Jason scowls, still fingering the cigarette like it’s his lifeline. “My wife doesn’t care if I smoke .”
“Yeah?” Gavin says, “Well, mine does. And I’m not going back home smelling like second-hand ass funk .”
Jason mutters something under his breath, but he stuffs the lighter and the pack of cigarettes back into his pocket .
“How’s Brianna anyway?” Kevin asks .
A light brightens Gavin’s eyes and a slight smile comes to his lips. “Pretty good. She’s having a blast raising our little man Rafe, but lately, she’s been complaining about the baby weight that won’t come off .”
Kevin chuckles. “Tara does the same thing. But I think it fits her .”
Gavin nods, a boyish smirk curling his lips. “I rather like it myself,” he agrees .
I shift in my seat, feeling slightly uncomfortable. Talk of wives and babies always makes me feel anxious for some reason. I don’t particularly have a desire to settle down with a woman and have children .
Not when my last relationship left me sour with how overly needy and clingy she was. She loved the way I fucked, but she loved the size of my bank account even more. When I found out what she was truly after, I dropped her faster than a hot potato .
Since then, love ‘em and leave 'em has become my motto. Except lately, I haven’t been doing much loving at all. I’m always too busy with my corporate security startup and helping my mom when she needs it .
In fact, it’s high time I get some action. It’s been awhile since I made a girl . . .
“So when are you going to settle down, Oliver?” Jason asks me, tearing me out of my thoughts. “You’re the only guy at the table who’s still single .”
I clear my throat. Why do we always end up talking about this shit? Can’t we just play the damn game without going into our personal lives? “I don’t know. Haven’t met the one yet .”
Kevin shakes his head. “You’re missing out, man. Nothing beats having a family to call your own .”
“I could argue against that,” I say in braggadocious tones, not letting any of my feelings show. “Being free to do whoever you want, whenever you want has its perks.” I wiggle my eyebrows for maximum effect .
“So about that game,” Gavin says, suddenly eager to change the subject, noticing that it’s something I’d rather not discuss. “Let’s play .”
Joe deals me my two cards, and I look—Ace of diamonds and the Ace of spades. I wait while Gavin checks his cards. “I’ll raise five thousand,” Gavin says .
“Five grand? Are you out of your damn mind?” Jason asks, shaking his head. “Man, every time I get a decent deal, you just slam the pot with that shit. Fuck this. I’m sitting this one out .”
“Yeah, me too,” Kevin adds, turning his hand over and tossing it in. “Two-four off suit? I’m not an idiot yet .”
Gavin’s done that before, tried to bully the little bits of the blind by splashing the pot, but I’m not taking it this time. Not with paired aces. “Ten grand .”
Joe drops the flop, and I see magic. Ace of hearts and two sevens. I’ve got a full house—three aces and two sevens. Gavin licks his lips, and I know I have him. I got exactly what I needed. He checks. I knew he was trying to steal the pot .
“You wanna raise the stakes? I raise twenty thousand,” I reply, shoving in the chips. The odds of him beating my full house are slim to none, and I’ll admit, I’d like to get one over on the former football star .
I can’t believe it when Gavin calls my bet. “Call,” Gavin says, his hands shaking slightly. Joe gives Gavin a look but shrugs as Gavin moves in the chips, and then he flips over the turn card .
King of diamonds. Gavin blinks, his eyes tight. “Check,” he says .
Inside, I grin. I’ve got him. Even if he had two kings in his hand, he loses. “One hundred thousand .”
There’s not a sound in the room as everyone looks at Gavin, wondering what the fuck he’s doing. Finally, he takes a deep breath and slides his chips into the middle. “Call .”
Joe drops the river, and I feel a sense of concern. But then I see it’s the ten of clubs. No chance in hell he can beat me, but his next words confuse the hell out of me. “Five hundred grand,” he says .
Gavin gives me a tight smile and slides the money in. Has he lost his fucking mind? “This one’s mine,” he gloats .
“Hardly,” I say with a laugh, pushing in my chips. “Call.” Gavin grins again and turns over his cards. “Four sevens .”
