Page 8 of Playboy Boss

Chapter Three

Konrad glanced at Pilar, the purr of his prized sports Mercedes coupe engine vibrating through him as he eased the car through the underground garage of the Museum District high-rise where Antonia lived. He caught Pilar uncross her long tan legs from the corner of his eye. Was he really about to take a woman into his inner circle? The circle he kept only for himself?

“You’re not okay, are you?” She smoothed down her curtain of straight dark hair over her shoulder.

He parked the car, his gaze dancing over the tiny, fitted white dress barely covering the tops of her thighs. Thighs he knew like the back of his hand. “I just don’t want to give you the wrong impression. That’s all, love. You know I’m not the committing type.”

She laughed, putting him at ease. Her black eyes twinkled in the dim garage light coming in through the windshield. “And I’m not either. I’m only twenty-one! So, don’t worry. I know this doesn’t mean anything.”

Twenty-one. Seven years his junior. Sometimes he thought she could be older with her maturity. She was right though. It didn’t mean anything. None of the women he dated meant anything. Not to be cruel, but it was a fact. All women he pursued knew this upfront. They all agreed, though some women later decided they couldn’t be casual. Pilar hadn’t been one of those women.

“Off we go, then.” He rubbed her smooth thigh before he opened the door.

With his hand pressed against Pilar’s lower back, Konrad knocked on the front door of Antonia’s penthouse. Antonia’s housekeeper Mary opened it, greeting them and offering to take Pilar’s purse. Loud voices came from the living room where Konrad’s friends had been talking and drinking, lounging on the art deco couches. Tylund was alone, which annoyed Konrad. Fabian swore everyone had a date. Melina, Antonia’s best friend, was there sans a date as well.

“Good evening,” Antonia said, standing from the couch and walking over to greet Konrad and Pilar.

As he always did, Konrad lifted her off the ground in a tight embrace and kissed her cheek. “My God, Antonia, how the hell did that tosser Fabian land a gorgeous woman like you?” The group laughed, agreeing with his sentiment.

“Shut up!” Fabian called from the bar, a champagne bottle overflowing in his hands.

She pressed against his shoulders in a silent demand to be released. He did so with as much grace as he had picked her up. “You’re too kind.” Antonia adjusted her conservative navy dress once her shoes touched the tiles.

“This is Pilar de los Santos, my friend.”

A low chuckled rippled through the air. One of his asshole friends found the term amusing, not that those twats could offer any commentary on the subject. They’d both had their fair share of friends.

Antonia offered her hand to Pilar, who took it. “Hi, Pilar. Welcome. I’m Antonia. That’s Fabian at the bar. And that’s Melina.” She pointed to everyone respectively who waved and greeted Pilar with kindness. “Tylund is the one on his phone.”

One friend was missing from the introductions. Dallas hadn’t arrived yet. If he also didn’t have a date, there’d be hell to pay.

Pilar waved. “Hi, everyone.”

“Take a seat, Pilly. I’ll get you a glass of champagne,” Konrad said, winking at her.

Antonia stopped him with a touch of her hand on his arm. “Thank you for the flowers, Konrad. They are beautiful.”

He smiled at her, contemplating lifting her up again because he knew how much she hated it. Instead, he touched the tip of her nose in some weird, and very him, fashion. “You’re welcome, love.”

Konrad left the group to their own devices, hoping they wouldn’t ask Pilar any questions. They knew the deal, though. He liked women. Dated lots of them. And he was private about it. Just stop worrying. It was no big deal. He had to remind himself. But by forcing himself to remain calm, he thought of Scottie again, and the awkward way he’d run into her. His palms still felt the weight of her. He tried to blink the memory away. Why am I thinking of her? On his approach of the bar, Konrad shoved Scottie to the back of his mind—though not too far back because she was still there.

Fabian gave him a curling grin and handed Konrad a heavy glass of scotch. “She’s hot.”

Konrad glanced at Pilar seamlessly chatting with the other women as if they all were best friends forever. Indeed, she was hot. Actually, she was perfect. Nice girl. Nice body. Nice lay. Good attitude. Low expectations. Perfect. “She’s all right.”

She was exactly what Konrad needed her to be.

Tylund came up behind them. “Leave it to this asshole to get a smoking-hot date on short notice.” He punched Konrad on the shoulder. “It has to be the accent.”

“It’s my handsome face that gets me dates. And besides, it’s not like you’ve ever come up short, mate.” Konrad took a sip of his drink, thinking of Scottie again. She definitely wouldn’t have a good attitude, but he suspected she had a nice body under her ill-fitting clothes.

“True.” Tylund beamed. “I don’t come up short in any way. I guarantee it.”They cackled. Tylund once again bragged about his manhood, which he claimed was bigger than a baby’s arm.

“This asshole…” Fabian pointed at Tylund, barely containing his laughter.

“So, where’s your date, then?” Konrad asked, elbowing Fabian in the side.

“Well, you know, she had something come up last minute.” Tylund waved his hands around, explaining, but it only made Konrad and Fabian laugh harder.

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