Seven Nights of Sin (Penthouse Affair #2)

Dominic

We touch down at Heathrow around dawn and take a taxi to our hotel, a ritzy affair in the heart of downtown. Once we’re checked in, I disappear into the bathroom without a word, leaving Presley to unpack and wander around the opulent suite.

With only an hour to get ready for a packed day of meetings, I have no choice but to be efficient here. I shave, shower, comb my hair, and dress in a fresh suit without paying much attention to her.

At least, I pretend not to, because I can never stop myself from noticing Presley, no matter how hard I try. I can feel her big blue eyes following me as I move about the suite.

I know I’m being kind of a dick, but the gaping hole where our trust used to be still gnaws at me, and I don’t particularly feel like talking shit out. It’s not something that can be solved with a few words anyway. Besides, I have the excuse of a tight schedule to use in my arsenal of avoidance techniques. So I continue saying as little as possible.

“Hey, Dom,” Presley says quietly.

“What is it?” I don’t look at her, busy tying my shoes.

“Never mind, you’re in a hurry. Let me know when you’re coming back, and I’ll make sure to be here.”

I give her an affirmative grunt. The last I see of Presley is her sitting on the edge of the bed, still watching me. Then the door closes, and I leave her behind, still wondering what she was going to ask me about.

My first stop is breakfast at the very posh Ramsay Terrace with a pair of top real estate agents who will pitch the living hell out of their property before taking me to view it. I order a full English breakfast with all the trimmings—I won’t have time to grab much more than a bagel for lunch—and plenty of coffee. Correction, loads of coffee, because even a first-class pod can’t negate the fact that a bumpy airplane ride is nowhere near as restful as sleeping in my own bed, near Emilia and Lacey.

That’s not the only reason I didn’t sleep well. I was too aware of Presley just down the aisle, of her beauty and our unresolved tensions. It’s too bad I couldn’t have breakfasted with her instead of chattering salespeople. If I weren’t so damn busy this week, I could have shown her around my favorite spots in London . . .

No. I catch myself. Even if my time were my own, I still couldn’t. That’s not what this trip is about. I didn’t bring her along for some fucking romantic getaway.

Still, I feel a little bad about ditching her to fend for herself. I should have at least fed her before leaving.

Oh, for God’s sake. She’s a grown woman. I made sure she knew to charge anything she needed to the room, ensuring she could take care of herself, and beyond that, she’s more than smart enough to figure it out on her own.

you agree, Mr. Aspen?” one

out of my thoughts. “My apologies. I guess I’m not completely awake yet. Can you

manage to focus on business for the rest of the meeting and the tour afterward. Which is just as well, because the location is

my phone and dial Frank, the head of Aspen Hotels’ legal department. It’s a phone call I’ve been meaning

I need you to get in touch with

takes a lot to rattle Frank. “I’ll take care of it right away, sir. In case

drawer of my desk, you’ll find a flash drive containing the virus and a folder

the employee

and at this point, I think I believe her when she says she never intended to. Just because this whole incident has scared me straight, so to speak—reminding me how important it is not to let anyone get

to

see,” he says slowly, in a tone that means

of course. But for now, call it an anonymous tip. I don’t want to punish employees

right. Anything else you

you.” I hang

down as the taxi pulls to a stop. It’s Frank. That was fast. Frowning, I climb out of the car and into a light drizzle

head under the awning of a

Champlain isn’t an employee whose employment would be easily terminated.

“I see.”

wonder the kid had balls—he’s got a huge stake in

droplets from my briefcase. “That doesn’t change things on our end, although I guess the suggestion that they

how it would. But

my cell, and leave a voice mail in case the time difference gets in

your trip,” he says before clicking

• • •

began—in a whirlwind of sales meetings and on-location visits, until twilight falls and it’s too dark to keep looking at