Cruel (The Buck Boys Heroes 2)

“If you say so.” She laughs.

“I like it here,” I whisper. “New York has been good to us so far, hasn’t it?”

Her eyes mist over. “Other than that time you rescued a woman from a mugger, you mean?”

Her defenses are starting to melt, so I can’t confess that I was that woman. I may need to take that to my grave.

“I’m proud of you, Juliet.” A tear trails down her cheek. “You’re so brave, and fearless.”

I reach up to swipe the tear away. “So are you.”

“New York really is starting to feel like home to me too,” she admits. “I may never master the subway but that’s what rideshares are for, right?”

“Right.”

“Get changed so we can forget about everything but the Duke.”

Nodding, I head to my bedroom.

I can’t forget about everything.

Kavan came here to watch me with Slate. Either he doubts I can take care of myself, or jealousy speared him tonight.

My heart wants to believe it’s the former, even though my common sense is telling me it’s the latter.

“Good morning, Juliet,” Nigel says cheerfully as I exit the elevator with Alcott by my side.

“Hey, Nigel!” I raise a hand in greeting. “You’re looking sharp today.”

He’s dressed as he usually is in a suit with a white button-down shirt and a patterned tie.

“As are you,” he reciprocates the compliment.

My look isn’t sharp. It’s as dull as a marshmallow and just as comfortable.

I’m in jeans, a pink sweater, and a black blazer.

I overslept, so I had to hop in the shower quickly, put on a spot of make-up and get dressed in the span of twenty minutes.

Drew was waiting for me on the sidewalk in front of the building with a coffee. I thanked him profusely before I crawled into the waiting SUV and devoured every berry in sight.

I’m hoping that the linen napkin I used before I exited the SUV caught every spot of red and pink that was lingering on my lips.

“Is he already working?” I question Nigel. “I was hoping to get in a solid few hours of interview time today.”

“He’s running late.”

Huh? How does one run late when they sleep in the same penthouse they work in? Is Kavan’s bedroom so far from his office that he waits for Alcott to piggyback him there?

I hold in a laugh at the imagined image of that.

“You look amused,” Nigel says. “What’s on your mind, Juliet?”

I glance to where Nara is approaching with a coffee in her hand.

These people definitely know how to accommodate my coffee addiction.

I take the mug and thank her for the trouble.

She smiles. “I’m preparing the lunch menu, Juliet? Any special requests you’d like included within the options.”

Nigel’s brows perks up but he doesn’t say anything.

I lean closer to her and lower my voice. “Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, please.”

She looks at me with an expression that I can only classify as horror mixed with confusion. “What?”

“I’ll take responsibility for it,” I assure her. “You like PB and J sandwiches, Nigel, don’t you?”

“Love them.” He smiles.

Nara laughs before she starts back toward the kitchen.

“I’m going to head to my office to twiddle my thumbs,” I announce. “When Mr. Bane is ready, can you tell him that I’m eager to get started?”

Nigel’s gaze drifts over my shoulder. “You can tell him yourself.”

I take the hint and glance back and oh my fucking god.

Wearing nothing but black sweatpants slung low over his hips, I catch sight of a very sweaty Kavan Bane standing barefoot less than ten feet behind me, holding a white towel in his hand.

His body is magnificent. Every muscled inch is utter perfection.

“Good morning, Juliet,” he says in a way that is more a growl than a greeting.

I seriously wonder for a moment whether I might pass out from sensory overload.

“Good morning,” I repeat unable to tear my gaze away from him.

He approaches me, and then brushes past me to head down a hallway. “I’ll be ready for our interview shortly.”

I stare at his back as he walks away.

“He was working out,” Nigel states the obvious.

“I could tell,” I mutter.

“You were about to go to your office, Juliet.”

I nod. “Right. I’ll go.”

I turn and start walking.

“It’s this way, dear,” Nigel calls after me.

Shaking my head, I turn around and march down the corridor that leads to my office. “Thanks, Nigel.”

“My pleasure, Juliet.” He chuckles. “It’s completely my pleasure.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Juliet

“What have you accomplished at Bane Enterprises that you’re most proud of?” I read the question from the list I prepared on my phone.

“That’s a question you’d ask someone at a job interview.” Kavan crosses his arms. “Do better, Juliet.”

My head pops up. I steal a glance at him but that lasts for less than two seconds before I pin my eyes to the screen of my phone again.

“Answer the question, Mr. Bane.”

“No.”

I’ve been avoiding looking at him since he walked into my office because all I can picture is his broad naked chest and the obvious bulge that was beneath his sweatpants.