Page 34 of Power Play

“Depends on the situation. Probably.”

“You’re sweet. I, um, wanted to talk to you about something.” Piper sets down her glass and wrings her hands together. Givesme a nervous smile that’s tight around the corners of her mouth, and I’m on edge. “But I think I’m going to need another drink first.”

I fill her glass again and sit in the chair across from her. “Have you had anything to eat today?”

“A sandwich at lunch. Nothing for dinner, but the night is young.”

“Young? It’s eight o’clock and time for bed.”

“Didn’t know you were an old man.”

“I didn’t choose the lifestyle. The lifestyle chose me. No more alcohol until you get some food in your system.”

“Fine.” She downs the second drink faster than the first, and I’m wondering if I should get her some water. “Okay. I have, uh, a proposition for you.”

“If it has anything to do with the media, the answer is no,” I say sharply. “I’m not interested.”

“It doesn’t. It’s about your sister’s wedding.”

That catches me off guard. “What about it?”

“I thought I could go as your date. Or your pretend date, like I explained the other night. We act like we’re together so your family doesn’t bust your balls about showing up alone. It’s still technically a lie, but it’ll be harmless.”

“Why would you ever agree to come with me?”

“Because, in turn, you could help me with something.”

“What kind of something?”

“It’s about what I mentioned the other night at the bar. About, um, needing help in the bedroom?” Her voice squeaks, and blood rushes in my ears. “You probably forgot all about it, but I thought… you know what? I think I read the whole situation wrong. This was a terrible idea. Forget it.”

She stands and heads for the door, practically running down the hall. I give her a head start before I stand and follow her. When I get close enough to touch her, I wrap my fingers aroundher wrist to stop her from leaving. I give her a gentle tug and she spins to face me.

Her cheeks are flushed. Her pupils are blown wide and she’s staring at me. I take a step toward her and she moves backward, her shoulder blades pressing against the wall behind her.

“I didn’t forget anything.” I put a hand by her right ear, almost caging her in. I can hear her breathing. Can see the freckles across her nose and catch a glimpse of the hint of green in her eyes mixed in with the blue. “Let’s try that again.”

“I wasn’t kidding about wanting someone to… to teach me what to do in bed. It felt like you might be thetiniestbit interested in sleeping with me after that comment of yours, and I figured…” she trails off, looking at the floor. “I trust you. I know you have more experience than me, and we could both get something out of it, but now I’m realizing this is all silly. So incredibly stupid, and probably cause for me to get fired. Please forget I ever asked.”

She pushes away from the wall and walks past me, heading back to the living room. I let her get some distance before I follow her again like a lost fucking dog.

My head is spinning. I have no clue if this is a joke. If this is for real or if she’s fucking with me to prove a point about how men are trash.

With the things I’m thinking about—her on top of me. My name on her tongue. Twisted sheets and my hand running up the inside of her thigh until I found out how wet she could get—I’d tell her she’s right.

I’m an animal, and I hate myself for it.

I also hate myself because I’m more than atinybit interested.

I’m really fucking interested.

When she said all that stuff at the bar, my brain just about short-circuited. All I could hear were words likebarely intimate.Not good.No strings attached.

I can’t believe she was with someone for an entire fucking decade and he never took care of her. Never worshiped her and never made her feel like she was important.

Her ex-husband is a piece of shit.

When I get to the living room, she’s pacing. Doing laps around the couch and tapping her fingers on her forearms.

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