As soon as I see the pair of sevens, the air is ripped from my lungs .
I stare at the cards in disbelief, feeling numb all over. He raised five grand on a pair of fucking sevens and then flopped four-of-a-kind? How lucky can you be? I can’t believe it—he flopped a four of a kind. Around the table, everyone seems to be echoing my shock. Old Joe, Kevin, and Jason are frozen like statues, staring at me with surprise in their eyes .
I clench my jaw, anger rising from the pits of my stomach. It doesn’t matter though. I accepted the bet and I lost .
I get up from my seat, feeling absolutely defeated, ignoring all the eyes on me. “I’ll transfer the funds to your account in the morning,” I say, keeping my tone even, even though I’m fucking pissed with myself. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking .
It fucking sucks losing that much money, but it’s not going to break me, though it’s sure going to hurt .
“I’m done for the night. That’s gonna put me on tilt if I keep playing,” I tell them, turning to leave .
“Wait,” Gavin says, standing up .
I turn, arching an eyebrow. “Yeah ?”
Gavin glances around at the other men. “Are we done for the night? Let me talk to Oliver alone .”
Without saying a word, Kevin, Jason, and Joe get up, gather their things, and leave the room, each one casting sympathetic looks my way as they file out .
“What’s this all about?” I ask. “It’s a lot of money, but you know it’s not going to break me .”
Gavin stares at me for several moments before asking, “What if you could keep your money ?”
I frown. “What do you mean? I got overconfident and lost fair and square .”
Gavin goes silent, studying my face. Finally, he speaks up. “I have a proposition for you .”
“What—”
“You do a favor for me and we’ll call it even .”
I want to tell Gavin to go fuck himself. I’m a man, and I pay my debts. But a part of me is intrigued now, and I’m dying to see what Gavin has up his sleeve. “What kind of favor ?”
Gavin steeples his fingers together, staring at me, appraising me .
“Well?” I ask, the anticipation killing me. “What is it ?’
His next words shoot across the table like a speeding bullet. “I need you to pretend to be a friend’s fiancé for a week .”
I let out an incredulous laugh. I was totally not expecting something like that. “What ?”
Gavin proceeds to tell me all about his friend, who’s the godmother of his child and best friend of his wife, and how she’s gotten herself into a bind because of a lie .
“Absolutely not,” I say firmly when he’s done, shaking my head. I’m not gonna lie, his offer is tempting. But there’s no way I can accept it. I have too much lined up. Business meetings, lunch dates . . . and there were those repairs to my mom’s attic I’d promised her I’d fix myself instead of paying some stranger to do it. “I’m not disrupting my life and plans to be some chick’s cuckold for a week .”
Gavin leans forward in his seat. “Just think of it this way . . . you get to spend a week with a chick for over half a million dollars .”
“My half a million dollars,” I say dryly .
“Was your half million,” Gavin corrects. “And you can keep it if you just do this one little thing .”
I stare at him long and hard. His words are tempting enough, but it suddenly dawns on me how invested he is in this .
“Yo
u set this whole thing up,” I accuse. “You knew I was the only single guy in our circle. You’ve been waiting all night to try to get me in this position .”
Gavin manages to look guilty but doesn’t say anything .
I begin to get up from my seat. “I’m done — ”
Gavin reaches into his pocket and tosses a small photograph across the table. As soon as I lay eyes on it, my mouth goes dry. The young woman in the photo is drop-dead gorgeous, with beautiful golden brown hair, gorgeous green eyes that sparkles with mischievousness, and an impish smile to match .
“Yeah, so what? I was getting shit for cards and had to make a move. I didn’t expect to flop those sevens—that was a miracle. Anyway, it’s one week,” Gavin nearly purrs, watching my intense interest in the photo. “And you have your money .”
His words hardly register. I can’t seem to bring myself to take my gaze off the picture. The playfulness in her eyes seems to call to me .
When I finally look away from it, I have only one question on my mind .
“What did you say her name was ?”
