Easton: The Casanova Club #3

by Ali Parker

  I hung back behind a few people. I had no interest in fighting my way to the front to grab my bag straight away. I’d wait until the go-getters lugged their suitcases from the belt and bowled over whoever stood in their path. Then I’d slip in, retrieve my bag, and make my way out the sliding glass doors on the other side of the terminal to meet the driver that had been sent for me.

  Thank God for Jackson Lee.

  He’d kept me updated on the process every step of the way. Any time I started to wonder how things were going to play out, I got a text from him that was always sweet, kind, and to the point. He’d assured me a driver would be there to pick me up. I just had to look for my name amidst a sea of other names outside the terminal in the pick-up area. Then I would be heading straight to Easton Price’s home just outside the city limits of Miami.

  That tidbit of information had been a big pill to swallow when I stepped off the plane and took my phone off airplane mode.

  His house?

  Upon first glance, I thought I’d misread Jackson’s message. But I read it again, and then one more time just to be sure.

  Nope. I’d been right the first time. I would be spending the entire month of February in the home of a famous NFL player.

  Crazier things had happened, right?

  Like falling in love with the first man in the first month, I thought.

  The luggage carousel lit up, beeped three times, and then began vomiting up suitcases and duffel bags. The people who were already gathered around the outer edge inched closer. Girlfriends pointed out their bags to boyfriends, who assumed the task of placing one foot upon the skirting of the belt to anticipate the arrival of the bag. From there, they would scoop it up, showing off all their masculine bravado to their girlfriend who was more interested in making sure the airport security hadn’t rummaged through her bag once she checked it in.

  Once most of the crowd had cleared, I stepped up and waited for my bag. It made a full circle, and I struggled to pull it off the belt. Then I popped the handle up, turned toward the doors, and marched outside with purpose.

  I was going into this new month with confidence and a positive mindset. And I was going to try my best to put Joshua in the back of my mind. That was all part of the deal. He and I both knew what we had signed up for, and I still had eleven months ahead of me. If I continued to pine for him, this would prove to be a very, very long year.

  It was already hard enough being away from my family. I had to make the most of this. That was what Joshua would want for me. It was what I wanted for him, too.

  Although I hoped he was missing me as much as I was missing him.

  I stepped into a wall of humid warmth when the doors opened, and I emerged on the sidewalk. It was just after eight in the evening and full on darkness. Palm trees rustled along the sidewalk, swaying in the evening breeze. They were lit up by neon pink lights at their base, illuminating the trunk and the bottom of the leaves.

  I stared up at the nearest tree. It was much taller than I’d expected. And straight.

  Every palm tree I’d seen in pictures was always curved.

  I looked down the sidewalk to where a cluster of people stood with white signs in their hands, declaring the last names of the people they were picking up. Jackson had told me that a driver would be there to pick me up, and I just needed to look for my name.

  I made my way over and peered at the names.

  A young man of East Indian origins shimmied up to the front of the crowd, using his slim shoulders to squeeze between bodies. He offered me a bright white smile and nodded down at the board he held in his hands.

  In capital letters, it said my name.

  “Piper James?” he asked enthusiastically. He was well dressed in a blue suit and brown dress shoes. He had fun socks on that peeked through when he stepped forward. They were bright pink with royal blue and turquoise stripes on them. His pocket square sported the same colors but was a paisley print. His look was bold and confident, and it suited his lean figure well.

  I adjusted the shoulder strap of my carry-on bag. “That’s me.”

  He broke free of the crowd and tucked the sign under his arm before hurrying to take both of my bags from me.

  “Oh,” I said as he slung my bag over his shoulder. “It’s all right. I can carry those.”

  “This is my job, Miss Piper. But thank you. I appreciate it. Follow me. Let’s get away from all this airport craziness, shall we?”

  “Yes, please.”

