Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 55599 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55599 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
“No, thanks,” I tell Dalton, looking around the table for Dane.
He was right next to me, but now there’s another player sitting there. I think his name is Banks.
Banks gives me a tight grin and says, “Hey, you’ve got a little...”
He wipes his chin and I do the same. Hell. I was drooling. In front of the same people who saw me puke so many times I lost count. This day just keeps on giving.
“Where’s Dane?” I ask after scanning every face at the table.
Banks gestures behind him. “Follow the scent of cheap perfume.”
I jump out of my seat and start the search, quickly finding him standing at a tall round table with a redhead who’s gazing adoringly at him.
“I play for them,” he says earnestly. “Those orphans, they’re...” He looks away, pretending he can’t continue because he’s so choked up. “It’s not about me anymore. I’m sure you can imagine how hard life is at an orphanage in Siberia, and I give anonymously because I don’t want any credit. The credit goes to them for”
I can’t take any more of his bullshit. I approach the table and swipe the half-empty beer bottle.
“You heard the rules as clearly as I did. No alcohol and no women.”
He shakes his head and locks eyes with the redhead. “Cassie, this is one of our team interns. She’s got some issues.”
I open the camera on my phone, seething. “I’ve got issues? You’re the one who’s gonna have issues when I send this photo to Tim.”
He narrows his eyes and says, “Fine. I’ll send your boss this one.”
He pushes a couple of buttons on his phone screen and flips it to face me. There’s a photo of me sitting at the table I just got up from, my head bowed and my mouth open as I sleep.
“You asshole. You know how sick I was on the plane, but I still have to follow you around and I’m doing my best.”
“Get back to your nap,” he says. “I’m just talking here; it’s not a big deal.”
I pass the bottled beer to a passing server and say, “Can you throw this away, please?”
“Sure.”
“That’s not very nice,” Cassie says to me like I’m a little kid who won’t share my toy.
I stare at her for a second, too shocked to speak. Her shirt is cut so low her nips are almost showing and she was buying every word of Dane’s story about helping orphans. Her insight into this situation is definitely not needed.
“It’s not very nice?” I finally manage. “I’m being paid to watch over him and make sure he stays out of trouble.”
She lights up. “Oh, that sounds like a fun job! I could do that!”
Dane grins at her. “I’m sure you’d be great at it.”
I roll my eyes, fed up with his games.
“We’re going back to the hotel,” I say.
“Can I come too?” Cassie asks Dane.
“No,” I answer for him.
Dane and I have a double queen room. It’s bad enough I have to stay in the same room as him, there’s no way anyone else is coming in.
For a few long seconds, Dane and I engage in a stare-off. I’m so tired my eyes hurt, but I refuse to look away. I won’t lose out on my promotion because he can’t keep his dick in his pants for two to three months.
Finally, he gives.
“I guess I need to get going,” he says. “It was great meeting you, Cassie.”
“Oh.” Her happy expression slides away. “Okay.”
It’s almost eleven p.m., and if I don’t get to bed soon, I’m going to fall asleep standing up. We walk back to the table, where a few of the seats are empty from people leaving.
“You need to be more subtle next time,” Dane says in a low tone, sounding irritated. “And don’t tell anyone you’re getting paid to make sure I stay out of trouble.”
That was a misstep on my part. But him telling me to be more subtle? That’s laughable.
“You want me to be subtle when you’re lying your ass off to unsuspecting women in hopes of spending a few hours in bed with them and never calling again?”
He presses his lips into a thin line, the muscle in his jaw flexing.
“We’re taking off,” he announces to the table. “Anyone want to ride with us?”
Banks and another player ride in our Uber, which ends up being a minivan. When we get into our hotel room, Dane turns on the lights and immediately pulls his shirt off over his head. I can’t help letting my gaze linger on him for a few seconds. His torso is so cut with defined muscles that he looks Photoshopped. His chest hair is dark. I force myself to look away.
Dane is sifting through an overnight bag when I steal another glance, this time taking in his broad shoulders. I can see how seducing women is so easy for him--he has the looks to back up his game.