Chapter 3
Mindy
“Y ou owe me,” Brianna says as she hangs a right turn. “Like . . . give me your firstborn owe me .”
I laugh. I can’t help it. We’re driving to her ranch, and it’s an amazing day. The sunroof is down on her convertible, and for the first time in months, I feel like I’m getting back to normal. With the wind rustling our hair, I feel like a woman in my mid-twenties who has a million options in life. Not an overworked coffee shop manager stuck in day-to-day drudgery .
I was a little surprised when Bri came by to pick me up, telling me we’re meeting the new mystery guy. It’s so not her style. She’s always been the conscientious one of us. And despite all my needling, Brianna’s been mum about how he looks. It’s intriguing .
“How on earth did you find someone so fast?” I ask as we leave town and head out toward the ranch. Honestly, I didn’t and still don’t expect much. After all, who the hell would be willing to do this? There’s likely not a man who could live up to all the hype that I’ve made “Harold” out to be .
“I didn’t,” Bri says with a twinkle in her eye. “Gavin did .”
I’m a little surprised. I mean, Gavin’s a friend and all, but damn, that’s the sort of stuff you don’t even expect from your sister. Actually, thinking of Roxy, she would hook me up with a guy . . . and I’d regret it .
As long as he can remember what I tell him, it’ll be fine, I try to tell myself .
“Do I even wanna know how Gavin got Mr. Mystery Man to agree?” I ask, slightly curious. I remind myself to never underestimate Gavin Adams .
Bri smiles. “I’m not even sure myself. All he said was the guy owed him a favor. I didn’t ask any questions .”
“What do you know about him?” I ask, unable to contain my curiosity .
“I really don’t know anything, Mindy. I’m as in the dark as you are. I jumped on it because, well, you got anyone else lined up ?”
I stick my tongue out at her. “Bitch, you don’t even know if he’s hot?!” I can’t help myself. I feel like a little school girl and it’s so unlike me .
Brianna shakes her head. “I have no idea. But he made it seem like your problem was solved. Maybe it’s an old football buddy . . . you could be shacking up with a stud for a week .”
“Great, just what I need. A dumb jock who thinks he’s—sorry, I know Gavin’s not like that .”
Ugh. I feel like I’m going on a blind date and I’m getting all antsy. I hate this .
Brianna waves me off. “I trust Gavin to not do you wrong. Just relax. We’re almost there .”
I’m not so trusting. We’re always joking with each other, but I hold my tongue. I mean, I did have a role in hooking him and Brianna up. I hope he remembers that .
We get to the ranch, and when I step out of the car, Gavin greets us outside, a smile on his face. Bri scoops up Rafe from next to him, tickling him and making her son giggle while Gavin and I exchange hugs. “I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for me,” I tell him. “Miracle worker .”
Gavin shrugs, smiling a secret smile that tells me he’s got something up his non-existent sleeves. He’s at home, and he’s got no problem showing off the body that made him into a football star. If anything, he’s even more ripped, if possible. “It’s no big deal .”
“So how do you know him?” I say suspiciously, getting right to the point. “Bri’s keeping me in the dark .”
“We’re good friends .”
I gawk at Gavin, alarm bells going off. Friends, sure. But this . . . “Good friends? You just asked him to be some stranger’s fake fiancé and he said yes ?”
Gavin smirks, that maddening twist of the lips that I know makes Bri both weak in the knees and ready to choke him. Right now, I’m ready to choke him. “We have an arrangement. That's all that really matters .”
I scowl. He’s really getting a kick out of this. “Well, where is he ?”
Gavin steps to the side with a sweep of his arm, giving me a mocking half-bow. “He’s waiting for you in the living room .”
“Okay.” Suddenly, I’m nervous. I was anxious on the way over, but now I’m nervous, and that’s something I never feel. I mean, not about meeting guys. Guys have been easy to me ever since I realized that the combination of my smile and my boobs usually shorts out their big brains and turns on their little brains. Problem is, I always attract the wrong ones .
I start walking toward the front door and then stop, turning around when I don’t hear anyone else moving. Instead, I see them staring back at me, Gavin still with that cocky grin on his face .
