Chapter 3 The Pick Up

Selene

I am totally in love with this car.

The way the engine growls and responds to my touch, the smooth glide of gears as I push it through traffic, the way people double-take when they see me behind the wheel of a sleek black Corvette—it’s intoxicating. A far cry from my trusty old Subaru. I chuckle to myself, feeling just a touch too sexy for a Friday afternoon.

My music thumps through the speakers, bass vibrating in sync with my pulse as I race through the last stretch of highway . I know I’m speeding—definitely not what the signs suggest—but I don’t care. This beast was made to run, and I’ve got just enough adrenaline to match its pace.

As the airport looms into view, I reluctantly ease off the gas and start scanning for parking. Ugh, back to reality. I find a decent spot, cut the engine, and sit for a moment, the silence in the car feeling oddly loud now that the engine’s off.

I grab the placard from the passenger seat—the one Mary printed for me with “ADRIAN REED” in bold black letters—and toss it under my arm. With a sigh, I slide out of the car and head toward the terminal. His flight just landed, so I figure I’ve got time for a quick smoke before I play chauffeur.

I duck behind one of the pillars outside the arrivals gate, light up, and take a long, satisfying drag. God, I needed that.

My thoughts wander as I exhale a cloud of smoke.

Jonathan didn’t even apologize for hijacking my weekend. Typical. Just dropped this on me like I had no plans of my own. Sure, he bribed me with the promise of a promotion and stuffed an envelope full of hundreds in my hand—but still. A days warning would’ve been nice. I’m not too happy about having to baby sit his brother, but I can do this and I get that promotion and some spending money .

I roll my eyes. Hopefully this Adrian guy isn’t some pompous, entitled rich prick who expects me to babysit him like some paid escort. If he even so much as hints at anything sleazy, I swear I’ll—

But then again… if he’s hot, a little charm might not be the worst thing. It’s been months since I’ve had anything close to a date, let alone something steamy. My job has swallowed my social life whole, and lately, my only action has come from a few well-written smutty novels and my arsenal.of vibrators & dildos.

I take another drag and frown to myself. My weekend was supposed to be filled with nothing but snacks, wine, and the latest volumes of Clash of the Doms and Netflix in no particular order. I’ve been dying to dive into that series—dark, seductive, full of power play and red rooms of pleasure. Just the kind of fantasy escape I crave.

Vanilla sex? Please. That gets old fast.

Give me blindfolds, whispered orders, and a man who knows how to take control and relinquish it when I command . I like my edges blurred and my senses teased. Maybe that’s why I’m still single—too few men can match the fantasy.

I flick my cigarette and crush it under my heel, tugging my top back into place before heading inside.

The terminal is packed--of course—families reuniting, business types checking watches, tourists looking lost. I move through the crowd, heels clicking with confidence, until I reach the arrivals gate and take my position.

I hold up the placard, the name ADRIAN REED printed in black like I'm some chauffeur . I glance around casually, trying to look interested, but my mind’s a million miles away—specifically, wrapped in silk ropes and whispers.

I really should’ve asked Jonathan what Adrian looked like. Does he resemble his older brother? Jonathan is attractive, in that clean-cut, CEO sort of way. Tall, with a strong jaw, salt-and-pepper hair. He’s charming as hell when he wants to be, and he knows it.

But Adrian… I've got no clue as to what he looks like.

I stifle a yawn, trying not to look as bored as I feel. I hope he finds me. I’m too damn tired to scan every man that walks past with a suitcase.

Just as that thought crosses my mind, I spot someone—and my heart stutters.

Tall. Broad shoulders. Confident stride. Designer duffel slung casually over one arm. Dark jeans hugging powerful thighs. A deep blue button-down that stretches across a chest built like a linebacker . And he moves like he owns the air around him.

Oh. My. God.

My eyes trail up the lines of his body slowly, soaking him in without shame. His features are strong, masculine, full lips, eyes sharp and dark blue from what I can make out at this distance. His five o’clock shadow gives him that dangerous edge that hits me right in the gut and my neither regions.

He’s… magnetic.

I feel heat bloom low in my belly, and before I can second-guess myself, he looks up—and our eyes lock.

A slow, wicked smile creeps across his lips. Like he knows I’ve been checking him out. Like he’s inviting me to keep going.

Oh, this man is trouble. Did I mention I like a certain kind of trouble ? This is the kind of trouble I rather thrive on .

And instead of looking away like a sane, respectable professional woman, I hold his gaze. I tilt my chin slightly and give him a wink, a knowing smirk curling on my lips.

His brows lift, amused.

I suddenly realize—I’m still holding the placard. ADRIAN REED in big, bold letters. My pulse skips.

Is this him?

Did I just mentally undress my boss’s little brother?

If this man is Adrian, then I am in for a long, dangerous weekend.

And I don’t hate it.

He starts walking toward me, that confident smirk never leaving his face. My fingers tighten slightly around the edge of the placard as he gets closer. The scent of his cologne hits me before he even speaks—rich, spicy, addictive.

Please be him. Please be him.

He stops just a step in front of me, his eyes dropping to the sign, then returning to mine.

“You must be Selene,” he says, voice smooth like velvet with just the faintest rasp.

I give him my best professional smile, which still ends up looking more like a flirt. “That depends. Youre Adrian?”

He chuckles, eyes raking over me slowly. “Guilty as charged, and willing and ready to pay the fine.”

“Well then,” I say, lowering the placard. “Welcome to Denver… Mr. Reed.”

His grin deepens.

“I think I’m going to enjoy this trip immensely and please it's just Adrian, Mr Reed is my dad."