Over the Edge (Bridge #3)(4)
“I don’t want to get involved in this,” I finally said.
“The things that went down with the Youth Arts Initiative are a separate matter. The money in the fund is clean. You have my word. I can get back on track after all this, but not without your help. Just meet with me. I can lay it all out for you, and you can see what’s at stake.”
I hesitated. He was in deep shit, and as much as I disagreed with his ethics, he was my father and I could at least hear him out—even if I wasn’t willing to stick my neck out to protect his money. Our money, considering I was his only heir and he’d rather burn every dollar than give a penny more to my mother.
“I’m in the middle of a major renovation. I don’t have a lot of time right now.”
“I’ll swing by the site this week. Won’t take long.”
I didn’t want him anywhere near my project. “I’d rather you didn’t. Let’s meet for lunch. I’ll text you when and where.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
The hint of vulnerability in his voice scared me more than anything. Desperation where there’d been only righteous, fearless dedication to his work.
I hung up and stared at the skyline through my window. Another million-dollar view. I had plenty, and my father was right. I’d never known a life without the security of wealth—wealth that he’d amassed by any cutthroat means possible, it would seem. I’d taken my share and played with it in my real estate ventures. But I’d never take his path—moving money between accounts and countries and investments. Options and futures and formulas that only made sense to money-chasers like my father.
And when I finally decided to sit down with him, that’s exactly what he was going to try to sell me. A life I’d never wanted.
I glanced at my watch and moved for the door. I was late, pissed off, and all I wanted was to take those frustrations out on the beautiful brat that was Olivia Bridge.
Chapter Two
WILL
The ma?tre d’ led me to a private table for two in the back of Artu, the upscale restaurant I’d chosen for our dinner tonight. Olivia leaned back in her chair, staring at the brightly lit screen of her phone. Her legs were crossed at the knee under a black-and-white lace pencil skirt that hugged her hips and thighs. Her simple black top was tasteful and revealing at once. I guessed that every piece of her outfit tonight had been carefully chosen to appear professional, except those five-inch black heels that I wanted on either side of my ears.
As I approached, her smile was tight and her shoulders stiffened. “You came. And to think you were worried about me standing you up.”
She was upset. I held my tongue a moment because that little temper of hers was proving to be a weakness for me. I couldn’t wait to f*ck the haughty right out of her. Blood flowed south when I thought about the lovely line of her body bending for me, arching under a screaming orgasm as I pounded my way toward my own.
I sat down across from her and exhaled air meant for words I couldn’t say just yet. She wasn’t a bimbo at a bar. She was highly educated, armed with high standards and a sharp tongue. I had to deal with those circumstances delicately to get what I wanted, not to mention mitigate any potential fallout with her brothers after she heard my proposition.
“I had to take an important call.” I draped my napkin over my lap. “Have you been here before?”
“A couple times,” she said flatly. She did her best to ignore me by studying the menu.
After a moment, the waiter came and took our orders. When he disappeared, the silence between us felt electric with possibilities. I raked her in, making up for the lost time.
“You look lovely, Olivia.”
She tucked a sleek strand of dark-brown hair behind her ear. She was fidgety, avoiding my eyes, silently telling me that she wasn’t immune to my blatant appraisal of her. “So you wanted to discuss the plans?”
“I’d like to get to know you first,” I murmured.
She took a deep breath and folded her hands together in front of her. “You know my brothers well enough. Why are you suddenly so interested in me?”
“When I see something I want, I don’t waste time going after it. I’m a little impulsive that way.”
“And what exactly do you want from me?”
I exhaled softly. I wanted so many things…so many delicious and depraved things. I leaned forward and took her hand gently, bringing it across the table toward me. Her lips parted and her chest moved under a shaky breath. Soft olive skin slid like silk under my touch. Circling her wrist, I let the cool metal of her bracelet rest in my palm. A small charm hung from it. A crown with diamonds decorating the tips.
“This is pretty.”
“It was from my parents. A graduation gift.”
My wheels began turning. I already knew so much about Olivia, the game almost wasn’t fair. Still, I couldn’t help myself.
“Vassar?”
“Smith.”
I lifted my eyebrows in surprise. “Top tier, all girls. Interesting. Must be where you got that sharp tongue.”
She laughed and pulled her hand back. “Four years without a bunch of elite chauvinists marching all over my words were refreshing, for sure.”
“Women’s studies?”