Page 2 of The Games We Play

Fucking great.

My fist clenches tightly around the strap of my bag as I step toward him. I don’t have friends here, so getting into a fight with an idiot whose maturity level rivals a five-year-old doesn’t sound like the smartest idea, but I won’t be the new guy that everyone uses as a punching bag.

My dad already does that.

Neither of the guys are too big. One is roughly my same height, sitting at about 5 '11, the other just slightly shorter. Although, the shorter one is heavier than both of us by at least forty pounds.

I open my mouth to reply when I feel a hand wrap around my bicep, giving me a slight tug in the other direction.

“I see the year hasn’t done anything for your maturitylevels.” Her voice is soft like velvet, but the sharp tone of irritation is obvious.

My neck swivels down to her hand, then trails up slowly. My gaze moves from her dainty wrist and olive skin—that looks freshly sunkissed—up to her collarbone and smooth neckline, and over the contours of the most beautiful face I’ve ever seen.

Her dark chocolate eyes meet mine, and they’re the kind you get lost in, the kind that pulls you in and traps you unknowingly, but willingly. Her midnight hair compliments her gorgeous, almond-shaped eyes, and I’m officially speechless.

A confident smile spreads over her lips, and I can’t help but mirror it.

“Come on, Seamus, I need help finding my cabin.” She says my name perfectly, and it sounds like my new favorite song that I’d like to play on repeat forever.

“Hey!” the guys call out. “We were just messing around. He’s totally one of us, tell her, dude.” He points at me, begging with his eyes, like I’m actually going to save him right now.

Lifting a shoulder, I shrug with a matching one sided smirk, then turn to follow the goddess currently residing on my arm toward the bungalows.

“Every year those guys find someone to pick on,” she says as she leads us away from the check-in chaos. “They’re so annoying,” she adds.

“You were behind me and couldn’t see my name tag. How did you know my name?” I’m instantly irritated with myself realizing that is the first thing I’ve said to her.

“I heard you when you checked in—sounding out your name. Plus, my grandfather's name was Seamus. He was my grandfather on my mom’s side. He died before I was born, but we have a big Irish family, so I’m familiar with the name.” She smiles as she turns to look at me.

“You’re Irish?” I ask with skepticism, because I’m full-blooded Irish, and she doesn’t lookjustIrish.

“My dad is Japanese, so I’m half, officially.” She smiles again, and I’m already half in love with her. “I’m Mimi.”

1

SEAMUS

Present Day

“Miller, check in?” I ask into my two-way radio.

“South exit is clear—” His words are mumbled, and there is a pause as he smacks his lips. Rocco side-eyes me from his position at the front entrance.

“Are you eating a lollipop?” Rocco asks through his headset.

“Shit,” Miller whispers. “I was hungry… and bored. There is no action back here.”

Both Rocco and Miller are guys from my squad. When we served together, it became a tradition to celebrate a successful op or mission anyway we could.

You could never predict what could happen, and since we didn’t have much, a candy nightcap was what we did. It was something we all looked forward to, because it meant we were all still breathing.

Old habits die hard I suppose, because we still celebrate the end of each night when we work together. Even now, retired from service, working for my security company that I built specifically for events like the one we’re overseeing tonight.

“Put the lollipop down,” Rocco threatens, “those have a purpose.”

“Fine,” Miller whines out as he grunts, clearing his throat as he repeats himself. “South exit is clear, sir.”

I glance around at the crowd, congregating at the front entrance of Afterburn. We expected a lot of people, but the amount of people who have shown up to attempt to get into the newly established lifestyle club tonight far exceeded anyone's expectation.

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