Awonderful thank you to my amazing readers for continuing to support my dream of bringing sexy, naughty, delicious little morsels of fun in the form of romance novels
Aspecial thank you to my amazing editor Michele Davine who I would be COMPLETELYlost without!
Thank you to my fantastic cover designer Sarah Kil who always brings my visions to life in the most outstanding ways
And lastly, to my ARC team and beta readers, you are wonderful and I couldn’t do this without you
XoXo, Alexis Winter
Tothe man with the filthy mouth
You know who you are
If Peter stands at the Pearly Gates,then billionaire Atlas Knight stands at the gates of Hell…and I just married him.
Hard to say no to five million dollars, even if it means selling your soul to the devil.
“You’re no good for me” The words roll frommytongue just as theyhave a hundred times before The sultrytone comesnaturaltome;havingabitofalowerregisterasawomancomesinhandyasaloungesingeratFreddy’sJazzBar. Iletthe music consume me,the slow thumpofTerrance’s uprightbass keepingtime withJulio’s mutedtrumpetas Clyde ticklestheivories Ismileoverathimasthesongpicksup,hisheadboppingalongwithhisfingersashesmilesbackatme
“Ladies and gentlemen, the beautiful Miss Stella Porter,” Clyde’s smooth voice says into his microphone, a few claps echoingthroughthe room Ismile, givinga small bow before launchinginto mysecond song Myeyes scanthe roombut I alreadyknowwhatI’llfind thesamefourmenthatarealwaysheresittingintheirregularspots.Myfingertipsgentlyslideup themicrophonestand,mybodyswayingwiththemusic.
Oh, Mr. Ozanski brought a date tonight. Must be the woman he was telling me about last week.
My hand settles over his and I give it a squeeze, unsure what to say because I’ve never allowed myself to have that daydream,andeventhoughI’veneversaiditoutloud,Clydeknows I’vesharedbitsandpiecesofmylifewithhim,buthe’s neverpressuredmetoevenifhewascurious.
“The past is the past, Stella You don’t live there anymore and it doesn’t define you and neither does how you were raised. What matters is who you are now. ”
SurvivalwastheonlythingonmymindwhenIwaspassedfromhometohome,withsomedistantrelatives,somecomplete strangers Ifeltlike a brokenheirloomthatwas relegatedtothe fringes ofthese people’s lives,passeddownover the years until finally someone realized that I was no longer just an inanimate object they could ignore; I was now a burden. So at sixteen,Ihadenough IpackedthefewitemsIhadintoagarbagebagandranawayfrommysmalltowninIndianatoChicago neverlookingback.
“No, I’ve never evenseenhis face.” I playfullypushagainst Clyde but mysmile falters the second Freddyrounds the cornerintothebreakroom,hissignaturesmarmygrininplacealready
“Evening.Youtwoseemawfullychummytonight.”
“Evening, Mr. Freddy,” Clyde nods toward himbefore placinghis hands onhis knees and slowlystandingup fromthe couch.“We’rejusthavingagoodtimeisall.”HepatsFreddyontheshouldertwicebeforeexitingtheroom,tossingmeawink overhisshoulderbeforedisappearing.
“Yeah, the entire band. Lookit’s notpersonal, it’s business. They’re old and tired. Nobodywants to lookata bunchof decrepitoldmenallnight Weneedsomefreshyoungmeatinhere”
Thewayhekeepsreferringtoitas blood and meat makesmystomachchurnevenmore.“We’renotcommodities,Freddy. ThisplaceisClyde’slife.He’splayedherefortwodecadesandyou’rejustgoingtotakethatawayfromhim?”
“Idon’tknowwhyyou’vegotyourpantiesallupinabunch;you’renotfired”Hehoistshimselfupfromthecouch,tugging his pants back up under his belly. He points his fat finger in my face. “And you, of all people, should be fucking grateful becauseI’mabouttomakeyouaveryrichgirl”
His eyes drop downmybodyslowly. “Yes, youare.” He leers. “And youshould start dressingmore like it.” He turns towardthedoor.“Iwantyouherefournightsaweekandstartdressingsluttier.Showyourtitsmore.It’stimewebringinthe
Tears prickmyeyes as mychestburns. Ipicture Clyde’s weathered face, his brightsmile and the wayhis eyes lightup whenheplays Ican’tletthishappen,butIdon’tknowwhattodotostopit
“ARE YOU SURE YOU’RE OKAY?” MATILDA, MY COWORKER WHO QUICKLY BECAME A BEST FRIEND AFTER ONLY A FEW WEEKS OF workinghere,looksoveratmeasshesteamssomemilk.
“Yeah” I smile at her reassuringly “I’m fine” I’ve said the same phrase five times this morning, not only trying to convinceherbutmyselfaswell.“JustalongnightatFreddy’s.”
