The Years Between Signing and Seeing novel Chapter 354

Chester nodded slowly. "Fair point. I saw how you handled things this afternoon... but I still can't picture you running a cosmetic surgery racket."

"Depends on my mood," Suzie said flatly.

Chester stared at her. He wasn't usually one to brag, but typically, all it took was one dinner and a conversation for him to read a woman like an open book. But Suzie? She was an enigma. Mysterious, a little eccentric, and cold to the bone.

Coupled with her effortless elegance, it was impossible to reconcile this woman with the 'maid' Jamie had claimed she used to be. You couldn't buy that kind of poise; it was bred into you.

"Can I ask you a question, Ms. Sterling?" His curiosity was officially piqued.

"Go ahead," Suzie said without looking up.

Chester paused. Why does she talk exactly like Jamie? Is everyone just allergic to using full sentences these days?

He cleared his throat, leaning forward. "Can I ask you out?"

Suzie finally looked at him, slowly crossing her arms. "First, I'm twenty-nine. Second, I have three kids. Third..."

"As long as there's no husband in the picture, none of that is an issue," Chester cut in smoothly.

Suzie pointedly ignored the 'husband' comment. She was more than happy to string him along if it meant having ammunition to piss off Jamie later. Call her ruthless, call her cold—outside of her inner circle, she had no qualms about using people to her advantage.

Chester swiped the screen, then immediately slapped a hand over his eyes, though he kept his fingers parted. "Whoa... are you always this wild? Nice body, though the skin's a little tanner than yours..." he muttered, his cheeks flushing red.

Suzie calmly pulled the phone back. "Is that man you?"

Chester blinked, processing the question. He smacked his forehead. "God, my eyesight is terrible. The only person who could pull off an expression that sleazy is Suzanne. Why would you... I mean, if you were in bed, you'd probably be—"

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Suzie rapped her knuckles hard against the desk, cutting off his wildly inappropriate tangent.