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The Player (The Game Maker #3)

Page 27

by Kresley Cole


  Before the ceremony, Lucía had teased me, “Make sure Vice has something old, something new, something stolen, and something blue.”

  With no secrets, our families could be themselves and meld. We already saw signs of it.

  By the pool, Vasili and Al were deep in a game of chess, Gram spectating. When Al had first broken out the board, I’d murmured to Dmitri, “It’s like Iceman versus Maverick, huh?” Zero recognition. “Top Gun?” My husband and I had a decade of movies to get through.

  And then there was melding with Benji and Jess.

  Reading my mind, Dmitri waved in their direction. “I never saw that coming.”

  They were sitting together, both laughing at something Jess was saying. When they’d first met earlier, zany, ballsy Jess had gazed up at his face and blushed. And then she’d grown tongue-tied. As for Benji, he couldn’t seem to take his eyes—or his camera lens—off her.

  I nodded. “I’d worried how Karin might take it, but she’s happy for him. She admitted she’s still lost for Cash’s father.” The fact that Walker was watching his son grow up, every Tuesday and Friday, was huge for her.

  Until she figured out what to do about their relationship, she’d decided to continue going to the park—without letting on that the ruse was up—so he could have that time.

  Down on the dance floor, she laughed with Cash in her arms, while he gurgled his delight. He looked very dapper in the tuxedo romper Mom had made him and seemed determined to flash everyone his pair of teeth.

  “I have an idea about Karin and Walker,” Dmitri said, his eyes lively. “I think we should run a little con.”

  “You grifter!” I said in mock indignation, before murmuring, “Tell.”

  “We buy the remains of his company—in Karin’s name. Yet then they’ll learn they only have so much time to right the ship before it goes down. Perhaps a fake loan coming due?”

  My eyes widened. “Forcing them to work together! You brilliant man.”

  He took my hand and pressed a kiss to my palm. “Con artistry is what I do.”

  I sighed. Being married to Dmitri trumped a royal flush.

  He was still a dream man; he remained too good to be true. But when we reached for the stars together, they became ours.

  And he was right; why did dreams have to end?

  Laughter sounded from below, drawing our gazes.

  Maksim escorted Lucía to the dance floor, twirling her around. Natalie was even coaxing Aleks to dance.

  That Sevastyan devotion shone bright.

  Mom and Dad were already out on the floor, as flirtatious and excited as if this were their first date. They were living a happily-ever-after.

  I turned to Dmitri. “Do you think we’ll be as happy together as my parents in thirty years?”

  He cradled my face in his hands, and our gazes locked. His eyes no longer held secrets, only promise. “Victoria Sevastyan, I will make sure of it.”

  I laid my hand over his strong heart. “I’m going to want this for a lot longer than three decades. I’ll want you forever.”

  He leaned down to graze his lips over mine. “What my wife wants, she gets.”

  Below us, cheers and wolf whistles sounded, and we grinned as we kissed.

  Dmitri Sevastyan had told me he would free me and give me the entire world.

  He does both, every single day. . . .

  The Master • The Professional

  Available now on Amazon

  About Kresley Cole

  Kresley Cole is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the electrifying Immortals After Dark paranormal series, the young adult Arcana Chronicles series, the erotic Game Maker series, and five award-winning historical romances. A master’s grad and former athlete, she has traveled over much of the world and draws from those experiences to create her memorable characters and settings. You can learn more about her and her work at KresleyCole.com. Sign up for Kresley’s email newsletter to receive the latest book release updates, as well as info about contests and giveaways.

  Keep up with Kresley on social media:

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  Also by Kresley Cole

  The Game Maker Series

  The Professional

  The Master

  The Player

  The Immortals After Dark Series

  The Warlord Wants Forever

  A Hunger Like No Other

  No Rest for the Wicked

  Wicked Deeds on a Winter’s Night

  Dark Needs at Night’s Edge

  Dark Desires After Dusk

  Kiss of a Demon King

  Deep Kiss of Winter

  Pleasure of a Dark Prince

  Demon from the Dark

  Dreams of a Dark Warrior

  Lothaire

  Shadow’s Claim

  MacRieve

  Dark Skye

  Sweet Ruin

  The Arcana Chronicles

  Poison Princess

  Endless Knight

  Dead of Winter

  The MacCarrick Brothers Series

  If You Dare

  If You Desire

  If You Deceive

  The Sutherland Series

  The Captain of All Pleasures

  The Price of Pleasure

  Valkyrie Press

  228 Park Ave S #11599

  New York, NY 10003

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2016 by Kresley Cole

  All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

  ISBN 978-0-9972151-1-3

  ISBN 978-0-9972151-0-6 (ebook)

  Table of Contents

  THE PLAYER

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Epilogue

  THE GAME MAKER SERIES

  About Kresley Cole

  Also by Kresley Cole

  Copyright

 

 

 


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