“Thatsounds great.” Itryto be enthusiastic butthe gravityoflastnightweighs onme. “How is Chloe doing? Aboutto graduate,Iassume?”
“Yup, she has one more semester left, thenshe plans to move up to Chicago withme Since I’ll be startingmyclinical rotationssoonandnolongerabletoworkpart-time,it’llbesonicetohavesomeoneelsehelpwiththebills.”
“Goodmorning.”Idon’thavetolookathimtoknowhe’sspeakingtome;Icanfeelhisgazeonme.EveryFriday,it’sthe same thing Ipretend to be busywhile he watches me until eventuallyhe catches myeyesightand myface flushes and my stomachflip-flops.
“He said he didn’t have plans. ‘Afraid not, ’” she repeats his answer back to me. “That means he wishes he did, so
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“No, I’mnot saying that.” I try to hide my exasperation but it’s too late, the weight of what Freddy told me last night weighingonme ThissillyconversationwithMatildajustfeelssounimportanttomeinthismomentIfeellikeI’mgoingtocry I’msooverwhelmedatthethoughtofhowI’mgoingtomakeworkingtherefournightsaweekworkwhenIdon’tgethometill afteroneinthemorningandhavetoopenthecoffeeshopatsix
“What?Why?”Sheglancesoverhershouldertodouble-checktherearenocustomersinlinebeforegrabbingmyarmand pullingme toward the back. “Whathappened?” Her arms cross over her chest, her chinjuttingoutlike she’s readyto fight someoneforme.
“He’sfiringClydeandtheentireband.”Ishakemyhead,chokingbacktears,butit’snouse.Agiantonerollsrightdown mycheekto the floor. To most people, this would just be a simple inconvenience or maybe a small bump inthe road, but Matildaknowswhatthissingingjobmeanstome,whatClydeandTerranceandJuliomeantome “They’remyfa family”
“And your life,”shesays,grabbingmyshoulders.“Listentome.YoutellthatassholethatunlesshebringsbackClydeand therestoftheband,you’renotsinging.Orgotoabetterclub.”Shegivesmethatlook,thesameoneshe’sbeengivingmefor over a year whenever ItalkaboutFreddy’s “Iknow youdon’twanttoentertainthe thought,butyoucanstill see Clyde and singatanotherclub,abetter,saferonethatisn’trunbyafuckinggoon.”
Her bright-blue eyes stare back at me, her black hair piled on her head as a few loose tendrils tickle her neck. My fingers itch to reach out and brush them away from her delicate throat. They twitch, resting on my thigh, an image of them wrapped around her throat as I slide my tongue between her plump lips
Oliverhasworkedformyfamilyforfourgenerations,startingoutasmyfather’sdriverwhenhewasbarelyeighteenyears old to now runningthe entire house whichmeans managingthe chefand cooks and the gardencrew, as well as drivingme aroundathisinsistenceeventhoughwehaveadriver,Mac,whoworksfull-timeforthehouse.He’salwaysbeenlikeasecond father to me, butwhenhe oversteps, Iwill remind himthatIdon’tneed himmeddlinginmyaffairs The same wayIletmy fatherknowwhenhewasstillalive.
The door shuts with an almost silent click. I reach into my middle desk drawer and produce the trust that Oliver was referringto AlmostassoonasIbegintoreadoveritforthehundredthtime,Itossitbackontomydeskinfrustration “Bastard,”Imutter,standingtowalkover tothebar cartinthefar corner oftheroom.Ipour agenerous threefingers of scotch,takinghalfofitdowninonegulpbeforerefillingtheglass
I have spent every fucking second of my adult life, most of my teenage life, and even some of my true adolescence dedicatedtothiscompany I’vemademoremoneythanI’lleverspend IownhousesandcarsI’llneverdriveorsleepasingle nightin.ButwhatIdon’town…amajoritystakeinthecompanythathasmygoddamnnameonit.BeingCEOofmyfather’s companyisn’tenough IdeservethosemajoritysharesandI’vedonemorethanenoughtodeservethefuckingpower Andthatiswhereshecomesintoplay StellaPorter.
ThenightIfirstsawher,IhaddrunkenlystumbledintoajazzbarontheoppositesideoftownfromwhereEleanorTate,my live-ingirlfriendwascurrentlycleaningouthersideofourcloset ThesameclosetIhadcustommadeforherayearearlier The same closetIhadstoodinjusta few hours agowhenshe lookedme inthe eye andtoldme she wasn’tinlove withme anymore Stellacaptivatedme.Herlong,blackhairwaspulledawayfromherface,herfullhipsencasedinaburgundyvelvetdress. Her pouty lips were painted bright red, begging to be bitten. Everything about her was mesmerizing. I sat wondering how someoneasbeautifulandtalentedasshewas,wasn’theadliningaclubintheheartofdowntownorashowinVegas.
