Page 20 of Destined To Fall

“It’s just money, baby. There’s more where that came from.” We only lost what we’d won. I step into Max, wrapping my arms around his neck and pressing against him. For a second, I’m surprised he doesn’t stiffen like he has all night.Interesting.“Anyway, I’m all the prize you need.”

Max chuckles and surprises me yet again as his hands leave my waist to cup my ass with a squeeze for good measure as he pulls me closer to him. I chuckle, a little lost for words.

“You play a good game,”Skeeze interrupts.

Max releases me and turns to face him.“You wiped the floor with me.”

“I’ve been at this for a while.” He smiles, but there’s no warmth to it. It’s cold and slimy, like him.“I get plenty of practice in. I have a get-together with some people a couple of times a month. There’s a decent amount of cash to be made, if you’re interested. Off the books, of course.”

“Like an underground ring?” Max asks, forcing excitement.

“It’s just a casual thing,” Skeeze lies.“A little more laid-back than most, I’d imagine.”

“Can we, baby? Please?”I puppy-dog face Max.

“Sure, baby girl, why not? Anything for my sugar,” he responds, tapping the end of my nose with a finger.

“Eek!” I squeal, jumping up and down on the spot, my breasts bouncing dangerously high.

“Name the time and place, and we’ll be there.”

“With bells on!” I giggle.

Skeeze writes the details on the back of his card and hands it to Max.“I look forward to seeing you both soon.”

I smile warmly in return, and the men shake hands before Skeeze swaggers off into the crowd.

I beam at a nervous-looking Max, his cool facade wavering but the excitement still evident in his eyes. A devilish grin pulls at the corners of my mouth, and I take his hand, giving it a squeeze.“Now the fun really begins.”

Chapter Five

I pull up outside the glass monstrosity, mentally high-fiving myself for scoring a spot right out front. Easing open my door, I duck out before a messenger bike bowls me over and skirt around the hood of my shiny rental.

If I’m honest, I’m a little…nervous? Excited? Anxious? I’m something, all right. Whatever it is, it’s bubbling under the surface, my fingers twitching with it. For once, I’m not on the clock or expected to do a job, I’m just…me. It’s a little novel and a lot unnerving.

So I do what any other self-respecting woman with a self-imposed reputation does. I lean against the car door, fighting not to fidget, and hope I look as aloof and suave as I’ve seen those idiots look in movies and not something akin to eager. Because surely, I’m not that.

Ah, fuck.

It dawns on me. Jeremy has no way of knowing I’m here. Do I wait like a dumbass, hoping he somehow sees me? I’m not even going to ponder the how of that. Or do I lose the cool, unaffected, lame-o position I have against the car and go inside to find him? I don’t even know what floor he’s on or which company he’s with. He’s bound to come out eventually, right?

I’m continuing the mental war with myself, on more levels than I care to admit, when I notice the man in question entering the death doors.

And I feel it.

My face lights up. The corners of my mouth curve with my impending smile, and my body tenses with anticipation.Well, shit. This won’t do.I settle for a more subtle smirk, still leaning against the car as I watch Jeremy exit, his own blinding grin greeting me as he steps out onto the sidewalk with a sexy swagger.Oh my.I look at my watch—the one I’m not wearing on my wrist, damn it—in a futile attempt to seem nonchalant, and he laughs.

“Am I late?” Jeremy says with an impish grin, pausing a few feet in front of me, his eyes sparkling as he takes in my ride.“Is it yours?” he asks, a little in awe, pocketing his car keys in what I’m starting to think are his signature dark, perfectlyfitted jeans.

He looks yummy in them, paired again with a tailored suit jacket, this one navy, along with a skinny black tie and white shirt. I hate myself for noticing how edible he is. The sexy, scruffy, just-fucked hair and two-day-old stubble aren’t helping. I uncross my legs and straighten up, fighting not to look at him like he’s chocolate cake and I’ve been banished to fat camp.

Just one lick…

“It’s a rental. Shall we?”

“Shame.” He all but drools.“Wait. I should drive. You don’t know where we’re going. It’s the gentlemanly thing to do.”

I snort and roll my eyes at him before heading to the driver’s side.“Not a chance.”

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