Yours Book 2: Gaining Experience (Yours Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

comes crashing down on me. I feel like that ugly duckling again. The one that will never be good enough,” I say as my lips tremble.
    “Baby, I’m so sorry you had to grow up feeling that way, but you have no idea how wrong you are,” Ryan says cupping my face. He runs a thumb against my bottom lip. “Do you remember when we first met?”
    I nod my head. “Brax and I were with a group of friends. Let me tell you something. Most of us already knew Kimmie. We didn’t stop to stare because of her. It was the shy girl in all black hiding behind a mass of dark hair that had our attention. Even when you are hiding Sephora you are undeniable to notice,” Ryan says and tips my face up.
    He places a soft kiss to my lips and I don’t pull away like my head is screaming for me to. He nips my bottom lip, then pulls away with a groan. He shakes his head and passes his finger across my lip once again.
    “You taste sweeter than you look. I would be trying to find you as well,” Ryan smirks. “Maybe things aren’t as bad as you think.”
    I frown and look away at the reminder of Nick. I don’t reply and Ryan doesn’t force me to. We spend the rest of the night talking and staring out at the water.
    When the sun begins to rise and Ryan walks me back to the suite I feel lighter. He kisses me on the cheek as he says goodbye at the door and I know I have gained a new friend.
    One thing I am sure of when I push into the hotel suite. It really is time for me to grow up. I will no longer let my past define me or rob from me. I plan to fight for me this time around and when the smoke settles, I will see who is still around.

Chapter 5
Face the Music
    N ick

    T hirty-five hours after the hotel incident…
    Cali
    We still haven’t located Kimmie or Sephora, which is crazy to me with all the resources I have at my fingertips. I would love nothing more than to spend the day searching for them, but my company is not going to save itself and someone is trying to get my attention. Two more deals I had on the table are looking like they are about to fall apart. Not on my watch they won’t, I haven’t given up on the deal I was looking to secure in Seattle either. I just plan to go about it a different way.

    T hey need me more than I need them. I plan to make sure they remember that. I plan to take all this frustration out in the one place I do have control at the moment. If I can’t have Sephora in my arms, then I plan to rip a few arms off to get to the bottom of what is going on in my company.
    I called a meeting with all my executives this morning to see what the hell happened with the deal in Seattle. My blood boils when I see Regina, Sephora’s assistant is sitting in for Sephora. It is just a reminder of why I am in such a shitty mood.
    I wasted no time ripping into each department head. Not one of them can give me a straight answer and I start to mentally fire all of their asses. It’s time for me to clean house. Everyone has become so complacent with their positions.
    I pay well and treat my staff better than most. I am usually not hard to work for. I just will not accept incompetence in any form.
    “I’m failing to hear a reasonable answer to my question? What the hell happened to my deal? What was in that file that changed the climate of a deal the was basically closed,” I growl. “Someone better start to give me some real fucking answers. One more person in this room tries to read me numbers and bullshit off of these pages,” I toss the reports in front of me down on the table as I stand looming over my execs. “I’m firing your ass. Try me today if you want.”
    “Mr. Lincoln,” Regina says nervously.
    “What,” I hiss between clinched teeth. I really don’t want to hear a word she has to say. I’m pissed off that she is a constant reminder that her boss isn’t here. “I…I have reason to believe that Sephora has some answers for you –,” I cut her off before she can finish.
    “What did you say,” I