Iswirltheremainingounceofscotchinmyglassbeforebringingittomylipsandfinishingit.Isavortheburn,thesweet afternoteshittingthebackofmythroat.For thelastninemonths,I’vespenteverysparesecondresearchingaloopholeinmy father’s trustbutit’s pointless Ihave until myfortiethbirthdayto marryor all ofhis shares will be released backonto the market.
“I’m tired of asking you, son, so I’m going to start demanding an answer When are you going to settle down with Eleanor?”
“We are settled down, Dad She moved in a month ago I’d say that’s pretty damn settled ” I finish the remainder of the brandy in my glass and place it back onto my father’s marble bartop.
“You know what I mean, Atlas I’m tired of having this argument with you You know damn well that I worked my ass off to make this company what it is and I’ll be damned if you don’t keep it in the family As an only child, you owe it to your mother and me. ”
“Then be dammed,” I reply, adjusting my cuff link absentmindedly His face grows redder than I thought possible, a hint of purple staining his cheeks. If he were a cartoon character, steam would be blowing out of his ears.
“This is exactly what I told your mother would happen to you if she coddled you like she did ” He sneers at me, his bottom lip curling as he points a crooked finger at me. “I told her she’d ruin you. ”
“Are we done here?” I stand, buttoning my coat. My father stares at me, his eyes glassy as he sits hunched over in his chair He doesn’t look like the same powerful man I saw eviscerate people time and time again growing up The same man who could silence a room of thousands just by standing. The same man who could financially ruin his opponents before nine a m on a Monday But life hasn’t been kind to him these last few years and if you ask anyone who knows the name Byron Knight, they’ll tell you the same thing: it’s karma.
“Dad, I’m in love with Eleanor I’m happy with her I’m not going to promise you I’ll marry her because I’m not there yet. It could come to that, it could not, but if you plan to take this to your grave, that’s on you. ” And with that, I turn and walk out of his house.
WhichleavesmewithonlyoneoptionasfarasI’mconcerned Askacompletestrangertomarryme withcompensation, of course. A simple contract outlining that they will be required to stay married to me for one year, live together, zero requirementsordesiresforanysortofsexualrelationship.ThecoldandcallouslookinEleanor’seyeswhenshewalkedout ofmylife was exactlythe reminder Ineeded to stayfocused onthe onlythingthat matters, takingover Knight Enterprises. Neveragainwillawomanholdthatkindofpoweroverme.
Ican’tkeep the smirkoffmyface atthe thoughtthatmyfather died thinkinghe’d won Ifthere’s one thingmyfather did teachme,it’sthatcontrolistheultimateformofpowerandtobecompletelyheartlessinthepursuitofit.
Between another glass of scotch and staring at my computer screen, my attempts at distraction are fruitless The only thoughtonmymindsinceshewrotehernumberonthatcoffeesleeveisStella.
Who the fuck are you kidding? The only thought that’s been on your brain since you first saw her… is her or some variation of fucking her
Thoughtslikethataretheonesthatgetyouintrouble.Thoughtslikethatwillhaveyoufallinginloveandgettingyourheart rippedoutwhile losingsightofwhat’s important.Ihave tostayfocused.She is myonlyoptionrightnow for a contractand basedonwhatI’vewitnessedofherlife,sheisn’texactlyinapositiontoturndownamilliondollarsandtakinglifeoffforthe nextyear.
So,thefactthatI’veimaginedfuckingonlyherineverywaypossiblewhileIstrokemycocktheselastmonthswon’teven beanissuewhenshesaysyes.Iwon’tletitbeanissuebecauseasfarasshewillbeconcerned,I’llwantnothingtodowith her
AfewmomentsafterMacstopsoutsideFreddy’s,IopenmymouthtotellhimtoheadbackhomewhenIseeacabstopa few feetawayand a womanemerges. It’s Stella, her longblackhair flowinginthe wind behind her as she runs across the streetandducksintothebar
Ireachforthecarhandle. What am I doing? Am I approaching her tonight with the offer or am I thinking with my cock? This isn’ta situationwhere Iwanttofeel unprepared Ineedtohave the upper hand Islowlyrelease the handle,sitting backinmyseat.“Headbackhome,Mac.Idon’tfeellikebeingsocialtonight,afterall.”
Chapter 3 Stella
The door swings open; the ever-present stenchof stale smoke and nicotine permeatingthe thirty-year-old carpet inthe entrywaywaftsupward.