  I followed the young driver across the sidewalk. He was oblivious or impervious to traffic and the cars that came to quick stops for us. Other pedestrians followed in our wake, and we hurried up a ramp to a large parking garage. We stopped at the trunk of a sleek black luxury SUV. The driver popped the trunk and placed my bags gently in the back of the vehicle before walking me up to the passenger door. He pulled it open and bowed politely.

  “Welcome aboard. I’ll have you at Mr. Price’s house in about half an hour. Please see refreshments in the cooler on the doors. There are also snacks if you’re hungry.”

  I slid into the backseat. “Thank you.”

  He closed the door behind me and got into the driver’s seat. As he started the car and began reversing out of the stall, I buckled up and peered around at the assortment of snacks displayed on a shelf built against the front seats facing me.

  It was strange.

  I’d never been in a car like this, but I supposed it was made for driving around a pro athlete who spent a lot of time in this back seat, so refreshments were mandatory.

  I went with the safe bet and grabbed myself a bottle of water. I didn’t quite have the nerve to take the mint chocolate truffles calling my name or the mini bottle of champagne, although the bubbly probably would have calmed my nerves.

  We hadn’t been driving for more than five minutes when the driver came to a stop at a red light and glanced over his shoulder at me. “How was your flight, Miss James?”

  “It was good. No crying babies. No arguing couples. About as good as a girl can ask for, right?”

  He chuckled. “Sounds delightful, Miss James. I am happy to hear it.”

  “You can call me Piper.”

  “Piper. Very well. You may call me Raj.”

  “Nice to meet you, Raj,” I said, offering him a friendly smile, the same smile I’d learned through years of working in customer service. “Thank you for coming to pick me up.”

  “Mr. Price apologizes for not being able to be here himself. He has a busy schedule, you see.”

  “I understand.”

  Raj’s smile faltered a bit, and he faced the front again. The light turned green a few seconds later, and we pulled away through the intersection. “Have you ever been to Miami before, Piper?”

  “No. Never. I’m excited to be here. I hope we spend some time at the beach. I’ve never—” I broke off and shook my head. I probably shouldn’t broadcast the fact that I’d never stood on a sandy beach with my feet in warm tropical ocean water. He might think me naïve, which I was.

  “Never what?”

  “Never mind. Lost my train of thought.”

  He met my eye in the rearview mirror. I could tell that he was smiling because of the small crinkles at the corners of his eyes. He had a friendly, deep brown gaze that put me at ease. “I hadn’t gone swimming in the ocean before I moved here either, Piper. It is a wonderful thing. I’m sure Mr. Price will take you to the beach. He has a yacht, you know? I bet you’ll go out sailing.”

  “Really?” I asked. Hearing the excitement in my voice, my cheeks burned. “That would be so wonderful.”

  A tickle of guilt hit me as I thought about how the warm weather was a nice contrast to the cold dry climate of Montreal.

  “Undoubtedly. Mr. Price likes spending time on his boat.”

  “I suppose if I had a yacht, I would spend a lot of time on it too,” I said.

  Raj took a righthand turn, and I opened the bottle of water. I rolled down one of the windows and
reveled in the warm air that washed over me. I was glad I’d brought my swimsuit and one of Janie’s spares. When she heard I only had one, she’d insisted I take one of hers and had left it out for me this morning with a note that said she loved me and wished me the best of luck in Miami.

  I’d brought the note with me. I was sentimental like that.

  “So,” I said in an attempt to fill the silence in the cab, “what is Easton like?”

  Raj didn’t answer right away. Instead, we took a couple more turns, and he contemplated his answer. Then hesitantly, he said, “He is very dedicated to his career. His work ethic and drive are impressive.”

  I nodded and waited for him to say more.

  But he didn’t.

  “What about his personality?” I asked. “What is he like? Is there anything I should know?” Admittedly, I was only asking these questions because I was nervous. “I just have no idea what to expect going into this. Any information will help.”

  Raj drummed his thumb on the steering wheel. My eyes flicked to the gold cuff links on the sleeves of his white shirt under the suit. The guy had money. That much was clear. Working for Easton Price seemed like a good-paying job.

