nine
Dayton
Itap my fingers on the glass table in the conference room. My Miami office has an ocean view, but looking out at the turquoise water makes me think about Coconut Beach.
Stop picturing her.
I’ve permanently ingrained the photos Summer accidentally texted to me into my twisted, fucked-up brain by staring at them for hours, multiple times, since last weekend.
That lacy pink teddy hugged her curves just right. Her pink nipples are the size of a quarter, and somehow finding out exactly how her bikini tan lines look on her skin has given me an unhealthy obsession with the paler skin of her breasts and ass. I keep fantasizing about biting the white lines on her hips.
I still remember the first time I saw her in a swimsuit at sixteen, and I kept my sunglasses on all day so she couldn’t see the way my eyes stayed glued to her. Her body has changed since then—for the better. I’ve memorized the curve of her ass in her yoga pants, but now having a clear picture of exactly what that body looks like has begun affecting my concentration and focus while I’m working, dealing with billionaire clients and shitloads of money.
Fuck, now I’m getting an erection while one of my biggest clients sits across from me.
I shift in my leather chair, knuckles whitening as I grip my pen.
“Mr. Humphries, I’m pleased to inform you that your accounts have all profited by twelve percent since our last meeting. I strongly suggest increasing your investments in the following accounts by ten percent or more.”
My secretary, Ava, clicks through the slideshow up on the screen, displaying the many zeros that have been brought in since we accumulated the Humphries account. Mr. Humphries is only thirty-two, but when his grandfather died, he inherited a line of liquor manufacturers, which he’s grown impressively in the last five years.
“I want to increase by thirty percent. I have to say, I’ve been impressed by your team, Copeland. These numbers are staggering.”
Ava clicks to the next slide. I drone on about his investment account activity and the minor adjustments I want to make for the upcoming year.
“After the holidays are over and the new year begins, we’ll be in the first quarter, and we can expect an overall dip in sales. Most people’s New Year’s resolution to drink less only last a few weeks, if that.” He rises from his seat and reaches out a hand to shake mine. “Looking forward to seeing where our partnership leads in the future, Copeland.”
I stand, gripping his hand in a firm handshake and nodding. “Thank you. Looking forward to it as well. Enjoy your weekend.”
He nods at Ava before exiting the conference room. The door clicks shut behind him.
“Well, that was unexpected.” She smiles up at me.