“Well, you coming?” I ask, annoyed. I get it—Gavin’s pulling a bit of a joke, but this is taking it too far .
They both shake their heads. “I thought it best that you two meet and get to know each other,” Gavin says. “We’re gonna go for a walk .”
“What?” I ask, shocked. “Brianna Adams, you’re not gonna do this to me !”
Brianna shrugs, chuckling from something Gavin whispers in her ear before turning a saucy grin on me. “Mindy Isabella Price, don’t tell me you’re scared of meeting a man ?”
I snap my lips shut. She has a point. I’m never scared of anything, especially not men. I stick my nose up in the air, turning on my heel with a harrumph .
“Fine. I don't need you. Bye, Felicia .”
Brianna laughs as I spin around and march down the hall. Despite my show of bravery, I can barely stop my heart from hammering away in my chest. By the time I reach the archway, I’m covered in a sheen of sweat. I pause at the doorway, gathering myself .
Get ahold of yourself, Mindy .
Taking a deep breath, I start to relax. I’m in control. I’ve got this .
I walk through the doorway into the living room. “Hello ?”
My breath stills in my lungs and my heart stops as the man in one of the chairs sets down the book he’s been reading and looks up .
There, sitting in a leather club chair, is God. Well, he’s not God, but maybe the dark, sensual reflection of Him . . . maybe the Devil? His coal black hair is accented by rich brown eyes that gleam with intelligence and a dark dangerousness that both chills and thrills me at the same time. He’s wearing a white shirt with bulging biceps straining against the fabric, and I can see the swell of his chest muscles under his tanned skin through the deep V at his chest. I swear it looks like he’s got a grapefruit stuffed in his pants as he sits there, his legs slightly apart like he owns the place, an amused smirk on his sensual lips .
Say something, you idiot !
I know I should speak, but it’s like a cat’s got my tongue. He’s put me in a trance and he hasn’t even said anything yet .
“Were you expecting someone else?” he asks with a slight chuckle, and I note the confidence in his eyes. The cocky curl of his lip. He thinks he’s all that and the bonus prize, doesn’t he ?
I don
’t fucking think so .
I stand up straight and walk over. His eyes follow me, and my skin pricks, my normal confidence evaporating as I get another look at him. Holy fuck, he’s hot. I sit down across from him, crossing my legs, showing him what I think is my best asset .
I gesture between us, trying to appear more confident than I feel. “I want to start by saying that I appreciate your doing this for me — ”
“Gavin,” he says, interrupting me. His voice is deep, rich, and soothing. It reminds me of the taste of smooth, delicious white chocolate. “I’m doing it for Gavin .”
A flush comes over my cheeks. “Well then . . . doing it for Gavin,” I say, still a little tongue-tied. “Sorry, this is all catching me a little off balance. Uhm, what’s your name ?”
The man chuckles, and his dark eyes gleam as he looks me over. “Oliver. And trust me, I was just as shocked when Gavin told me about it .”
I feel like squirming. He’s got me heating up, and all I know is his first name! “So, why are you doing this for Gavin ?”
His eyes never leave my face as he replies, “I owe him .”
I want to ask him to elaborate, but I can tell in his posture that it’s something he doesn't want to talk about .
“Talkative, are we? Well, can you at least tell me something about yourself?” I ask. “Have you been married? Got any kids ?”
He chuckles. “Never married, and last girlfriend was over a year ago.” He scratches his chin, and for some reason, it makes him even hotter that he’s not totally perfect. I can’t help it. I’m relieved he hasn’t been married. “I recently quit my job, actually,” he adds .
“Why?” I ask. Here it comes, the big let-down. He spends his days playing video games and wants to be a YouTube ‘star ’.
He pauses for a moment, choosing his words carefully. “I had a disagreement with my boss and decided it was time to go on my own way. So I moved here. Mom has a bad leg and needed help around the house. I wanted to help her and maybe start up something here in town .”
I nod softly. Better than I hoped. “That’s admirable .”
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