Page 33 of Brutal Sin
ChapterNine
Bryan reachedher doorstep five minutes early, bottle of wine under one arm, bags of Chinese take-out in the other. He’d made the right assumption about her wealth. She lived in an expensive suburb, her complex surrounded by manicured gardens and an impressive security system.
It got him thinking about where she got the money. It was either Daddy’s or the dead husband’s. You didn’t get digs like this on a barista’s paycheck.
He knocked on her door with a gentle knuckle, knowing she’d already be waiting after having to buzz him into the building.
Seconds later, the door opened and Ella stood before him, one hand clutching the handle as she rocked a loose grey shirt and a pair of cotton, sporty short-shorts.
“You found the place easy enough?”
“No problem atall.”
He hadn’t expected this—her no-fucks-given attire, the lack of seduction. She dressed simple. Carefree. There was no hint of her trying to impress him, and funnily enough, she had anyway. He couldn’t even smell perfume. Only the faint hint of citrus soap mingling with the Asian spices wafting from their dinner.
“Something wrong?” She frowned, her questioning eyes readinghim.
“I’m surprised, that’s all. I didn’t know what to expect when I arrived.”
“You thought you’d get lingerie and scented candles?” She nailed it with a smile. A cute, light-hearted lift of sweet lips. “Let me remind you, you’re not the stud you think you are. I get that you’re the king of orgasms in the Vault. But out here, in the real world, you’re kind of adick.”
“So you keep telling me.” He held up the bags containing their dinner. “You going to let me in before this getscold?”
“Oh, sorry.” She stepped back, sweeping her hand to the apartment behind her as if he were royalty. “I guess I was expecting you to pound your chest and demand entry.”
“Very funny.”
“I thoughtso.”
Her apartment was pristine. Nothing out of place. Pillows lined her brown leather sofa. Magazines were neatly stacked on the coffee table. The carpet had fresh vacuum marks, the furniture was polished. She had her shit together, at least better than hedid.
“Where do you want toeat?”
“Dinner table.”
He continued ahead to the open dining and kitchen area, placing the food and wine on the large wooden setting.
Ella busied herself riffling through cupboards and drawers, then came to stand beside him with plates and cutlery. “Do you think you ordered enough?” Her sarcasm was rich as she helped him place the containers in the middle of the table.
Truth was, he hadn’t known what she’d like. He didn’t even know if she enjoyed Chinese food, so he’d ordered a variety to satisfy every palate. “You can’t order Chinese without leaving enough for leftovers. They’re the bestpart.”
She nodded, buying his bullshit. “What would you like to drink? I don’t have beer, but I have some of Lucas’s scotch and bourbon hidden in the kitchen somewhere.”
“I’m happy to share the wine withyou.”
She eyed him skeptically. “Sure.”
“Something wrong?” he mocked, taking on the same tone she’d used earlier.
“Yeah. You’re beingnice.”
“How?”
“The wine. The mass of Chinese food. What gives?”
She was right. This moment escaped his typical normality, but he wasn’t willing to admit how badly he needed her to smooth things over at the Vault.
“Sweetheart, there’s nothing nice about it. I’m starving, and I need as much alcohol to get through this as youdo.”
