King of Sloth (Kings of Sin #4) by Ana Huang

I faced Sloane again. “A banana and coffee doesn’t last three hours. We need fuel.” I pulled out my phone, already ordering an Uber. “Come to brunch with me, and I’m all yours afterward. I’ll even go through that list of invitees one by one.”

“I have other work commitments besides you.”

“Sure, but not today. Jillian mentioned she cleared your calendar this afternoon so you can catch up on emails, and you can do that anywhere.”

Sloane’s lips seamed together, but she eventually relented. Twenty minutes later, the hostess seated us at Cafe Amelie, one of the many restaurants in the Laurents’ dining empire. I’d attended boarding school with Sebastian Laurent, and I had a guaranteed seat at any of their establishments.

We placed our orders. I added bottomless mimosas, much to Sloane’s disapproval, but hey, brunch wasn’t brunch without champagne, and Cafe Amelie was one of those blessed places that served a bottomless supply.

Outside the office, fortified by the drinks and protected by the chatter of other diners, I finally broached the elephant in the room.

We had to talk about it eventually. I would rather talk about it now than wait for it to blow up in the future.

“About what happened the other day…”

Sloane stiffened. “Don’t. This isn’t the appropriate place or time to discuss it.”

“We’re drinking mimosas in public on a beautiful Thursday. I can’t think of a better place or time to discuss it.”

Our server brought our food. Sloane waited for her to leave before she replied.

“Fine. Here’s how I see it.” She cut into her pancakes with controlled precision. “Emotions were running high, and a client kissed me in the heat of the moment. I didn’t shut it down immediately, and that’s on me. But now, it’s over and done with. Time to move on with our lives and focus on what’s important—work. Namely, my capacity as your publicist…” She emphasized the last word. “And your inheritance clause.”

Despite her cool response, a faint wash of color edged her cheeks and the bridge of her nose.

“Hmm. I’ve never heard you so verbose.” I tore off a piece of bread and tossed it in my mouth. I chewed and swallowed before musing, “Trying to bury your feelings with more words, Luna?”

“I promise, there are better places to live than in delusion.” “Better? Maybe. More fun? I doubt it.” I leaned forward, my face sobering. “I’m sorry if I crossed the line the other night. If I truly made you uncomfortable, I’ll back off, but tell me the truth. Did you enjoy the kiss?”

Sloane’s color heightened. “That’s irrelevant.”

“I beg to differ. When it comes to kissing, enjoyment is very much relevant.”

“For any other pair, maybe. For us, it’s irrelevant because I refuse to compromise my professional integrity by engaging in inappropriate activities with a client.” She stabbed a piece of pancake with her fork for emphasis.

“It’s the twenty-first century, and you’re your own boss. It’s not like you’ll get fired.”

“My reputation is at stake.”

“Your reputation is sterling. No one would dare say a word against you.” It was easy to fall back on the work excuse, and in a way, I got it. Sloane had more to lose than I did if we got involved, but in the grand scheme of things, it wasn’t a deal-breaker. Other couples in similar situations had figured it out. “Look at Eldorra’s royal couple. They had a centuries-old law working against them, and now they’re happily married.”

“I’m not a princess, you’re not my bodyguard, and they were in love,” Sloane said flatly. “It’s different.”

“Every love starts with a kiss.” I was pushing her close to the limit, but I’d always regret it if I didn’t try. Comfort was easy, but I was starting to realize that easy wasn’t always the right answer. If it were, I would’ve taken the CEO position at the Castillo Group instead of formulating an impossible plan to open a New York nightclub in six months.

Screw it. If I was going to do this, I might as well go all in. “Go on a date with me,” I said.

Her eyes flared with an unidentifiable emotion before they shuttered. “No.”

“Why not? And forget about your job for a second. Give me a real reason, Sloane.”

Her fingers curled tight around her fork. Odds were, she was picturing stabbing me with it, but I didn’t mind a little hypothetical violence. It kept things interesting.

The noise from the dining room retreated as I waited for an answer. Beneath my casual exterior, my heart fought to break out of my chest.

I’d never felt this nervous over someone, ever.

I knew I was speeding into this with no clear view of the consequences. I knew I should focus on the club instead of my personal life, and I knew I might’ve fucked up the tentative understanding Sloane and I had reached in Colombia.

I knew all this, yet I didn’t care. I wanted her too much, and I wanted this, whatever this was, to work. Even if it didn’t, I had to at least try.

She opened her mouth.

I tensed, every muscle poised for— “Sloane? Is that you?”

An unfamiliar and deeply unwelcome voice fractured the moment. Our heads swiveled in unison toward the interloper.