There’salotmoretothisplacethanmeetstheeye,remnantsofitsdaysofglorystillpresentwiththestunningcrystal chandeliersthathaveturneddingyandgray,andthecopperdetailingonthebarhavingoxidizedmorethanadecadeago.Even a deep cleaningwould give ita facelift, butaccordingto Julio, Freddyhas snorted more moneythanhe’s ever putinto this place
Idon’trespond.Ijustgiveanodofunderstandingbeforeexitinghisofficeandrunningbackoutofthebar.Myshoulders saginreliefandIletoutalongsigh AsmilebreaksacrossmyfaceasIwalkthetwoshortblockstothetrainstation Throughthe entire ride backto myapartment and myroutine of makingmyself a cup of lavender chamomile tea while drawingabath,mymindraceswithhowIcanbringinmoremoneytosaveup.
Maybe the extra three nights a week will mean more tips IvisiblyfrowninthemirrorasIbrushmyhair
Ishakemyheadhalfinexasperation,halfinhumoratthefactthatI’mseriouslyhavingthisconversationwithher.“Mati,I saythisasnoslighttomyself,”Iclarify,knowingfullwellhowmuchshehatesmyself-deprecatingjokes.“Buthe’sliterally thekindofguywholookslikehewalkedoffamegayachtthatheownsandwasfilmingacolognecommercialonsurrounded by half-naked models. He’s not going to call the coffee shop girl who can’t even make eye contact with him. This isn’t a Hallmarkmovie”
She scowls. “For all you know, he’s knitting with his grandma right now and he saves kittens on the weekends. He’s lookingforlovebutinallthewrongplacesbecausehejusthasn’tmettherightwomanyet”Sheclutchesatherheart,hereyes brimmingwithfaketearslikeshe’spracticingforanaudition.
“You’reright.”Ichuckle.“ButI’mnotgoingtobankonit.Thatbeingsaid,ifamanwholookedlikehimeverdidaskme out,I’mbreakingmynot on the first date rule”
“Rude,don’tquestionmyabi ”Herhanddartsoutandstopsmeinmytracksasweexitthecoffeeshop “What?”Ilookupather,myeyesthenfollowinghergazetoacrossthestreetwhereanexpensive-lookingblacksedanis parked It’snotthecarthathashermouthhangingopen;it’sthefactthatMr TGIFisleaningagainstit,staringatme “Oh my God,”shesaysoverandoverinahushedtone.Hepushesoffthecar,closingthedistancebetweenusashecrosses thestreet.
“Goodafternoon”Hisdeepvoicesoundsevensexierwhenit’sdirectedsolelyatme Hiseyesarehiddenbehindtortoise Wayfarer Classics; a single lock of his dirty-blond hair that’s usually perfectly styled has fallen over one corner of his sunglasses Hisnavysuitfitslikeaglove,likeitwasmadeforhim IrecallmyconversationwithClydeabouthisfatherwho wasatailor. Now I realize why they cost so much. Themanisdefinitelywearingthesuitinthissituation,nottheother way around Hisbroadchestlooksaccentuated,histhighsfillingoutthepantsperfectly “Saysomething,”Matildawhispers,nudgingme.“Youlookinsane.”
This is crazy, he’s a complete stranger An extremely hot and very built-looking stranger but still Ifeelanothershove againstmylowerbackfromMatilda.
“Well,I’llseeyoutomorrowmorning.”ShewavesatmeandIturntofacehersothathecan’tseemyface.Iflashhermy what the hell is going on look,hopingshesticksaround,butit’snotworking.“Haveagreatnight,youtwo.”Sheemphasizes theword night eventhoughit’sjustafteronepm “Shallwe?”Ismile,restingmyhandinthecrookofhiselbowasheleadsmetowardhiscar.Heopensthebackdoorand motions for me to slide in After closingthe door and walkingaround to the other side, he gets inand the driver pulls into traffic.
“Oh”Ilookintheoppositedirection “Iactuallylivebackthatway”Ithumbovermyshoulder “We’renotgoingtoyourplace,Stella.”Heslowlypullshiseyesfromlookingstraightaheadtolookingrightatme.Itfeels likethebreathhasbeensuckedfrommylungsbeingthisclosetohim.Hetakesupspace,hislegsspreadwideandstretched outinthe backseatofthe car His woodsycologne permeates the small space thatI’mnow veryacutelyaware of “We’re goingtomine.”
Insteadofcomingtomysenses likeanormal personandaskinghimtodropmeoffsoIcangrabacabhome,Ireassure myselfthatamanwholookslikehim,drivesacarlikethis,andwearssuitsthatexpensivewouldn’triskitallforsomesilly littlenobody Then again, these are exactly the kind of rich people that get away with stuff like that “How’dyouknowmyname?”
