The Dating Games Series Volume One

by T. K. Leigh

  She stares at me, then huffs out a breath. “Fine.” Her expression turns severe as she shoves a finger in my face. “But you cannot mention this to anyone. I swear to god. Not one…fucking…soul. Not even Nora or Evie.”

  “Fine. You got it.” I pretend to zip my lips and throw away the key. “Sealed tighter than Fort Knox.”

  She assesses me for a moment, then nods. “Okay.” She draws in a deep breath. “Jessie York is in town and asked to see me.” She cringes, stealing a glance at me to gauge my reaction.

  “And you told him to go fuck himself, correct?” I place my hands on my hips, annoyed.

  “Chloe…” Her tone is a cross between a warning and a plea.

  “So… What? He calls and you drop everything? Need I remind you that the prick cheated on you? While you were engaged, no less.”

  “Thanks for the reminder, but I was there, remember? And I’m not dropping everything for him. He said he needed to speak to me.”

  I lower my voice. “Do you think he found out about Asher?”

  Biting her lower lip, she slowly shakes her head. “I don’t know how. I didn’t tell him, and I doubt Asher would have said anything. Not to mention, with the way his music’s been taking off, he probably doesn’t have time to think about that night. Not with all the groupies hanging all over him.” She averts her eyes, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

  When I learned Lincoln was my professor and we could no longer be together, I struggled with the constant reminders of what I could never have. I can’t imagine how it must be for Izzy to have a front row seat to Asher’s rise to fame over these past few months. Once it was announced he was the musical genius behind Fallen Grace’s new album, he was bombarded with offers. Within months, he’d signed with a label, released a solo album of his own, and is now opening for one of the top rock bands. It’s only a matter of time until he’s headlining and selling out stadiums, too.

  But despite the longing I spy in her eyes whenever Asher’s voice comes on the radio, Izzy insists it doesn’t bother her, that nothing could ever come of their one night together. Not when he’s her ex-fiancé’s older brother.

  “Izzy,” I begin, about to voice my concerns.

  “He said it was important.”

  “And you believe him?”

  “It sounds crazy, but yeah.” She shrugs. “I do. There was something in his voice that made me think he wouldn’t reach out to me after all this time unless it were.”

  “I don’t like this. I don’t like him.”

  “I know you don’t.” She runs her hands up and down my arms, reassuring me. “He could be full of shit, but if I don’t find out what’s going on, I’ll never be able to forgive myself. Especially if it has something to do with his family.”

  As much as I don’t like the idea of her seeing that prick again, I know how she is. Izzy is one of the kindest, most sympathetic people I’ve ever met. And she was close to Jessie’s entire family, until he broke her heart. Not only did she lose him, she also lost his family.

  “Want me to be your out? What time are you meeting him? I can call you after fifteen minutes to give you an excuse to leave.”

  She smiles at the memory of our old ways whenever either one of us had a date. “Thanks, but I’ll be okay.” She wraps her arms around me, hugging me tightly. “I’m so happy for you, Chloe.”

  “Thanks, Iz.”

  “You bet.” We hug each other a moment longer before she drops her hold on me, then walks out of my apartment.

  Once I’m alone, I turn in a slow circle, taking one last look at the place I’ve called home for the past several years. These walls have seen a lot of laughter, tears, and everything in between. It’s time I finally leave all that behind and start fresh.

  “You ready?” Lincoln’s deep voice cuts through, and I spin around to see him standing in the foyer.

  “Are you ready?”

  “You’ve been practically living at my place these past six months anyway.” He smirks as he approaches.

  “True. But now all my shoes will be at your place. You’ll—”

  He covers my mouth with his, interrupting me with a kiss. “Our place, Pixie.” He holds my face in his hands, his eyes intense. “It’s our place.”

  “I like the sound of that.”

  “Me, too.”

  I whisper my lips against his. “So why don’t you take me back to our place so we can christen it. Then we can spend all weekend snuggled in bed and watch the snow fall.” I pull back. “Unless you have work to do.”

