Playing Dirty: San Diego Social Scene Book 3

by Tess Summers

  “What’s going on, doll?”

  “Nothing. I, um... You don’t have to…” She let out a deep sigh. “Let’s just meet for lunch tomorrow at The Pier. Say noon?”

  “Yeah, okay. Sure.” He didn’t even try to hide his bewildered tone.

  “See you tomorrow then.”

  It seemed like she was about to hang up, so he urgently called out, “Cassie!”

  “Yeah?”

  “I love you, doll.”

  Her pause was too long for his liking before she finally replied, “Love you, too,” then hung up.

  He tossed his phone on the bed, then started pulling on a pair of jeans. There was no fucking way he was waiting until tomorrow to see her. Besides, he remembered Brenna had sent him a text earlier this week, inviting him tonight. He had been on his way to serve a search warrant and forgotten all about it until Cassie told him where she was.

  It would be rude not to show up to his future sister-in-law’s party after she invited him, right?

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Cassie

  She shouldn’t have told Luke not to come, but she was feeling vulnerable after her conversation with Kyle and trying to regain some semblance of her pride. Now, all she could do was feign a smile as she talked to other partygoers, all the while wishing Luke was there next to her.

  Cassie missed the smell of his subtle aftershave and soap, the way the lines around his green eyes crinkled when he smiled, his deep voice, and how he always had his arm around her waist or shoulder whenever they were together.

  Was it too late to call him back?

  With a sigh, she conceded she wasn’t that desperate. It was a big enough blow to her self-esteem when he didn’t want to come over each time she asked despite her almost begging. Besides, Kyle was right. Luke sure as fuck wasn’t putting much effort into being with her, and she was worth the effort, goddammit. She needed to remember that.

  Cooper Johnson definitely seemed to think so. He looked hot as hell in the light blue Henley, showcasing his tan, blonde hair, and blue eyes, not to mention muscles that would make most girls go weak in the knees, and he’d been eye-fucking her all night. Frankly, there was no one she felt safer flirting with than Cooper. He knew where he stood with her, so she thought he was harmless. Still, she had to admit, it was a much-needed ego boost after Luke’s rejection, so she didn’t exactly discourage him, but she didn’t encourage him either.

  Okay, so maybe not discouraging him was technically encouraging him.

  Tomato, tomahto.

  Cooper’s charm and deliberate bad jokes were at least making her laugh, something she hadn’t done for ten days. Still, when she caught him staring at her tits as they sat around the fire pit on the patio drinking, she felt a little guilty like maybe she was leading him on. Cassie tugged her neckline up as she leaned forward.

  “You do know I’m dating Luke exclusively, right?” she quietly asked him.

  “I know, and I’m trying like hell to respect that,” he smirked as he brought his eyes to her face. “Promise me if you’re ever not dating him, you’ll give me a shot. Deal?

  With a grin, she raised her glass. “Deal.”

  She knew deep down, the Marine was a good guy, and if he ever did decide to settle down for real, whoever he chose would be one lucky woman. Cooper flashed his boyish grin at her, and Cassie understood why Brenna and Ron liked him so much.

  “Glad that’s settled.”

  A deep voice behind her made her heart sing. “What’s settled?”

  Then she remembered she was mad and tried to contain her smile.

  *

  Luke

  He had to tamp down his jealousy when he stood in the doorway and saw Cassie sitting with Cooper by the fire on the patio, a huge smile on her face. His girl should only be smiling at him like that, not some other guy. Taking a second to collect himself, he made his way to them as Cassie raised her glass and announced definitively, “Deal,” which seemed to please Cooper.

  Luke tried to keep a growl from escaping his throat when he asked what they’d settled. Her panicked eyes and stuttering to answer when she turned around to look at him weren’t helping him feel good about things. He pinned her with his stare, eyebrows raised.

  “If I’m ever single, we’ll go on a date,” she sheepishly replied.

  Yeah, Cooper didn’t need to worry about that. It wasn’t happenin’. She wasn’t ever going to be single again, not if he had anything to say about it.