Wesittherestoftherideinsilence Heremainsfocusedonhisphonewhilemyhandsnearlytearthroughmypursestrapas Inervouslyknotitoverandoveragaininmylap.Iwatchoutthewindowaswedrivefarthernorth,justoutsidethecity,until the car slows infrontofa large gate thatopens up automatically. The drivewaycurves throughtrees, roundinga corner and comingtoaclearingwhereamassive,almostgothic-lookingVictorianmansionsitsfarbackonalushgreenlawnthatisvery clearlyprofessionallymanicured.
“Itis”He’salreadyopeninghisdoorandgettingoutthesecondthecarpullsintoamassivegarage Hewalksaroundtomy door, openingitand holdingouthis hand to me. Ireachforward, myfingers delicatelygracinghis before yankingmyhand back.
“This way.” Atlas gestures as we walk through a long hallway with vaulted ceilings. Wooden beams stretch the entire lengthoftheceiling Wepassakitchenthatlookslikeitcouldbefeaturedin Architecture Digest,completewithamassiveLa Cornueoven.Weroundanothercornerandwalkdownanotherhallwayuntilwereachamassivewoodendoorthathepushes open “Myhomeoffice”
Office? Weird place to discuss a date. Itakeintheroom,tryingnottogawkorseemoverlyimpressedwhenitfeelslikeI couldspendhoursexploringinthisplace
DoIsoundflirty? I want to sound flirty Hell, I want to toss everything off his desk and crawl across it like I’ve seen in movies. Grab him by the tie and tug it until his lips are “Straighttobusiness,Ilikethat.Howoldareyou,MissPorter?”
Her lips part, a smile takingover her face as she lifts her hand to stifle her laugh She thinks I’mjoking, somethingI expectedtohappen.“AndhereIwasworriedyouweregoingtomurdermeorsomething.”
“Ifeel like anidiot;Ihadnoidea.Iguess Ithoughtyoulookeda littlefamiliar,butIjustthoughtthatyouweremaybea modeloroneofthosesexythirsttrapinfluencerswhodooutfitvideos,butno,you’rethemanwhorecentlyboughttheChicago Blackhawks.”
“Sexyinfluencers?”
“Youknow, the guys who show differentoutfits and do transitions where theyjump” she proceeds to hop inplace, her breastsswayingwithhermovement “andthenthey’reinanotheroutfit”
“I’msorry” She shakes her head and walks backtoward me, her delicious hips swayingwiththe movement “I’mstill havingtroublewrappingmyheadaroundyour ”
“Proposal?”Iinterject
“Yes.”Shesaysthewordslowly,realizingthatIdid,infact,justproposetoher.“Ifeelalittleembarrassed.Ithoughtyou wereaskingme ”Shelooksdownatherfeet,hercheeksredderthanever “On a date?” I finish. Her head whips upward and her eyes light up, and my stomach drops at the rapid change to disappointment when I answer her. “No, I amnot asking you on a date. I guess jumping straight to proposing might seem romantic,butIassureyouthismarriagearrangement,ifyouwill,wouldbepurelytransactional,abusinessagreement,”Isay, internallyremindingmyselfthatisexactlywhatthisis,nothingmore.
“Business agreement?” Her expressiontransforms as she struggles to understand what I’msaying “Idon’t ” Her face scrunches.“Canwestartwithwhyyouneed togetmarried?”
“Payment,ofcourse.”Ireachintomydeskdrawerandpulloutapentoplacenexttothecontractforher.Ileanbackinmy chairasshepicksupthedocumentandbeginstolookitover “Obviously,I’dexpectyoutotakethatandhavealawyerreadit over before signingit, butthe terms would be thatwe would need to be legallymarried withintendays ofyousigningthat document,afterwhichyouwouldmoveintomyresidencewhereyou’lllive,withyourownroom,ofcourse Allyourexpenses wouldbepaidforduringthattimeandyouwillbeallowedtoliveasyouplease,justnopartnersduringthattimeasthisneeds tobeseenaslegitimate.Afteroneyear,youwill begivenano-contestdivorceandyou’ll beabletokeepanyandall assets acquiredduringthemarriage”
Irunmyhandovermyjaw,thinkingthroughhowtoexplainthingsinthemostconciseway.“Basically,myfatherdidn’tfeel IdeservedthecompanyunlessIhadanheirtopassitalongto.Hethoughtthatbytrickingmeintomarriage,I’dendupfalling inloveandhavingkids Whathedidn’texpectwasformetobeathimathisowngameandjustfindsomeonewhowouldagree toacontractualmarriagewithalltermsoutlined,thusmitigatinganychancesoflove,children,orstayingtogether.”Shestares at me, unblinking, most likely shocked at my bluntness about how fucked up my family is “My father had a sick sense of humor.”Ismile,attemptingtosoftenthefuckery.
