Stanton Box Set

I nod glumly. “Yes that’s him.” Fucking scuzbuckett.

“Oh right. So you had another man with you, Adrian Murphy.”

I smile, oh my god I know where this is going.”

“Yes.” I can’t hold the smile that is splitting my cheeks.

He looks around in embarrassment. “I am going to America for a couple of weeks and I wondered if I could get his number off you. I thought we might hook up.”

I give him a resigned smile as I frown. How do I put this? “Umm, Adrian … isn’t really the kind of guy that hooks up.”

He frowns. “Sorry, that came out wrong, I meant catch up.” He raises his eyebrow as he contemplates asking me a question. “Not that kind of guy, hey?” he adds with a trace of a smile on his lips.

I smile broadly as I picture the beautiful Adrian. “Adrian is a romantic, he believes in love. Trust me, he doesn’t hook up with random people.”

I can almost see his brain ticking as he licks his scrumptious lips. His eyes hold mine with renewed determination. “So … can I have his number then?”

Hmm ok, I’m going to make Adrian a little hard to get. Right, what would Abbie do in this situation?

“Look I don’t know, he doesn’t like me giving his number to anyone. I get asked for it a lot.” I inwardly cringe, oh boy was that too cheesy?

He nods and passes me his phone. “Call him. See what he says.” I smile as I look at his hand outstretched with his phone in it. Determination in a man is so damn hot.

“No, I am not calling him on your phone because then you will have his number in the call register.” I smirk.

He smiles as his ploy to trick me is uncovered. “Touché,” he whispers as he raises an eyebrow. He passes me his business card. “Call him tonight and then call me back and tell me what he said.”

Hmm … so dominant. S

o bloody sexy. “Why don’t I just tell him to call you?”

“I’m pretty sure we both know if we leave it up to him I won’t be getting a call anytime soon.” He smirks.

I scrunch up my face in uncomfortableness. “I wouldn’t take it personally. He doesn’t call anybody back.” God … I should shut up now, I’m blowing it.

He nods. “Yeah I get it. I will speak to you tonight.” He smiles and leaves my office.

I blow out a breath that I didn’t even realise I was holding. If Adrian doesn’t go out with him, he’s crazy. That man is frigging hot. I regain my composure and leave my office. “Ready to go?” I smile at Max.

He nods and we leave the building. Suddenly cameras start flashing and two men start to scream. “Natasha Stanton, is your husband going to make a full recovery?” Huh?

“Is your husband still a sex addict, Mrs Stanton?”

What the hell? My horrified eyes meet Max’s.

“Is he still currently in rehab, Mrs Stanton?”

Max steps in front of me and holds out his arm to shield me, obviously much more accustomed to this than me. We make a run for my car with them chasing us. This is ridiculous, is this really what the world has come to? How could anyone be interested in this trivial nonsense?

“Is your husband a sex addict and a cocaine addict, Mrs Stanton?”

I get into the passenger seat of Max’s car and he speeds away. He looks into the rear-view mirror to check we are not being followed.

“Shit, that was intense,” I whisper to Max wide-eyed.

He nods. “I was wondering how long it would take for them to find you. Just make sure you don’t give them a reaction when they ask you any questions. It just amps the assholes up.”

“I would really like to answer their questions with yes he is a sex addict, possibly a cocaine addict and a total adulterer prick and I’m not his fucking wife, asshole. Not even close,” I snap as I throw my handbag into the backseat.