  Luke put his hands on her shoulders and leaned over to kiss her cheek, then came around the bench to sit next to her.

  “Sorry, buddy,” he laughed as wrapped his arm around her waist. “She’s off the market.” Her body was rigid next to his.

  “For now,” Cassie murmured under her breath. She said it so softly, he wasn’t sure if she meant for him to hear it or not. Regardless, he wasn’t letting her get away with it.

  “For always. You’re not getting rid of me that easily, baby doll,” he growled low in her ear.

  “Hmph,” was her challenging reply.

  He’d show her hmph. Holding her chin between his thumb and index finger, he tilted her face toward him and looked into her beautiful blue eyes.

  “I’m sorry it’s been so hectic. I’ve really missed you.”

  Her eyes softened, and Luke leaned in for a tender kiss.

  Cooper’s baritone voice interrupted them. “Okay, well, see you guys later. I’m going to go mingle with the single people.”

  Cassie stood up and hugged Cooper tight. “It was good seeing you, my friend. Take care and keep in touch, okay?”

  A small smile formed on the Marine Captain’s lips, and he gave her a wink. “Count on it.”

  He turned to Luke and shook his hand firmly with a smirk. “Rivas, good seeing you. Take good care of our girl.”

  She isn’t our girl. She’s my girl.

  Borrowing Cooper’s words, Luke grinned back. “Count on it.”

  Luke settled in next to Cassie again. He could tell by the way she didn’t melt into him like she usually did, she was pissed. He couldn’t blame her.

  “I promise I’ll make my absence up to you this weekend.”

  Ignoring his pledge, she blustered, “What are you doing here? I told you not to come.”

  Nobody but his command staff tells him what to do, but Luke decided to take a more contrite approach and not blurt out that tidbit. Yet. He stroked her cheek with the back of his fingertips.

  “I came to see you, Cass. I’ve missed you and needed to kiss your sexy lips.”

  Her eyes shone with sarcasm when she looked up at him. “Sure, you did.”

  “What the fuck’s that supposed to mean?” he snarled. This was not how Date Number Ten was supposed to go. This was the Tenure Date.

  “I don’t know,” she shrugged. “What’s changed? You haven’t wanted to see me for the last week and a half. Now you need to see me? When I told you not to come? You sure you’re not too tired?” She put air quotes around too tired.

  “No, I’m not too tired. I told you, I’ve been busy with work.”

  “Whatever.” She tried to shrug his arm off of her.

  That pissed him off. “I guess it’s a good thing I came tonight, otherwise, you might have gone home with Cooper.”

  Her body froze as she let out a small gasp, then shoved him away from her.

  He knew instantly he had fucked up. Shit, wrong thing! Wrong thing!

  “Are you fucking kidding me right now?” she spat out in disgust. “I’m not the one who went MIA after his alleged love confession. You don’t get to turn this around on me, Luke. You’re the one who didn’t want to see me. I’m supposed to sit home and wait around for when the desire to be with me again strikes your fancy? Fuck you.”

  She got up and stormed off to the kitchen. He saw Cooper watching their exchange with interest, but the man didn’t go after her. Which was a smart move on his part. The way Luke was feeling right now, he wasn’t above a good
fight. But goddammit, not with her.

  He followed her into the house where she was cleaning the kitchen with gusto. She heaved the garbage out of the can and tied it closed with force. He’d smile if he didn’t think it’d piss her off more if she caught him. Trailing her into the three-car garage where she was taking the trash, he opened the lid to the larger barrel for her to deposit the bag without any acknowledgment from her.

  She turned to head back to the house when he grabbed her by the elbow and tugged her toward him. She didn’t fight him, but she didn’t help him, remaining silent as the grave. He held her by both elbows and scanned her face. She was doing her best to appear bored, but he could see the pulse in her neck beating fast.

  “I shouldn’t have said that about Cooper, I’m sorry. I was totally out of line.”

  “Damn right you were,” she scoffed.

