Inheriting a SECRET (Corrigan & Co. Book 7) Read Free Page A

do I. I need to stay on my toes because I can’t tell him
about those jewels. I’m bound to an oath I made, and I won’t
break my word. I can’t. Even though he makes me want to.

Chapter 2
    Brayden
    It sucks that Darcy
thinks she’s just another notch for me. She should be, but she’s
not. Even though we’ve only officially met, I know that she has the
power to bring me to my knees, and make me want to forget that my end
goal is to bring her down. The teenage girl rappelling down our castle intrigued me, the
woman who has charmed the media—and my mother—for the past two
months challenges me, and the vixen who sucked my tongue like her
life depended on it inspires me. They’re all rolled into one, and I
don’t know any man who could resist that combination.
    I help her out of the
car when we arrive at the restaurant, and we smile and share small
kisses for the paparazzi. That right there is different. In the past,
I’ve stuck my tongue down a woman’s throat and groped her,
knowing we’d end up in the news the next day. Never mind that I
want Darcy to know things are different with her, I need the press to see it. For my mother, and my country. They’re all
counting on me, and I won’t let them down. Not when I’m finally
closing in on my promise.
    I sit across from Darcy
in the booth we’re shown to, instead of snuggling up next to her
like I want to. Again, this is not my normal M.O. I’ve been to this
restaurant many times, with many women, and never sat across from a
single one. Until tonight, with the most important woman. The one who
literally holds the keys to my kingdom, and more.
    “Why did the maître
d’ look at me like that when you sat down?”
    “I don’t know,” I
lie.
    “Brayden.”
    “Fine. I’ve brought
many women here before, but never once have I sat across from one.”
    “Where do you usually
sit? Next to her?”
    “Yes. Or more
accurately, half on top of her as I stick my tongue down her throat.”
    “Oh.”
    “No. It’s not like
that, Cat. You know I want you.”
    “Then what is it like?”
    I pick up her hand and
hold it in mine, running my thumb over her wrist. “I want
everyone—including you—to realize that you’re different then
all the rest.”
    “Even after I
insulted you?”
    “Especially because
you insulted me. You weren’t wrong, and I’ve already told you
that. I’d like the chance to show you that I can be more than what
I’ve been.”
    “I’m willing to
give you that chance; although, you know that this will never go
anywhere, right? I mean, this is just a job to me. I won’t fall
madly in love with you. Once you’ve been seen as monogamous and
settled, I’m going back to my friends and my video games.”
    Ouch. I have to admit
to myself that her words hurt. I won’t admit that to her, though.
Especially if she means what she says. Which I don’t think she
does.
    “Our kisses weren’t
just a job. You want me just as much as I want you.”
    She starts to open her
mouth, but the waitress is suddenly at our table. Unfortunately, she
just happens to be one of my old acquaintances ,
too. Just what I don’t need right now.
    “Hi, Brayden.”
    “Hello.”
    “You haven’t
called.”
    “I said I wouldn’t.”
    “But it was fun. I
know you enjoyed it.”
    “I think we’re
ready to order,” Darcy says, barely hiding her smile at my
discomfort.
    The waitress, whose
name totally escapes me, glares over at her while speaking to me.
“What are you having, Brayden baby?”
    “Darcy should order
first.”
    “You’re letting her
order for herself?”
    “Yes.”
    I know it’s a shock.
I always order for the women I take out. Unless I’m mistaken, Darcy
will know that, and this will be just another way that I can show her
she’s different.
    "I’ll have the
sole with the risotto along with a beer. Whatever you have on tap is
fine.”
    “Beer?” the girl
asks with a sneer on her face.
    “Do you have a
problem with my order? Because if