  “Mr. Price likes to have fun.”

  Another vague answer. “Okay,” I said slowly.

  Raj chuckled and looked back at me. “If I am being perfectly honest, miss, I don’t know much about Mr. Price. Not on a personal level, at least. I drive him where he needs to go, and things between us are comfortable, but his personal life is his personal life.”

  My anxiety tripled, and I chewed the inside of my cheek. A question flashed in big neon letters in my mind. “Can I ask you one more thing?”

  “You can ask me anything you like.”

  “What do you think about him?”

  “Mr. Price?” Raj asked, playing dumb as he turned his attention back to the road as we traveled down a less busy street than all the others.

  “Yes. Do you like him?”

  Raj sighed. “Sometimes.”

  Chapter 5

  Easton

  The girl in the red dress ran her hand up my thigh. Her name was Sarah. She had blue eyes, big lips, and a body that made a guy’s head spin.

  And she was touching me.

  “What do you say me and you get out of here, handsome?” Sarah purred, leaning in close and pressing her breasts right up against my bicep.

  Will kicked me under the table.

  I shot him a glare and he mouthed the word “Casanova.”

  I groaned. “Sorry, kitten. I’m off limits this month.”

  Sarah pouted those perfect lips of hers and slowly crossed one leg over the other, giving me a brief flash of her red lacy panties. I liked this girl. She knew how to play. “That’s a pity. I was going to let you do all kinds of things to me.” She dragged the tip of her nail over my shoulder, down my arm, to my wrist. “Those big hands of yours have me thinking very naughty things.”

  Fucking hell. Why me? Why does this siren have to cross my path the one month I’m contractually obligated to keep my cock in my pants?

  I shimmied out from under her arm with a nervous laugh. Turning down a hot chick was new territory for me. “Sorry. Not tonight.”

  Sarah got to her feet and flicked her long blonde hair over her shoulder. “You have my number if you change your mind.”

  “Yeah,” I said lamely.

  She turned on her heel and walked away, hips swaying to the beat of the music in the club. She moved through the crowd on the dance floor and returned to where I’d first approached her at the bar. She caught me staring once more and gave me a sexy smile before putting her back to me and chatting up the bartender.

  “Fuck my life,” I grumbled, running a hand down my face.

  Will laughed at my expense. “You can get a girl like that whenever you want. Don’t be such a spoiled shit. This Piper girl sounds hot, too.”

  “She’s all right.”

  “All right?” Will scoffed. “You showed me her picture back in December. It takes a lot to forget a face like that. She’s hot as hell, dude.”

  Brodie dropped down into the open seat beside me. “Who we talking about? The blonde?”

  Will shook his head. “Nah. Piper. Easton’s ball and chain for the month.”

  Brodie raked his fingers through his sweat-dampened hair. He’d been out on the dance floor for the last half hour, ordering shots for any girl who grinded her ass against him. “I thought she was pretty cute.”

  I ignored them both and glanced at my watch. It was nearly one in the morning. “Where the hell is Brett?”

  “Last I saw him, he was talking to one of the servers,” Will said.

  “He told me he was going to fuck her,” Brodie added.

  I rolled my eyes. “Great. You fuckers are all getting some, and I’m stuck with a prude for the month.”

  Brodie got to his feet and clapped me on the back. “Let’s get you back home, man. Your girl has been there for hours already. I’m starting to feel bad for her.”

  “Why?” I asked.

  Brodie shrugged. “Because it’s weird, bro. She just shows up at your house, and you’re not even there? I don’t know. If I was her, I’d be thrown off. And probably pretty pissed. Did you leave her a note or anything?”

  I shook my head.

  Brodie sighed. “Yeah. Didn’t think so. Let’s go find Brett and get the hell out of here. I’m ready to crash anyway.”

  Our trio inched through the jam-packed club toward the exit and, conveniently, the bar, where there was a door with an Employees Only sign. Brodie nodded at it and suggested Brett might be back there putting the moves on the server he fancied.