  “I’m sorry I’ve been so busy.” His voice softened, and he let go of her elbows to stroke her upper arms. “I’ve missed the fuck out of you but work really has been hell.”

  She closed her eyes tight for a moment as if absorbing what he was telling her. Opening her eyes, she looked defeated.

  “I’m the one who’s sorry. You don’t owe me anything. I know you were busy with work, and the last thing you need is me laying on the guilt trip about not seeing me.”

  He didn’t like her martyred tone. One arm slid around her waist while the other brushed the hair from her face.

  “Don’t be sorry, baby. I’m an asshole. I do owe you, and I should have done a better job of being with you.” His lips hovered over hers. “It wasn’t because I didn’t want to though,” he whispered before capturing her mouth with his.

  The worry about hiding his marriage, missing her, wanting her, coursed through his veins and poured through his kiss. He needed this woman like he needed oxygen. He wouldn’t make the mistake of staying away from her again. With any luck, the private investigator he hired would have his divorce papers signed by Monday, and there’d be nothing left hanging over his head.

  At first, she returned the kiss with fervor, but then she pushed him away, hitting his chest with her tiny fists when he wouldn’t release his hold on her. He saw the tears in her eyes, and it hit him. He’d made her feel vulnerable. Cassie Sullivan isn’t used to being vulnerable. That wasn’t something he could take lightly.

  Luke held her tight against him and murmured in her hair, “I’m sorry. I should have tried harder. I promise it wasn’t because I was regretting anything between us or having second thoughts. I was busy, that’s all there was to it.”

  He could feel her shoulders shaking as she quietly cried. He felt like such a fuck for making her cry, and all he could do now was hold her. He breathed in the scent of her shampoo and closed his eyes, relishing the feel of her in his arms. He didn’t like that she was crying, but he liked that he was with her while she did.

  She took a shuddering breath, then began to strike him against his shoulders, hard.

  “You asshole! You don’t get to just disappear on me like that!”

  Holding his arms up to defend himself, he exclaimed, “I know! I know! I fucked up, Cass. I don’t know what else to say, other than I’m sorry again.” He tentatively reached for her. “So, so sorry, baby doll. I love you, let me make it up to you?”

  She arched away from his grip and narrowed her eyes. “How are you going to do that?”

  Luke pulled her close, not caring she wasn’t exactly willing as he encircled her waist with his hands. “You’ll see. Give me another chance.”

  When she said with a completely even tone, “Okay, but only because you have a big dick,” he knew he was safe to kiss her again.

  “But blue balls,” he muttered before digging his hands into her hair and drawing her face to his.

  *

  Cassie

  Luke’s aforementioned big dick was pressed against her stomach as he continued to kiss her. She could sense his relief when he possessively held her tight against him. He seemed like he was genuinely worried about losing her.

  As he lifted her up under her ass, she wrapped her legs around him, and he walked out the side door of the garage and proceeded straight to his car, only pausing to get the fob out of his pocket and unlock the doors before gingerly depositing her in the passenger seat.

  “We’ll get your car tomorrow.”

  “I need to send Brenna a text. I don’t want her to worry.”

  He nodded, closed the door, and came around the front of the car so she could continue.

  “Except I don’t have my phone.”

  Cassie opened her door, and before Luke had a chance to object, got out and made a beeline for the front door of the beach house. He could make it up to her after she’d properly said goodbye to everyone. Besides, it felt like she gave in too easily. She didn’t want him to think she was a pushover, even though she was one when it came to Luke Rivas. How he did it, she wasn’t sure. His green eyes must contain some magic in them.

  She forgave him the second his deep voice said he was sorry. Actually, it was relief more than forgiveness she was feeling. He still wanted to be with her, and she was thankful.

  Thankful?

  What. The. Fuck.

  He totally blew her off for the past eleven days, and she felt gratitude because he still wanted her when he finally decided to show up?

  His palm was firmly planted against the small of her back as they walked back into the party through the front door. His commanding presence next to her made her feel safe, and she admitted it, his apology was what her heart needed to hear.

