Page 217 of Well Played

He grinned wickedly. “Oh, I’d like that.”

As I pulled back from our bubble of intimacy, I spotted the server.

Without me having to say a word, she brought the bill and the machine.

Despite my earlier proclamation that I always paid my own way, I let Nick pay.

Because I planned to turn the tables on him at some point.

5

Kaden

“Are you paying attention?”

The soft purr of a woman’s voice brought me out of my reverie. We lay together on top of her bed. Still fully clothed.

Practically a first.

I wracked my brain. “Apologies, Lynn.”Please let that be her name.

She stroked a finger down my cheek. “You’re not feeling it tonight, are you?”

I winced. “I know we agreed?—”

She waved me off. “Kaden, I never hold people to their agreements. You’re here and that’s enough. It’s not like I’m paying you…or that you’re paying me. We just agreed to a night of companionship.” She pointed to a picture by her bed. “He’s been gone almost two years.”

Her husband. She’d mentioned him. Several times. He’d contracted some weird disease whose name I didn’t remember and had been dead less than twelve hours later. She hadn’t been prepared. At least he’d left her life insurance so she couldgo along. Still, widow at thirty-nine with three kids must’ve been tough. The kids were at their grandparents’ house tonight. Which meant she only had tonight.

“Let me make you feel good.” I reached for the button on her lovely bronze-silk blouse.

She stilled my hand. “Why don’t you tell me what’s going on? When we last met, you were loving your job.”

“I still do.”

“That’s great. How’s…” She frowned.

“Yaz. Yasmine.” I winced inwardly.

“Right. Lovely young woman. You two are amazing together.”

I’d found Lynn on an app and invited her to a show. So she’d get to see me at my finest, of course, but also so she’d see my dedication. And understand I was just passing through town. That we’d only have a night or two together.

We’d enjoyed three. She was good company. And dynamite in bed.

Which was why my current malaise didn’t make sense to me. My cock wasn’t the least bit interested. I considered asking her if I could go down on her—because that always got me in the mood. Even that today didn’t feel right.

“Are you thinking about Yasmine?” Lynn’s voice was very much of a soothing tone. Like my mother used to use when I injured myself.

Okay, and why was I thinking about my mother? I enjoyed the company of all women and men—younger, older, in between. Lynn was closer in age to me than my mother, so I should be focused on her. Not how she was lulling me into confessing everything. I sighed. “I am thinking about Yaz. We’re not exclusive…but we are a couple. And I’ve never felt like I’m cheating on her, you know? She knows where I am. She’s free to date other people.”

“Does she?”

My gaze snapped to Lynn’s.

“Date other people,” she clarified. “Or are you the only one who takes advantage of the open relationship?”

I frowned. “I…don’t know. I mean, I tell her if I’m going out and I assume she would do the same. She studies a lot, you know? And she says it’s easier to do it when I’m not around.”

---