“No,notatall Infact,Ithinkifyoudidhaveacrushonme,youwouldhavegivenmeyour number,butyour frienddid becauseshewantsyoutolikeme.”Shefocusesherscowlonme.“IthoughtthatwecouldbothbenefitfromaproblemthatI have Obviously, I would get the majorityshares of the companyand youwould receive a payment of at least one million dollars,alongwiththeotherbenefitsImentionedearlier.”
somewhatnaïve, and yes, you’re right, prettymuchbroke, Ihave more dignitythansellingmyselffor a milliondollars, Mr. Knight.Sono,thankyou.”Sheturnsonherfootandheadstowardthedoorbutstops.“Actually,IhavenoideawhereI’mgoing andIneedaridehome”
“It’snotthat,”sheinterruptsme.“Hell” sheshrugs “Iprobablywouldhavegonetobedwithyoutodayhadyouoffered. And yes, Irealize youhave no interestinme like that;youmade thatabundantlyclear earlier.” She flinches like she didn’t meantoadmitthatoutloud “Imean,it’s Iwouldhavebeenmoreopentoaone-nightstandor aflingwithyouthanthis I mightnothavefairy-taledreamsaboutloveandmarriage,butIknowthatifIeverdodecidetogetmarried,itwillbeforlove. I’mnotthatjadedyet”
“I’ll give youa ride home” I want to hangmyhead and apologize to her, but the realityis, myselfishneed for her to eventuallyagreeoutweighsmysympathy.Instead,Iturnaroundandheadtowardthegarage.
Would she push me away or would she grab my shirt and pull me toward her like she can’t get enough? The way I imagine I would be if I were to let myself touch her Frenzied My hands tangled in her dark curls, the sound of her moans against my tongue as my hands slide over her hips to grab her perky ass.
Mycockstrainsagainstmyslacks,myhandreachingdowntoadjustmyselfbeforeshenotices Heradmissionaboutaonenight stand pops back into my head when the idea hits me that maybe I should seduce her; maybe this will be the way to convinceher.Ireachmyhandforward,softlypressingmyfingersagainstherwaistasIguideherdowntheotherhalltoward thegarage.
She tenses, turningher head slightlyto glance atme inher peripheral. “Allow me.” Istep evencloser to her, mychest bumpingagainstherarmasIreacharoundhertoopenthedoortothegarage
She glances myway, a slightsmile forming. “No, it’s… okay. Imean, it’s certainlya verystrange requestand honestly probablyoneofthosethingsI’llrememberfortherestofmylife,butit’sokay Iknowyoudidn’tmeanforittobedemeaning”
“AmI still allowed to come into the coffee shop or will that be awkward for you?” I flash my most charming smile, reachingoutto runmyfinger over the backofher hand Ihear a sharp intake ofbreathand once again, I’mfightingto hold myselfbackfromkissingher. Butthis, this isn’treal and this can’thappen. Ican’tgetdistracted bylustifshe does end up agreeingtothisdeal.ThelastthingIneedistofuckthingsupbybringingsexintothisdeal.
“Friends,” I repeat the word back to her, dragging my thumb slowly over the back of her hand one more time before releasingmyseatbeltandsteppingoutofthecartoopenherdoor
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Exploring the Variety of Random Documents with Different Content
receiving set in a metal case with a vertical slit eight inches by onetenth of an inch.
AIR CONDUCTOR.
The vertical wire extending from the coherer up into the air must be insulated from all other objects in the best possible manner. A bare copper wire of No. 14 B & S gauge can be suspended from porcelain insulating knobs, which in turn can be strung from each other by means of stout silk cord or even wire. There is a special form of insulator used in electric construction work, and known as a circuit breaker, which will answer and which is easy of attachment; reference to Fig. 79 will show manner of using.
Temporary grounds can be made to water pipes, but it is better to use regular telephone copper ground-plates sunk deep in moist earth.
At South Foreland, England, a mast has been erected, 150 feet in height for transmission across Channel, a distance of nearly thirty miles. At Notre Dame University, Illinois, Professor Green used a wire 150 feet in length, suspended from top of a high church tower, but was unable to transmit much over three miles, owing, presumably, to fact that the intervening country was well supplied with overhead wires, which probably intercepted the waves.
It has been claimed that earthed or grounded air wires are necessary, but balls or similar "capacities" are not of service on the top of the wire. A theory has been advanced that the currents do not pass from air wire tip to air wire tip, but are conducted by the varying strata of the earth. No general confirmation is obtainable, however, and the experimental reader will find a wide field for research in this direction. Marconi, on the other hand, has accomplished much with zinc cylinders under six feet high,
notgroundedinany respect, indeed, and he also finds it impossible to assume a proportion between distance of effect and height of air wire. The following investigations and experiments are of interest in this connection:
At a meeting of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, in December, 1898, Dr. Oliver Lodge showed that there must be a certain relative position between the receiving and transmitting circuits.