  He whispered in her ear, “Hurry and get your things, doll, I need to hold you.”

  At that moment, Cassie felt so wanted and loved by him. She was happy, giddy even, and conceded, yes, she was grateful he was a part of her life.

  But she was going to make him wait. Not necessarily suffer, but she wasn’t rolling over that easily.

  Maybe Luke Rivas was finally going to know what it was like to beg.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Luke

  Instead of collecting her things and leaving, Cassie dragged Luke by the hand to introduce him to everyone she knew at the party. A man he recognized as baseball legend, Kyle Montgomery lit up with a broad smile when they approached him.

  Cassie tried talking baseball, but he didn’t seem interested in chatting about the sport that made him famous. Instead, he focused his attention on Luke, going from pleasant gentleman to overprotective big brother in a heartbeat, eyeing him up and down as he took a swig of beer.

  “So, Cass says you’ve been too busy to call her this week.” It was a statement, not a question, and one that dripped with censure. Disapproval was not something Luke was used to, personally or professionally, but the retired shortstop was giving it to him in spades.

  The little smile she was unsuccessfully trying to suppress seemed to indicate Cassie loved it. He was going to spank her little ass pink for this later.

  “It was a pretty shitty week for SWAT, no doubt, but I should’ve done a better job of making time for my girl.” He drew her close. “I definitely fucked up, but it won’t happen again.” He bit his tongue when he almost called Kyle, sir. The look on Kyle’s face made Luke feel like he was being reprimanded by one of his commanding officers in the Marines. Fortunately, like his COs, Kyle appreciated Luke’s honesty and willingness to own his mistakes, so the man lightened up. They ended up having a great conversation about San Diego politics, and the things Luke had to endure as a police officer.

  Cassie excused herself to go talk with ladies she knew. Before unwrapping his arm from around her waist, Luke squeezed her hip, a warning she was in trouble later. Hearing her giggle as she walked off, he wondered, was it really punishment if she looked forward to it?

  He couldn’t wait to find out.

  Luke found her in the kitchen, alone, refilling her wine glass. Running his hand discreetly over her ass as he came up behind her, he whispered, “Are you alm
ost ready to go?”

  She gave a mischievous smile. “Almost.”

  He crowded her into the corner of the cabinets, pressing his erection against her. “You’re playing with fire, doll.”

  His cocky little minx just grinned. “I seem to recall you’ve told me that before.”

  “Little girl…” he growled.

  “Yes?” she asked sweetly.

  “You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into, baby.” His tone was ominous.

  Cassie traced her index finger across his chest. “Oh, on the contrary. I think I do.”

  “You sure about that?” He grazed his thumb over a diamond-pointed nipple jutting out from under the big red A on her t-shirt.

  Her whimper made his cock so hard, it was going to punch a hole through his zipper. He hovered his mouth over hers and murmured, “The things I’m going to do to you when I get you home, baby doll…”

  She kissed his cheek and skimmed her fingertips in a circular motion around the hair at his neckline. Standing on her tiptoes, she pressed her tits against his chest, and breathed in his ear, “Promise?”

  Luke sucked a breath through his teeth. With his hands on her hips, he held her tight against him and whispered back, “Can we go now? Please?”

  A satisfied grin spread across her beautiful, heart-shaped face, and she teased, “Since you asked me so nicely.”

  He bent down and kissed her mouth without hesitation, tangling his fingers in her silky hair and tugging it into his fist. She clung to his neck and pulled him closer. The urgent way she returned his kiss was dizzying.

  “Alright, alright. Get a room already.”

  They broke apart at the sound of Brenna’s voice chastising them. Looking at Cassie’s sister with her hands on her hips and an eyebrow raised, but a small grin on her face, made him chuckle with embarrassment.

  Cassie peeked over his shoulder at her sibling. “Like you have any room to talk.”

  “Okay, I’ll give you that.” Brenna grinned like only a newlywed can. “But we behave in other people’s homes!”

  “That’s only because you two never leave your house!”