The One: The Complete One Series Collection Read Free

stood firm, and he pulled me even closer. A few of the bridesmaids left the floor with their husbands and I could feel their eyes watching us. “How long do you intend to keep us out here?”
    “As long as it takes.”
    “To do what?”
    William didn’t answer for a long time. His unblinking eyes stared into mine as he contemplated the answer. The M.C. chased away even more dancers. William leaned close until his lips were a breath away from my ear. “To convince you to come back to my room tonight.”
    His words were so bold that I was caught off guard. I sucked in a breath and my hand tightened on his shoulder. As surprised as I was that William Connor had invited me into his bed, I was even more surprised when I said, “Let’s go.”

 
     
     
     
    CHAPTER TWO
    I would like to start by saying that I am not a one-night stand type of girl. I wasn’t even that type in college when it was still at least mildly acceptable to be that type of girl. So when I agreed to follow William Connor to the eighth floor of the Pentmore Resort Hotel , it was completely against my nature. As I waited in the lobby while William chatted with the concierge and slipped him some cash, I felt anxious and self-conscious. But I also felt completely liberated.
    “What was that about?” I asked when he returned. He put his hand on my back and steered me toward the elevators.
    “You’ll see.” William led me past the main bank of elevators and turned the corner. I stared suspiciously at the single elevator door in front of me. He noticed my doubt as he used his room card to call the elevator. He said, “This elevator leads directly to my suite.”
    “Of course. You have the penthouse?” I turned away so he wouldn’t see me rolling my eyes. I really had no room to judge considering I was about to have sex with him in his penthouse.
    “My assistant booked it for me.” He didn’t sound particularly defensive. “It has a great view of the ocean.”
    “I’m sure it does.” The door slid open silently and William stepped inside. I tried to follow but my feet didn’t want to cooperate.
    “Cold feet?” he asked with a sly smile. “I thought that only happened to the bride at her wedding.”
    “It’s a good thing you are rich,” I said as I finally got my feet to move forward. “Your personality could use some work.”
    “Surprisingly, you’re not the first woman to tell me that.”
    The penthouse elevator was spacious, but somehow William and I ended up standing close enough that his arm brushed against mine. My inner bad girl thought about tackling him right then. He was rich, smug and overly confident- exactly the type of guy I usually couldn’t stand to look at, much less go home with. But when it came to William Connor, the rules didn’t seem to apply.
    “Your ego hasn’t seemed to suffer,” I commented as the doors opened and the penthouse suite was revealed. My first thought was that William was right- it did have an amazing view of the ocean.
    “Come inside.” William slipped off his suit jacket and tossed it on the nearest chair. “Take a look around. The balcony is through the bedroom.” He loosened his tie as he checked his phone. “I just need to make a quick call.”
    “Sure.” As impressive as the floor to ceiling windows were in the main room, the bedroom was even better. The over-sized bed in the middle of the room was beyond inviting. I imagined the thread count of the sheets to be somewhere in the high thousands. I ran my hand over the silk comforter and listened to William’s faint voice in the background.
    “Make sure I have the contract on my desk first thing Monday morning. If we’re going to work with Mr. Simpson, I want all of this in writing.” William sounded even more confident talking business than he did flirting with women. I was sure he had plenty of experience with both.
    The air was cool when I opened the sliding glass doors that led to the balcony. The smell of salt water