  He slowly shakes his head. “I’m taking the weekend off. In fact, I’m taking the entire week off.”

  “You are?” I cock a brow, unable to mask my surprise.

  Ever since my father retired back in September and tapped Lincoln to take his place as chief general counsel, Lincoln’s been working his tail off. It doesn’t bother me, since he still makes a point to spend time together. My new position as the current affairs editor at Blush has had me working a lot, too. At least now I no longer feel like I have to work myself to the bone to get the inside scoop on celebrity gossip before anyone else. And I get to write stories with substance.

  “Yup. I didn’t bring home a single file. And I spoke with Evie. She says you can take the week off, too.” A devilish glint flashes in his eyes.

  “We can have a lot of fun with that much time to ourselves,” I say, recalling our time together in Hawaii.

  “We sure can,” he murmurs, his lips inching even closer.

  “So why don’t we go so we can get started.”

  “Always so eager, Miss Davenport,” he croons in a sly voice.

  “Always, Professor Moore. So take me back to your…our place.”

  “I’d love to.” He abruptly pulls back. “But I have a better idea.”

  I grin deviously, knowing all too well where this is heading. At least once a month, Lincoln has sent a box of panties to the office, along with a card dictating a place and time for me to meet him, usually a swanky hotel bar. It doesn’t matter that our relationship is now out in the open. We still go back to our roots, if for no other reason than to remember how far we’ve come.

  “Role-play? What’ll it be tonight? I can be a sweet Midwest girl who’s never been to the big city, and you can be a mysterious stranger who will open her mind to her darkest desires.”

  “Tempting, but why don’t we try something…different.”

  “Different? What did you have in mind? Something kinkier? I can do that. I love the kink.”

  “I know you do. But I was thinking of maybe getting away with you instead.” He licks his lips, a nervous twitch in his eye.

  “Getting away?”

  He smiles, pulling my body against his. “Yeah. Vegas. After all, in just a few days, we’ll be celebrating the one-year anniversary of that blackout. I thought maybe we can recreate our own little blackout.”

  When his lips meet mine, I moan, the idea of getting out of Manhattan and into a warmer climate exactly what I need, even if it is to Vegas, a city I once despised. But now, I don’t mind it as much. In fact, I actually like the notion of revisiting the proverbial scene of the crime with Lincoln.

  “And since I stole something of yours last time I was there, maybe I can convince you to come home with something of mine. A souvenir of sorts.”

  “A souvenir? What kind of souvenir? If it’s panties, you’re only going to steal them anyway.”

  “No, not panties.” He leans in for another kiss. “I want to give you my last name.”

  My breath hitching, I stiffen, pressing my hand against his chest. “What did you say?”

  A look of serenity washes over him. “I want to give you my last name, Chloe. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” He reaches toward my ear and, with a magician’s flourish, reveals a stunning round-cut solitaire, the band inlaid with diamonds. “I want to marry you.”

  “How did you do that?” I breathe.

  His lips curve playfully. �
��A magician never reveals his secrets.” He winks, then his expression turns serious, his green eyes peaceful and steady. “So, what do you say? Will you marry me? Let me show you how incredible you are every day for the rest of your life?”

  “In Vegas?”

  “If you’d rather something else, we can do that,” he says quickly. “Whatever you want, it’s yours. If you want a huge, elaborate wedding in the Hamptons, like Evie and Julian, we can. If you want to get married on a white sand beach in Hawaii, like Nora and Jeremy, I’ll give you that, too.” He gets down on one knee, taking my hand in his and bringing the ring up to my finger. “You deserve the fairy tale. So if your fairy tale ends in walking up the aisle while wearing a train that would rival any royal wedding, that’s what you shall have.”

  I stare at him, words escaping me as I wrap my head around the fact that this man is kneeling before me, begging me marry him. I was never one of those girls who envisioned her own wedding, not like Evie, Nora, and even Izzy, although she’ll never admit it. Until I met Lincoln, I didn’t think I wanted to get married. Didn’t think I deserved to find love. But he’s taught me I do deserve that happily ever after.

