Page 6 of Playing to Win

“Cheers for the wine, Drew,” John said, still draped with Fergus in the fleece blanket. “We’ll save it for a special occasion.”

“It’s your first night at home together. What occasion could be more special?” Andrew looked up at Fergus. “Carpe noctem.”

“We will.” The tall, lean football captain gazed down at John. “Every night.”

As they resumed snogging—right in front of him, my God—Andrew felt a light tap on his elbow. He turned to see Colin standing beside him, closer than he needed to, given the thinning crowd.

“Do you still go to raves?” Colin asked in a low voice. “All the clubs are pure crammed out with Commonwealth Games tourists, so a few folk have put together a party over in—well, I cannae tell you where it is unless you’re coming.”

Andrew hesitated. It was risky, going to an illegal dance party without his bodyguard, Reggie. But he couldn’t bring himself to walk away from Colin again.

“If I say yes, will it make you smile?”

Colin blinked. “No.”

“What would it take to get a smile out of you?”

“Hm.” Colin scanned the ceiling, considering. “Ten quid. But a fiver’ll get you a smirk.”

“Let me see.” Andrew opened his wallet and withdrew the only sort of note he had. “Can you change a hundred?”

Colin broke into a beaming grin that lit up Andrew’s entire spine. He took the note and pocketed it. “No.” Then he turned away, back to his mates.

Andrew watched him, his nerves still glowing from the memory of that smile.

Worth every penny.

CHAPTERTWO

“DOESHEFANCYhimself Clark Kent?” Danielle asked Colin as their group waited in John and Fergus’s car park for Andrew to put on his disguise. “Is he turning into Super Raver?”

“Lord Andrew’s too famous to go out as himself,” Katie said.

“Unless he’s got at least four bodyguards,” added her girlfriend, Siobhan. “I read it on Buzzfeed.”

“Why are we bringing him?” Liam asked Colin. “I thought you hated poncey toffs like Andrew.”

“I do.” Colin stared at the bright red Tesla. Through the roadster’s rolled-up tinted windows, he could barely make out Andrew changing clothes. “But there’s something about this one.”

“‘Something’?” Siobhan laughed. “You say it like it’s a mystery. He’s gorgeous and minted and dresses like a catwalk model.”

Danielle nodded. “He doesn’t have aje ne sais quoi. More like aje sais exactement quoi.”

Scowling at his girlfriend’s admiration, Robert said, “Colin, you just met him. I know he’s mates with John, but—”

“I didnae just meet him.” Colin crossed his arms, his gaze still fixed on the Tesla. “Remember that rave we went to last January in Tollcross? I met Andrew there. He looked completely different. He had glasses and facial hair and regular street clothes. Said his name was Adam Smith.”

Robert squinted at him. “Adam Smith? As in the father of capitalism? That didnae seem suspicious?”

“It seemed funny, but I thought, who would choose that as a fake name? Besides, ‘Adam’ and ‘Smith’ are pure common.”

“Did youse two hook up at that rave?” Siobhan asked. “Or after?”

“A wee snog, nothing more.” Colin was ashamed to admit how that night had ended. When Andrew had shown up at a Warriors’ training session a few weeks ago, Colin couldn’t even meet his eyes.

Here was the chance to turn the tables, make the powerful feel powerless. The moment Andrew had kissed him in the kitchen, Colin knew the trap was set.

“Be careful,” Liam said. “If you’re still mad about a guy you met six months ago, he’s one you need to stay away from. You’ll lose your mind.”

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