City of Sin (Men of Manhattan, #1)

by Ivy Smoak

"This is ridiculous," she snapped. "I'll have a latte. Whatever your biggest size is. With coconut milk and no foam." Of course her order is as pretentious as Mr. Ellington's.

He was wearing tethered clothes, hugging his knees to his chest, shivering. I can't.

The Knicks cheerleaders always perform in Central Park before game nights to help sell tickets. What if we joined up with them? Have an actor spray himself with Sword Body Spray and get the cheerleaders to chase him through Central Park? Everyone would see it. No one would know if it was real or not. News stations would inadvertently pick it up. It would be huge. And ridiculously cheap. That's the kind of thing that gets people's attention these days."

Why would anyone believe that this type of stunt was real? News stations wouldn't seriously believe that a actor sprayed with a particular body spray made a bunch of professional cheerleaders lose their minds.

His lips grew taught.

She scooted between the tables and I watched her ass. I'd always thought that hostesses should be required to wear yoga pants, but her tight black dress pants weren't half bad.

He turned to face the driver. "Trump International." Mason quickly buckled his own seatbelt and leaned back. "And we're in a hurry."

Trump International was the only good thing I still had. Just telling girls I lived there made their panties drop.

Yes, because if there is anything that makes "girls" want to get with a guy, it's learning that he's a Trump fan.

"Thanks. I'm sorry, though, I'm really busy. I don't have time to go to dinner. I have to stay late. I would have called you, but I didn't have your number." "Are you asking for my number?" He flashed me his jaw dropping smile. "Nope." "Mhm. After dinner I promise that you'll want it." "I just said I can't. So if you'll excuse me." I tried to walk past him, but he sidestepped, blocking my path, so that I ended up just a few inches in front of him. He smelled amazing. "Are you saying no to me?" Am I? "Yes." "So, it's a yes?" he said. "What? No." "Bee," he said and picked up my jacket. "You have a lot to learn. For one, you should never say no to me." He grabbed my hand.

I never asked questions. Some of the men even had wedding rings, but it was none of my business. None of them ever mentioned if they were with someone. I had assumed it, but I never knew it. Bee didn't need to know that. Finance jobs were as rough as advertising. Every man in a high level gig in this city needed to let off steam. Women had a hard time understanding that.

Women, never having "high level gigs," do not understand the need for stress relief.

I grabbed my notebook and flipped to a blank page. It was like I was living in a fairytale. This was how every girl desired to feel at some point in their lives. Something that captured this would make a great advertisement.

"Could you only afford this because of people who paid you for...services?" I laughed. She had to be kidding. Of course that's how I bought her that dress. And I wasn't sure why she was upset about it. She looked fucking fantastic. But I'd tell her what she needed to hear. "Okay," I said. "No, I'm not talking to my parents. But they're the only reason why we're here right now. They gave me the tickets." It was true. My parents donated money every year under Matt and my names. That's the only reason I had tickets. I didn't originally tell her that because she seemed to be eating up this good guy nonsense. It was a good charity. And I was glad it was under my name. I needed the good karma. "What, are you only with me for my inheritance?" Her face blushed. "No. Of course not. I just wanted to make sure Patrick didn't buy me this dress." Oh. So that's what she was upset about. She knew I took money from her ex. But Patrick hadn't given me nearly enough money to pay for what she was wearing.

I had won the whole chivalrous game. I had made her think that I was her knight in shining armor. And now I wanted my prize.