  In one swift move, I drop to my knees. He stares at me, worry evident in his gaze. Then I smile. “You’re my fairy tale. And I can’t think of a better place to start my life with you.”

  He exhales, his muscles relaxing as he slides the ring into place. The perfect fit.

  “I know Vegas is a bit…unconventional, but—”

  I curve into him, pressing my lips to his. The first kiss of the rest of our lives.

  “It may be unconventional, but when have we ever played by the rules… Professor?”

  Playlist

  Wicked Love - Sara Bareilles

  Hit and Run - LOLO

  No Roots - Alice Merton

  In My Head - Maisie Peters

  Power Over Me - Dermot Kennedy

  Anxiety - Julia Michaels

  Natural - Maygen Lacey

  Light as the Breeze - Billy Joel

  Let You Love Me - Rita Ora

  Be Scared with Me - Canyon City

  If This is Love - Ruth B.

  Devils Don’t Fly - Natalia Kills

  All This Love - JP Cooper

  Symphony - Thomas Daniel

  You & Me - James TW

  Terrible Love - Birdy

  Don’t Wanna Think - Julia Michaels

  Birthday - Maisie Peters

  Bitter Pill - Gavin James

  Let it all Go - Birdy

  Rush - Lewis Capaldi feat. Jessie Reyez

  Move Together - James Bay

  Orpheus - Sara Bareilles

  Human - Christina Perri

  Marina del Rey - Lola Rhodes

  Heaven - Julia Michaels

  Bad guy - Billie Eilish

  Ain’t Gonna Lose You - Brett Dennen

  Speechless - Dan + Shay

  More Like Love - Ben Rector

  The Greatest Bastard - Damien Rice

  Break My Heart Right - James Bay

  Our Story - Graham Colton

  You and I - Jon McLaughlin

  Hawaiian Wedding Song - Elvis Presley

  Connection - OneRepublic

  Passport Home - JP Cooper

  Mind Games

  Eight years ago, I agreed to marry the man of my dreams.

  Eight years ago, I realized I'd also given a piece of my heart to his brother.

  Eight years ago, I made the decision to walk away from both men.

  * * *

  What choice did I have? I couldn't stay with Jessie knowing the flame I carried for Asher burned just as bright.

  * * *

  Maybe even brighter.

  * * *

  So I did the only thing I could. I walked away with no intention of seeing either man again.

  * * *

  Until I step into a bar in Vegas and see a much more mature, much sexier version of Asher York, a guitar strapped to him, his soulful voice reminding me of everything I've tried to forget.

  * * *

  But there's no forgetting Asher York. And when he looks at me with the same raw hunger, there's no denying the fire between us still burns.

  * * *

  Can I look past the reason I left all those years ago for one night with him?

  * * *

  There's only one way to find out.

  * * *

  Let the games begin.

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you so much for picking up a copy of Mind Games! This is a bit of a unique book, in that it serves as a companion novel to Wicked Games, as well as an optional prequel to Dangerous Games. But don’t worry if you haven’t yet read Wicked Games. You don’t have to have read it in order to read this.

  Wicked Games starts in Vegas, where there’s a blackout. As you can expect, when the lights go out in the city of sin, all bets are off. The story in Wicked Games revolves around Chloe and Lincoln. But there’s another couple as well - Izzy and Asher. This is that same Vegas blackout from Izzy’s perspective.

  I never intended to publish this book. It was simply something I needed to write in order to start working on Izzy and Asher’s full story - Dangerous Games. Truthfully, I thought it would just be a short novelette I could give to my reader group. But what I thought would be a short story turned into a full-length novel, although it’s short for one of my novels. So I decided to publish it.

  Again, you don’t have to read any of the prior books in order to read this one, but I hope you’ll go back and check out the rest of this series of interconnected standalones. Each of these stories and characters hold a special place in my heart, and I hope they will in yours.

