Page 4 of One Night with the Player

“I’m not sure… she’s not a regular.” His deep brow furrowed.

I passed him a hundred-dollar bill. “Can you see if she might be inclined to meet with me?”

Just like always, his attitude changed. “Yes, sir. If you’ll wait right here, I can check with the lady.”

“Take your time.” I waited for him to disappear through the doorway leading behind the stage, then I took a seat at a nearby table. Money talked. I’d learned that early on. Those who had it could do what they wanted. Those who didn’t had a much more difficult time making headway toward their dreams.

The first time I figured that out, I’d made a pact with myself. I’d do whatever it took to make sure I never found myself in a situation where I needed to ask for help again.

The bouncer came back, a frown on his face. “Sorry, sir. The lady said she’s not offering private meetings.”

A lesser man might accept defeat, but for me, the fact that she wasn’t immediately swayed by money presented a challenge. Everyone had a price. I just needed to figure out what hers was. For some, cold hard cash did the trick. Others were more interested in soliciting a favor: the promise of a job or a good word spoken in the right person’s ear.

“Could you tell the lady I’d like to purchase an hour of her time to have a drink and nothing more? My initial offer is one-thousand dollars for the honor, but I’m open to negotiation.”

He swallowed. Hard. Club Curve was a nice place, but it was probably the first time he’d ever been instructed to convey this particular type of message.

“Got it?” I asked.

“Yes, sir. I’ll be right back.” He turned and disappeared through the doorway again.

If Ms. Legend was as shrewd as I imagined, she wouldn’t give in on my opening offer. I was looking forward to the negotiations almost as much as I was looking forward to actually meeting her when we finally decided on a price. For me, there wasn’t an upper limit. I had access to unlimited funds and always got what I wanted.

Well, almost always.

The one thing I’d always wanted had remained out of my reach. Olivia could have been mine. She’d offered herself to me the night of my high school graduation. It had taken every ounce of self-control to turn her down. She’d been sweet and innocent and so unaware of the effect she had on me.

Looking back on that moment, it was the one time in my life I felt like I’d done the right thing, yet still regretted it with all my heart. I’d been so tempted to take her, but even then I knew the heat between us wouldn’t last. She was meant for bigger things than being with a guy like me. Besides Mama Mae, the Monroes were the closest thing I had to family. I couldn’t risk alienating Ethan. Not when he’d promised to fund the idea I’d been working on for a dating app that I’d come up with in high school. Without his support, I had no way of breaking free from the future that waited for me.

The bouncer returned with a frown. “Miss Legend said she appreciates the offer, but she’s not available for a private meeting.”

Heat unfurled through my lower belly. I always appreciated the chase more than the capture. “Did she make a counter offer?”

He shook his head.

“Go back and tell her I’ll give her five thousand dollars for thirty minutes of her time.”

“You can tell her yourself.” A woman stepped out from behind the bouncer. She wasn’t the woman I’d seen on stage, but there was something familiar about her. Her dark eyes narrowed. “Wait. You’re Leo Steele.”

I held out my hand, still trying to place her. “And you are?”

“About to make your dream come true. Ten thousand dollars for fifteen minutes of Ms. Legend’s time. Do we have a deal?”

“Lead the way.”

4

OLIVIA

Iheard Shiva coming down the hall right before the door to the dressing room opened. “Did you find out who he is?”

She entered first, followed by a man with a dark head of hair. My knees buckled at the sight of him. I reached out to grab onto the edge of the makeup counter to keep myself from tumbling into a heap on the floor at his feet. That wouldn’t do.

He’d changed over the years. He’d always been tall, but his shoulders filled the doorway, the top of his head almost brushed the frame, and there was a hard set to his jaw that hadn’t been there before. Those grey eyes were the same, though. Based on the way they drank me in, he didn’t recognize me as the girl who’d offered him her body and her heart fifteen years ago.

“Miss Legend, this is Leo Steele.” Shiva’s eyes were wide, her jaw tight. “He paid ten thousand dollars for the privilege of buying you a drink and spending fifteen minutes in your company. Do you feel comfortable being alone, or would you like me to stay with you?”

I willed my pulse to slow down. If it kept up its current pace, I’d end up passing out before I could get the answers I deserved. “I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

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