The Devoted Winter: BWWM Billionaire Romance Novel (Her Winter Love Series Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

he’d been such an idiot. Normally he conducted himself with confidence but with Nadiyya he’d been stumbling over his words. Lucian liked her but he didn’t realize that he liked her enough to be reduced to a bumbling idiot. He normally didn’t falter around women, even attractive ones. But Nadiyya wasn’t your regular girl next door or your desperate gold digger at the club. She was smart, beautiful and she would stand for none of his shit.
     
    He’d found her beyond attractive too. Her round dark skinned face was always glowing, despite the dryness of Vermont winters. She dressed with more style than any woman in the state and her hair always smelled of shea butter or coconut oil. What Lucian found most attractive about her was her eyes. They were a dark brown color, almost black, but they were the most expressive pair of eyes he’d ever seen. Wars were fought over women so beautiful. Plus, Nadiyya didn’t have the typical body type social elites seemed to require of the women who kept their company. She had a curvy body that softened her features and projected an aura of confidence and warmth.
     
    Lucian wished that he’d gotten through to her, but if he had to be honest with himself, he was impressed at how loyal she was. Yes, her best friend was a certified shithead who was definitely hindering her success.  But you didn’t find loyalty like that quite so easily anymore. Slade was more of a fool than Lucian thought, to risk a friendship that he clearly didn’t deserve. Lucian brushed off her harshness once he realized what it said about Nadiyya. He still wanted some way to get through to her, but he figured it could wait. Plus, if he was lucky, she would realize it on her own and he wouldn’t have to take the fall for breaking up a friendship.
     
    Slade returned from lunch to find the room tense and silent. He secretly hoped that Lucian had made the mistake of stepping on Nadiyya’s toes and found himself in hot water.
     
    Slade’s odd mood that day was because of his plan for after work. That would be the night he would finally conquer Nadiyya and make her his own. She could no longer pretend that they were just friends after what he had planned for her. She would realize how much he loved her and he wouldn’t be stuck in this prison of involuntary celibacy forever. Slade figured he would butter Nadiyya up all day, show her what a gentleman he was, then later, he would be able to pursue her like a real man.
     
    To everyone else, the afternoon seemed to be off to a typical and uneventful start. Lucian had taken charge and split up the afternoon’s work. The three were focused on separate projects around the table in the center of the room when Lucian figured he should attempt to reach out to Nadiyya after their awkward moment earlier that day. Heck, he should reach out to both of them. He realized that he had been particularly boorish and steadfast in his opinions regarding the direction of the company. Nothing a few rounds of free top shelf liquor couldn’t cure.
     
    “What do you guys say to a trip to the bar tonight? Drinks on me,” Lucian offered.
     
    “That sounds fun,” Nadiyya said smiling. She realized that this was probably Lucian’s way of apologizing for trying to drive a wedge in her friendship. The gesture was transparent, but appreciated.
     
    Slade’s cheeks reddened immediately. He saw Lucian’s offer as an attempt to thwart his plans and steal the woman he’d been planning on sleeping with all day. ‘Fucking alpha male piece of shit!’ Slade thought to himself as he stewed silently.
     
    He couldn’t let that happen. Tonight was the night he’d planned to get with Nadiyya and here this guy was trying to take it away from him. Did he think because he was some rich fuck that he deserved her? Slade felt his temper rising. Everyone around the table was waiting for his response. Slade scowled knowing that this imbecile actually expected him to respond.
     
    He replied,