Page 100 of Playing to Win

As if in answer to my call for help, I see Jess make her way up the stairs and into the bar with Abby.

I motion to the bar tender and when I have his attention, I order a glass of pinot noir for Jess and a sem-sauv for Abby.

“Sorry, babe, it’s been good talking to you but I’ve got to go. Make sure you see Manhattan one day,” I tell the irritating girl by my side as I move away from the bar.

Sean gets to Abby and Jess at the same time I do. After I give the girls their drinks, Sean steals Abby away.

When I’m left with Jess, I look her up and down, not subtly at all. She’s wearing skinny jeans with turn-ups. She has on bright red heels—killer heels that make her already fine legs more than three inches longer—they have a small red and white check bow on the side, secured with a black button. I recognize the design as one of hers. I trail my eyes up those fine legs to her blouse. In true Jess style, it’s quirky, maybe even a little outrageous but not as much as some of her stuff. This is a chiffon blouse, layers of red, black and white fabric. For all the layers, the cut brings it in at the waist and sits neatly over her perfectly formed tits, dipping just enough to tease at the cleavage.

Her long brown hair has been pinned loosely and a few rogue strands hang down. I consider her face. She pouts for me, displaying her bright red lipstick. Her eyes are natural looking but darkened with liner. Her cheeks have been bronzed but not overly so. In one ear she has a gold stud. In the other, one dangling leaf.

“So?” she asks, sipping her pinot.

I rock my head from side to side, as if deliberating. “Show me your bag.” She holds up a black clutch—I know the style because she’s told me before. The top of the purse is folded like an envelope, the triangle red, with a button to match her shoes. “I’d say you’re like a seven.”

“Seven? I’ll take it!”

I try not to let the size of my smile show. My night just improved ten-fold. Jess is my favorite person in England. My reason for being here these days, I guess you could say.

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