He placed on one side of a room a box, containing a battery, bell, relay, and coherer properly connected up. On the other side he had an induction coil and pair of parallel discharger rods, with a spark gap to transmit waves across the room. When the rods of the receiver and transmitter were placed parallel to each other the receiving bell was operated; when the receiving rods of the transmitter were at right angles to those of the receiver the bell either failed to work, or weakened very considerably. He also told of an experiment made to determine the influence of different methods of grounding the apparatus. He found that when the apparatus was connected by a wire laid on the ground, there was the required response at the receiving station; but when the two stations were situated each side of a lake, and the ground wires immersed in the water, the receiving instrument failed to work. It seemed to him that the conductivity and power absorption of ether wave energy by water was too great to allow of the transmission of Hertz waves. This would seem to bear out the results obtained by Marconi in dispensing with ground wires.
INDEX.
A
Acid, Chromic, 189.
" Sulphuric, 212.
Air pump, Geissler, 142.
" " Simple, 141.
" " Sprengel, 143.
" blast, 76.
" wire, 262.
Amalgamation, 180.
Assembly of coil, 22.
Attraction, Window, 154, 163.
Automobile coil, 40.
Automatic burners, 170.
Automatic burners, Adjustment, 176.
B
Ballistic galvanometer, 99.
Barium platino cyanide, 238.
Base for coil, 30.
Bath coil, 61.
Battery, Bichromate, 180.
" Champion, 179.
" Daniell, 191.
" Dun, 187.
" Edison-Lalande, 195.
" Fuller, 184.
" Gas-lighting, 179.
" Gethins, 193.
" Gordon, 194.
" Gravity, 191.
" Grenet, 180.
" Harrison, 219.
" Monarch, 179.
" Morisot, 188.
" Novelty, 182.
" Open circuit, 178.
" Polarization, 179.
" Samson, 179.
" solutions, 185, 188, 189.
" Standard dry, 196.
" Storage, 200.
" Storage, to charge, 208.
" Storage, to make, 101.
" Storage, to seal, 215.
" U. S. storage, 218.
Beeswax, 95.
Brush, Electric, 128.
Capacity of condenser, 100.
Carbons for battery, 182.
Cements, 97.
Charging condenser, 110.
Chromic acid, 189.
Closed magnetic circuit, 6.
Coherer, Aluminium, 251.
" Branly, 254.
" Carbon, 256.
" Steel ball, 258.
Coil, Failure to work, 49.
" for gas engine, 37.
" general remarks, 42.
" in series, 32.
" Medical, 51.
" Oil immersed, 33.
" Output of, 46.
" Primary, 7.
" Resistance, 40.
" Secondary, 10.
" Table of dimensions, 50.
" Tesla, 35.
" Testing, 44.
" To select, 46.
" Winding, 20.
Condensers, Aluminium, 115.
" Adjustable, 117.
" Charging, 110.
" capacity, 100, 119.
" Discharge of, 225.
" Glass, 101.
" Mica, 108.
" Oil, 116.
" Paper, 105, 107.
" Rolled up, 115.
" Series, 108.
Cone vibrator, 88.
Contact breaker, 26.
" " Adjustable medical, 85.
" " Adjustable cone, 88.
" " Dessauer, 80.
" " Electrolytic, 77.
" " Highspeed, 69.
" " in vacuo, 81.
" " Polechanging, 73.
" " Queen, 83.
" " Queen, large form, 84.
" " Steel ribbon, 80.
Contacts, Care of, 90.
Core, 4.
" Iron filing, 46.
Crookes tube, 241.
D
Dessauer contact breaker, 80.
Dielectric, 104.
Discharger, 26.
Dry cell, 196.
Dun cell, 187.
E
Eddy currents, 6.
Edison-Lalande cell, 195.
Electric sand, 189.
Electrode, 190.
Electrolyte, 213.
Electrolytic interrupter, 77.
Ends for coil, 25.
Extra current, 3.
F
Farad, 100.
Fluoroscope, 239.
Fluorescence, 137.
Foucault currents, 6.
Frauenhofer lines, 135.
Frontispiece, Notes on, 42, 47.
G
Galvanometer, 99.
Gas burners, 170.
" engine coil, 39.
" from water, 44.
" lighting, 164.
Gassiot star, 153.
Geissler tube, 159.
Glass, To pierce, 130.
Gordon battery, 194.
H
Harrison cell, 219.
Hertz resonator, 226.
Hydrometer, 211.
Hysteresis, 6.
I
Induction, 1.
" Self, 8.
Insulations, 97.
L Leyden jars, 99.
Lighting gas, 164.
M
Magnetic circuit, Closed, 6.
Medical coils, 51.
" " Care of, 62.
