Tempting the Crown(225)

“This is fucking unbelievable. Thirty days with someone who is a stranger.”

Deacon laughed. He was always the risk-taker. Cole knew HiTech Global wouldn’t be where it was if his friend hadn’t been willing to try the adventurous deals. Make decisions no one else would touch. But it didn’t end with business decisions. Deacon let everything bleed over into his personal life. He seemed to like it best when his two worlds collided. That meant it melted into one, for Cole too.

Cole hated he had to the rational one. The one who kept his head down. The one who constantly brought his friend back on track.

But he knew when he had to back down. There was no talking him out of this one. “But nothing changes, man. It’s on her terms.”

Deacon smiled. “Of course it is. I wouldn’t want it any other way. I wouldn’t want her if she wasn’t the one asking for us.”

Cole knew that to be true. Deacon was stubborn and prideful. He’d never chased after a woman. His cockiness prevented him from ever throwing his heart into a relationship. It was the reason they lost Tessa.

All she wanted was to hear him say the words. She would have done anything for them. But Deacon couldn’t let his guard down long enough to be vulnerable.

Cole worried he never would.

The conversation was interrupted when Deacon’s private elevator buzzed. He pressed the speaker button.

“Yes?”

“It’s Johnson. I have your payment from Cal Mantelli.”

Deacon eyes lit. He punched in the code that would give Johnson access to use the executive level. “We were wondering where you were.”

“It took a little longer than I thought. I’ll be right up.”

Cole looked at his friend. “You sure you don’t want to back out of this? Have Johnson take her back?”

“No fucking way. I won her fair and square. You’re going to thank me. I swear.”

They stood as the lights on the elevator in the corner office began to illuminate. Cole straightened his tie and tugged on the pressed cuffs of his shirt. Deacon straightened his tailored jacket. There was a nervous energy that ran between them.

The doors retracted and Johnson walked into the office, carrying a woman over his shoulder.

“Put me down,” she squealed. She kicked and thrashed in his hold. Her blond hair flew in all directions.

All he could see were limbs.

“That’s enough, Johnson,” Cole instructed him. He didn’t like how this was going.

Deacon stood next to him as Johnson unwrapped the girl from his grasp and placed her feet on the floor. His hands wrapped around her waist while she squirmed free and pushed forward away from him.

For a second, Cole thought the world fell away.

She brushed her long locks from her face. Her green eyes glowered with anger. Her cheeks were flush and her plump lips with in a perfect heart shape. Fuck. His ribs felt as if they were caving in.

She was beyond beautiful. She was stunning.

He broke his gaze to look at Deacon. Cole had no idea what to say.

He realized for the first time, his best friend didn’t either.





3

Abby



Her chest heaved with giant breaths. She threw the man’s arms off her. “Stop touching me,” she spat. “You’re disgusting.” He wore too much cologne, but it was mixed with sweat, creating a pungent odor. It reminded her of the cramped coat closet. It felt as if his scent clung to her leather jacket and sweater.

“Delivered as requested,” he announced. He presented her as if she were some kind of prize cattle at a fair.

“Yes, we can see that.”

She shoved the hair from her face. Abby’s eyes lifted to the men standing in front of her. She felt as if she were a wild cat. Feral enough to pounce on them and attack. Maybe fight her way to freedom. The only problem was she had to get through their hired brute first. She knew he was a wall of pure muscle and outmatched her in every way.

“That’s all we need, Johnson.” One of the men dismissed her escort. “Your payment is in your account. I made sure it was processed immediately.”

“Thank you. Always a pleasure doing business with you Mr. Rockford.”

Abby swallowed. Did he say “Rockford?” As in Deacon Rockford? Her heart hammered harder in her chest.

Johnson chuckled. “Watch out for this one. She’s feisty. You’ll see what I mean.” He blew her a kiss.

Abby glared at her captor as he retraced his steps to the elevator. Within seconds the doors closed behind him and he was gone.

It took Abby a minute to get her bearings. Riding in the back of a trunk had made her nauseated. She had been roughly pulled into the elevator and deposited in front of two men dressed in expensive suits.