Page 19 of Seduction in Spades

I type the rest of my notes with one hand and pick up the fresh coffee I’d just poured a few minutes ago with my other.

“Avery, you’ve met Drake,” I hear Trey say to the new person in the room. “This is Ryder, he owns and runsRed.”

“Please come visit soon. I’ll give you my VIP treatment.”

I roll my eyes as I finish up my notes and hear her giggle. It sounds too familiar.

“The fuck you will,” Trey growls. “And this is Nolan.”

I put a polite smile on my face and lift my head and gasp, spilling hot coffee on my lap. “Shit. Fuck.” I jump up and drop my coffee on the table, which then spills on my laptop. “Fuck.”

She giggles again and I glance up at her. I don’t know how it’s possible, but she’s even more beautiful than I remember. Her hair falls in loose waves around her shoulders, and her short sleeve top is modest enough, yet I remember perfectly the way her breasts fit in my hands.

“Avery.” Her name rolls off my tongue.

“It’s nice to meet you,Nolan.I’m sorry if meeting me made you wet your pants.”

Ryder barks out a laugh and picks up the two ten-dollar bills. “Here.” He gives them to Avery. “We both lost a bet. You deserve this.”

“And what bet is that?” she asks Ryder with a flirtatious smile.

Wait. Had I been played? Did Avery know who I was all along? Her brother’s business partner? Is that why she didn’t want to tell me her name?

Fuck.

I fucked Trey’s sister. Not just fucked butfucked.It doesn’t matter that she was a willing participant, I. Fucked. Trey’s. Sister.

He’s going to kill me. I watch as she and Ryder flirt back and forth, and I don’t know who is fuming more. Trey or me?

I thought she wasthe one. The mystery woman who was so perfect. Who turned me on while dancing at The Club, who made me laugh like I haven’t laughed in ages at the Tequila Bar, who seemed so authentic and sweet and kind. Who was a vixen in bed and rocked my world like no other.

Only she played me. I don’t like to be lied to.

“Jonesy here who jizzed in his pants said you were at most a five. I pegged you to be at least a seven. But darling,”—Ryder picks up her hand and leans to kiss her knuckles, and Trey swats him away— “you’re off the charts.”

“Back. The. Fuck. Off,” Trey growls.

“Children.” Drake steps between them and gives Avery a hug. “I apologize for taking Nora away so soon last week. We uh...”

“No apologies needed.” Avery laughs. “We had fun dancing while she was there.”

“Sorry we left you alone.”

“No worries. I found another dance partner.”

“Aves. Let’s go.” Trey takes her elbow.

“No rush. I got here early. I didn’t mean to interrupt your meeting.” She glances at me quickly before averting her gaze. “I can wait.”

“Dude. You’re embarrassing yourself in front of the lady. Go clean yourself up.” Ryder tosses me a wink. “I’ve already given my report. How about I give you a tour of Four Aces while the little boys talk?”

Ryder drapes his arm across her shoulder, and she grins at him, thoroughly enjoying his charm.

“Benton,” Trey barks.

Ryder drops his arm. “It’s obvious who inherited the personality in the family.” Avery giggles. “And the looks.”

I’d roll my eyes at his cheesiness, only Avery seems to be eating it up. I push back my chair and storm across the room to the connecting bathroom. Seconds before slamming the door, I gain my composure and close it softly.

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