Page 42 of How to Play the Player

I nod. “Of course. Let me just discuss the landscape measurements with the security team and Marco first.”

The meeting progresses smoothly, discussing technical details about the ceremony space and reception layout. I make sure to stand just a little too close to Nathan when reviewing plans, to brush against him “accidentally” when pointing out features, to hold his gaze a beat longer than necessary when asking questions.

Each small interaction leaves its mark—the slight tension in his jaw, the subtle shift in his stance, the way his voice drops lower when addressing me directly, the subtle tent in his pants that I discreetly glimpse. I’m getting to him, exactly as planned.

“I need to capture the different lighting scenarios,” Sam explains as he checks his watch. “Jonathan and Kiera are running at least half an hour late according to their text. But that’s perfectly fine since I’d like to scout the other locations now.”

“Great,” Lyla agrees. “Why don’t I go with you then? I can give them a call for their ETA in the meantime. Quinn, maybe you and Nathan could check the garden path and arbor area? We should divide and conquer to cover more ground before they arrive.”

Subtle as a sledgehammer, Lyla.

“Agreed. Nathan? You mentioned concerns about the lighting for evening photos.”

He hesitates briefly before nodding. “Lead the way.”

As Lyla and Sam head toward the rose garden and Marco excuses himself to take a call, Nathan and I follow a stone path that winds through elaborately landscaped gardens toward a secluded section of the property. The midafternoon sun casts early signs of long shadows across the grounds, giving a slight golden glow. I feel the warmth of sunlight on my face as we walk, making me think back to our first date. How nervous I was spending time with this confident man eight years my senior, but I never felt the age gap was an obstacle between us. Now I wonder if he’d ever seen my relative youth as a disadvantage or a vulnerability.

“Give it a couple of hours, and this area would make an incredible backdrop for sunset photos,” I comment, assessing the space while acutely aware of Nathan behind me.

“Jonathan mentioned he and Kiera were considering a late-afternoon ceremony.”

I nod, making a mental note. “We’ll need to factor that into the timeline. The light changes dramatically here during that transition period into the evening.”

We reach a small clearing surrounded by rose trellises, completely hidden from the main property. I’m suddenly aware of how isolated we are, how the rest of the world seems so far away.

“I see now. There’s no lighting installed here yet since it’s pretty secluded from the main building,” I say, gesturing to the path ahead.

Nathan looks around, assessing the space. “Uplighting on these larger trees might do the trick.”

“My thoughts exactly.” I move closer to point out a specific spot, deliberately letting my body brush against his. “If guests are leaving after dark, this area could be problematic without them.”

He seems to stiffen slightly at my proximity. I notice his eyes darken before he controls his expression.Good. Suffer.

Before I can lean in further, Nathan steps forward unexpectedly, backing me against a rose trellis. His hands come to rest on either side of my head, caging me in. The sudden shift in our dynamic has me feeling a pit in my stomach. My heart races.

“What do you think you’re doing, Quinn?” His voice drops to that dangerous register that I could never resist when we were together. It’d always make me weak in the knees. Right now is no exception.

I ignore my erratic heart beating in my ears, trying to save face with a composed stature despite his height towering over me. “Doing my job. You’re just imagining things.”

“Your job, huh?” he repeats, skepticism evident in his tone.

His eyes hold mine to where it’s now difficult to breathe. One of the many things that hasn’t changed for me with him. Everything about him, especially with him being this close, is intoxicating. His scent, his heat, surrounds me, quickly clouding my senses. I struggle to keep my focus.

I try to fight the feelings. “The venue assessment is part of?—”

“I’m talking about the bet,” he interrupts, his gaze dropping briefly to my lips before returning to my eyes. “The dress, your…accidental touches, standing so close to me. You think I’m an idiot?”

I swallow hard. One minute I’m in control, and then I’m thrown off by his directness the next. I’d expected him to be affected by my proximity, not to call me out and turn it all against me.

“I have no idea what?—”

A smirk spreads across his face. “Yes, you do. Or did you forget how well I know you?” His voice roughens. Every expression, every habit, every sound.

His hand moves to brush a strand of hair from my face, his fingers grazing my cheek. His touch against my skin is so gentle, I almost don’t feel it. “Like… how your skin goes flush and your pupils dilate when you’re aroused. Yeah, just like that.”

I don’t know what I’m feeling more—aroused or mortified. He’s right, and he knows it. I try to mentally resist his hold on me, but my body doesn’t stand a chance.

No. This is not what I planned.

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