  Thank you, and I hope you enjoy Mind Games!

  ~ T.K.

  Chapter One

  Have you ever wondered what would have happened if Alice never saw the White Rabbit and followed him into Wonderland? If Cinderella never found the courage to walk into that ball all alone and dance with Prince Charming? If Ariel hadn’t gone to the surface and saved Prince Eric from drowning, even though everyone warned her about humans?

  One moment. One decision. One life forever changed because they opted for one path over another. It’s remarkable to think our choices have this much power, this much ability to alter the course our lives had been on.

  I’ve often imagined what my life would look like had I chosen differently. Different college. Different profession. Different love. It’s one of those things that keeps us up in the wee hours of the night, contemplating deep thoughts we have no control over, since the likelihood of getting a second chance is doubtful.

  At least that’s what I’ve always thought… Until a trip to Las Vegas for a bachelorette party brought me back to that proverbial fork in the road. One I didn’t know existed.

  “Are you girls seriously not coming to the club with us tonight?” Bernadette whines over the loud, jarring noise of the busy casino. Her bright red lips form into a pout as she looks at Chloe and me.

  When she’d first proposed celebrating Hannah’s bachelorette party in Vegas, I looked forward to getting out of Manhattan for a weekend in Sin City, especially in January. But after only twenty-four hours, I longed for the sounds and smells of New York. Now that I’ve been here going on four nights, I’m all but counting down the minutes until I can board that plane. In a little more than twelve hours, I get to do just that.

  “We have an early flight tomorrow,” Chloe responds.

  Out of the entire bridal party, we’re the only two who seem to have commitments and obligations back home. Not only are we leaving a day earlier than everyone else, we’re using it as an excuse not to have to suffer through yet another night at yet another club. A darkened room reeking of sweat, alcohol, and perfume. Ridiculously loud music. Barely any space to move or dance. It isn’t my idea of a fun evening out.

  “I thought your flight wasn’t until one or two,” Bernadette argues back.

  “We still have to get to the ai
rport on time. We don’t have the luxury of sleeping in all day like you do.”

  Bernadette opens her mouth, presumably to continue stating her case, when Hannah steps forward, wrapping her arms around Chloe. “I’m so glad you took the time to come.” Pulling back, she gives her a sincere smile before hugging me. “Don’t worry. I get it,” she whispers. “If I could, I’d be right there with you.”

  She drops her hold on me, and the three of us share a conspiratorial look, like we did as kids when we were up to something.

  Growing up, we were three peas in a pod. We lived in the same neighborhood and were practically inseparable. Hell, I remember many summer days giggling about our dream weddings to our dream guys. Hannah always fantasized about marrying a successful doctor, one who loves kids as much as she does. Now, she’s mere weeks away from marrying that successful doctor.

  “Come on.” She spins from us, looping her arm through Bernadette’s. “I’m a bit parched.”

  Several of the other bridal party members whistle and cheer as they retreat from the lobby, on their way to one of the many clubs. As they’re about to get swallowed up by the hectic casino atmosphere, Hannah glances over her shoulder, blowing both of us a kiss. We return it, as we always do.

  “Well, thank god that’s over,” Chloe exhales once they disappear from view. She starts toward the bank of elevators, her strides purposeful. “I swear, if one more guy approaches me thinking I’m a prostitute because my hair’s a different shade, I’m going to lose it. I’m not the first person to color my hair gray and lilac, for crying out loud.” She gestures to her wavy locks that fall to her mid-back.

  I must admit, it took me a while to get used to the color, knowing I’d never be so daring as to change my hair to such a unique tone. But that’s Chloe. Bold and a bit reckless. Plus, her natural shade of blonde makes it easier to do something like that. There’s not much I can do with my nearly jet-black hair. As far as our appearance goes, Chloe and I are as opposite as can be. She’s short and petite, the picture of an all-American girl, aside from her choice in hair color. I’m on the taller side with curves and olive-toned skin, thanks to my Latina heritage.