Page 75 of Dirty Player

Serena walked right up to me, looking more like she was getting ready for tea than preparing to lose millions. I stepped back before she could do her typical cheek kisses. They weren’t the sweet ones Southern women used to greet their friends. Serena’s dripped with vile poison.

“I wasn’t. I was leaving. You’re late and I have plans.”

Her faux smile barely faltered before she concealed her surprise. And for probably the first time in my life, I didn’t explain further.

“Goodbye, Serena.”

I tipped my chin toward her and the assistant still at the door and walked out, leaving Serena behind, happily, for the first time I could ever remember.

Chapter EIGHTEEN

SHANNON

I had found the one flaw in my old building—and most especially, in my apartment. A lack of decent air-conditioning had sweat dripping down my back, making me feel nasty and stinky while I unpacked boxes almost as quickly as the movers brought them in.

A thrilling sense of excitement had buzzed in my veins all day long, making me excited and terrified in equal parts.

I was really doing this: owning my own business, moving on my own, and starting a whole new life.

One that was becoming infinitely more exciting and terrifying with the surprising addition of Oliver. I hadn’t been looking for him.

Hadn’t even wanted a man so quickly after I’d left Patrick. I didn’t think I’d be able to trust so easily, so quickly, and yet every time I turned around in the last couple of weeks, Oliver was there. Showing me he wasn’t the man he was portrayed to be in the gossip news. Showing me that the man who had graced more GQ covers than I could count wasn’t the egotistical prick he proclaimed himself to be.

He was kind. He was warm. He was rough and dirty when he wanted to be, but underneath all of it, there was tenderness to him that he hadn’t allowed anyone to see since Serena. When he called me Monday to meet him at the hotel, I’d expected to find him upset or stressed after his appointment with Serena.

Instead, he’d told me how it went, how he felt absolutely nothing when he saw her, watching her try all her stunts to keep receiving his money—which had been relayed via his attorney since he had walked out. We didn’t have sex that night. We talked.

It was more intimate than any time he’d taken me rough and fast. Over the past week, when we weren’t working, we had been together. I barely saw Beaux except for our paths crossing in his apartment. Now that I was finally getting everything from Iowa, I would see him less.

I was unpacking a box of dishes in the kitchen when two strong and familiar arms surrounded me.

Hot lips brushed my neck as one hand rose and brushed my sweaty hair off my neck.

“Hello,” Oliver whispered, his voice in my ear sparking desire immediately.

I stopped what I was doing and covered his hand on my chest with mine. “Hey. What are you doing here?”

I spun around and his hands dropped to my lower back. He dipped his head and went in for a kiss, making me rise up to my toes to meet him halfway.

“Beaux and I wanted to stop by and see how the move was going. See if you need any more muscle.”

“You didn’t have to do that. I think they’re almost done here.”

“Good. Then when they’re gone, we can break in your bed.” He brushed his lips against mine again. “I missed you today.”

I rolled my eyes playfully and stepped back when I heard more footsteps coming down the hallway. “You saw me this morning.”

“Oh, I remember this morning clearly.”

He shot me a look went straight through my body, all the way to my fingertips and toes. This morning had involved being woken up with my wrists tied to the slats in his headboard by two of his neckties. My skin was still sore, along with other parts of me that had nothing to do with a busy day on my feet, unpacking.

“Oliver.” I blushed when a loud, booming voice hit the doorway.

“No kissing my sister when I’m around! Tell me it’s safe to come in.” Beaux walked in, one large, meaty paw covering his eyes, and bumped into a stack of boxes. “Oh, shit.”

I laughed and stepped away from Oliver. “You’re such a moron. Uncover your eyes before you break something.”

Beaux grinned when he dropped his hands to his sides. “There are things a brother never wants to see. That’s definitely number two on the list.”

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