Mercury contact breaker, 71.
Mica condenser, 61.
Noise of contact breaker, 63.
Oil, Capacity of, 119.
" Coil immersion, 33.
" for oscillator, 260.
" Linseed, 93.
" Resin, 96.
" Spark through, 95.
Oscillator, 258.
" Clarkes, 259.
" Triple, 259.
Output of coil, 46. P
Paper condenser, 107.
Paraffin, 94.
Phosphorus tube, 239.
Photography, X-Ray, 245.
Pocket coil, 89.
Polarity tests, 45.
Pole, 190.
Polechanging switch, 32.
Polechanging contact breaker, 73.
Primary coil, 7.
Q
Queen contact breaker, 83. " Crookes tube, 241.
R
Radiography, 245.
Reel ends, 25.
Resistance coils, 40.
Resonance, Electric, 226.
Resonator, Hertz, 226.
Rheotome, 2.
Roentgen Ray apparatus, 236.
Rotating wheel, 154.
S
Series, Coils in, 32.
Selection of coil, 46.
Shellac, 96.
Signs, Battery, 190.
Soda, Bichromate of, 183.
Spark, Electric, 120.
" Choice of, 47.
Spectroscope, 132.
Spectrum, Solar, 132.
Standard dry cell, 196.
Sulphating, 215.
Switch, Polechanging, 32.
T
Table of cost, 191.
Tesla coil, 35.
" " disruptive, 36.
Testing polarity, 46.
Transformer, 5.
Tube, Insulating, 9. U
U. S. storage cell, 218.
Vacuum, Adjusting, 242.
" Choice of, 243.
" Contact breaker, 81.
" To procure, 141.
" pumps, 140.
W
Water, Decomposition of, 44.
Wax, 95.
Wehnelt interrupter, 77.
Wheel, Rotating, 154.
Winder, Coil, 16.
Winding coils, 20.
" Secondary, 10, 14.
" Sectional, 11.
Wire for secondary coil, 24.
" " primary coil, 9.
Wires, Air, 262.
Wireless telegraphy, 248.
Wireless telegraphy circuit, 250.
X-Ray apparatus, 236.
" Remarks, 243.
" photographs, 246.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
GENERALREFERENCE
Electricity, Its Theory, Sources and Applications, by JOHN T. SPRAGUE. 3rd edition.
Induction Coils and Coil Making, by F. C. ALLSOP.
The Construction of Large Induction Coils, a Workshop Handbook, by A. THARE. Illustrated.
A Manual of Electricity, by H. M. NOAD, Ph.D. London, 1859. (Scarce.)
Practical Electrics.
Sloane's Electrical Dictionary.
Houston's Electrical Dictionary.
Electricity and Magnetism, by PROF. SILVANUS P. THOMPSON.
BATTERIES
Small Accumulators and How to Make Them, by P. MARSHALL.
Primary Batteries, by H. S. CARHART.
Practical Electrics.
Electric Batteries, How to Make Them, by P. MARSHALL.
WIRELESSTELEGRAPHY
A History of Wireless Telegraphy, by J. J. FAHIE.
Improvements in Magnetic Space Telegraphy, Telegraphing by Magnetic Induction, and Aetheric Telegraphy, by SIR W. H. PREECE, S.
EVERSHED, and OLIVER LODGE.
Science Abstracts, Physics and Electrical Engineering.
The Model Engineer and Amateur Electrician.
Queen Instruments
Induction Coils capable of producing thick, heavy sparks from 60" to ¼" in length. Made in 15 different styles for either direct or alternating currents of any voltage.
X Ray Tubes which have an automatic vacuum regulating device by means of which rays of penetrating power can be obtained. Our tubes have large, clear bulbs with a great current capacity and sharp definition.
Fluoroscopes of Platino Barium Cyanide or Calcium Tungstate with removable screens. Permanent and brilliant.
F. Street, N. W. Washington, D. C. The first and fifteenth of every month.
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Subscription price $1.00 a year ($2.00 foreign), and agents wanted on liberal commission in all sections of the country and Europe. Send for sample copy. Advertising rates, as per published card, furnished on application.
Address
The American Inventor, 1302 F. St., N.W., Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
The GAS-ENGINE HANDBOOK
By E. W. ROBERTS, M.E.
has established itself as a standard of reference in GAS ENGINERY.
2,000 Copies sold in one year.
The book contains 234 pages of just the kind of information you have been looking for on gas engines. It explains their principles of operation their faults and the remedies which apply, how to run them, how to design them and how to make a complete test. All rules and formulas are simple and easily understood by the average mechanic.
"All the most essential information connected with the gas or gasoline engine." American Machinist.
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The book is published in handy pocket size 3½ × 5½ inches and is handsomely bound in flexible leather.
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