  Will and I suspected he was correct, so when another server went past us, we asked her to keep a look out for Brett Daniels the football player. She assured us she would send him out if she saw him.

  Three minutes later, Brett emerged with a grin and an untucked shirt.

  Brodie laughed. “Way too close, man.”

  “Hopefully, she doesn’t get fired,” Will chimed in.

  Brett lifted his chin. “If she does, it would be worth it. Who wouldn’t risk it all for this?” He gestured down at himself.

  “Let’s go.” I glowered, nodding toward the exit.

  The four of us spilled out onto the sidewalk. Fresh air poured into my lungs, and my head started to spin. Apparently, I’d had a bit more liquor than I thought.

  The boys stumbled into me as they struggled to put one foot in front of the other. I took comfort in the proof that I was not the only one who was totally plastered.

  Will slurred his words when he tried to talk. “When the fuck did I get this drunk?”

  “All the tequila finally caught up to you.” Brodie snickered as he staggered toward the edge of the curb, leaning out between two parked cars to try to spot a cab coming our way.

  I motioned for them to follow me. “My driver texted me and said he’s around the corner.”

  “Good old Raj,” Brett said.

  The sidewalk blurred with every step I took, but somehow, I managed to find my way around the street corner to where Raj was parked. My driver was leaning up against the side of the SUV, scrolling through his phone. He heard us coming and didn’t bother to look up before saying, “Where am I taking the crew tonight?”

  “Back to my place,” I said.

  The boys hooted and hollered.

  Raj glanced up from his phone screen. His face glowed from the illumination of the white screen. “Seriously?”

  “Yeah. Why not?”

  “Because Piper is there. Waiting for you.”

  I shrugged. “She’s going to meet them eventually. Why not get it over with in one fell swoop?” I waved my arm through the air. The motion destabilized me, and I nearly toppled over. It was a good thing I had Brett standing beside me. He propped me back up, and all three of my buddies snickered and snorted in drunken amusement.

  Raj sighed and opened the back door. �
��Get in then.”

  Brett surged in ahead of the rest of us. By the time I took my seat against the door, he had already torn open a bag of salt and vinegar chips. As he popped them into his mouth and chewed obnoxiously, Brodie and Will helped themselves to bottles of water and their own chips.

  Raj pulled away from the curb as the four of us talked about the girl in the red dress who would have been easy for me to take home and the server Brett hooked up with.

  “Couldn’t have been that good,” Brodie said.

  “Fuck off,” Brett spat before tipping his chin back to pour the last remaining chip crumbs into his mouth. “It was great.”

  “You’re shitfaced. I bet you couldn’t even get it up.”

  “I bet you couldn’t get it up,” Brett retorted.

  Brodie laughed. “Yeah. My point exactly.” He nudged me in the ribs. “Poor girl, huh? Here she is, thinking she’s about to get a great lay with none other than the Brett Steele of the Dolphins, and bam! Flaccid cock.”

  I snorted with laughter. Will joined in, and I caught Raj smiling in the rearview mirror as we took a turn.

  “For the record,” Brett said, holding his finger up matter of factly. “My cock was just as hard as it should have been, and she was very satisfied.”

  “Did you do a survey when you were done?” Brodie teased.

  Brett glared at him. “Why the fuck do I hang out with you?”

  “Because I bring up our group’s IQ average.”

  Brett rolled his eyes.

  The rest of the drive went mostly like that. Brett and Brodie bickered like school girls while Will stuffed his face with a second bag of chips. I found myself staring out the window, sobering up only a little by the time we pulled into my long driveway and came to a stop outside my garage door.

  Raj hopped out and opened the back door. I slid out and stood back to watch as my teammates stumbled out after me. Will nearly faceplanted, and Raj and I exchanged an amused look.

  Then my driver pulled me aside. “I dropped Piper off here at eight thirty.”

  “Thank you.”

  He blinked at me. “You’ve left her here alone for nearly six hours, Mr. Price.”