A Playboy's Love Affair (5 page)

Her statement caught his interest and he angled his head to the side. “What’s that?”

“Finding ways to get away from you.” Carly reached for her drink.

“Very funny,” he said, propping his elbows on the table. “I have a new hobby too,” he added, as his gaze followed her hands placing the burger back on her tray.

“Oh yeah, what’s that?”

“You.” Alex wiped off with a napkin a tiny speck of ketchup on the corner of her mouth. His response had certainly thrown Carly off but not for a long time. She regained her composure and finished eating as if he hadn’t said a word.

Alex drove back to her office, thinking about their lunch together. He’d made some headway except the direction was unknown, other than definitely things weren’t headed to his King Size Bed Boulevard. In fact, things had gone the opposite way, but it wasn’t over yet. This was only the beginning. Yes, definitely the beginning. Alex dropped her off at her workplace and headed back to his office. Submerging himself in work to clear his head first was at the top of his priorities right now, later he’d think about how to take back control.

****

Seeing his reaction after she admitted loving a good burger was humorous. It would’ve made for a great candid picture. Too bad she didn’t have a camera at the time. Lunch with Alex was fun. Who would’ve known they had something in common? A burger of all things! Having something in common with him was a very bad thing, and more the reason why staying away was the best plan of action. But how? She was tied to him for the next six months.

And, what a fine web he wove too. Alex was definitely a through and through Casanova. Did he really think she believed he just wanted to have lunch? Yeah, right. Please! Even he didn’t believe that one himself.

He was wooing her to get her in his bed. It’d cost him more than a hamburger that was for sure—if he got her there at all. “It isn’t happening, buddy,” Carly muttered for her ears only, grabbing the stack of messages from her assistant and walked into her office. She’d have to be extra careful with him because getting tangled in his fine web could easily shatter her heart. That reminded her, she still needed to have Kiera take a look at that foolish contract. Carly doubted it was even valid. Whether it could be voided, she didn’t know. Yet, she didn’t really regret signing it.

Chapter Seven

It’d been a week since she’d signed that stupid contract. And a week since she’d seen him. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all.

Carly needed to design a plan, and fast. Who better than Kiera to help decide how to give him a taste of his own hot chocolate? It was mid-afternoon. Carly surveyed the coffee shop and was glad to see she had it pretty much to herself.

“Hi, sunshine!” An elegant woman walked in and headed in the direction of her table.

Carly greeted Kiera with a hug. “Hey princess, I’m glad you were able to meet me.”

“Are you kidding me? I wouldn’t want to miss out on the trick Alex is pulling on you.” Kiera took the seat to her right.

Carly laid a copy of the infamous contract on top of the table. “Can you tell me if this is legal?”

Kiera read through the two pages in no time. “Is this all because of that lie you told Matt about you and playboy?”

“Yes.”

A soft laugh escaped Kiera’s lips. “Leave it to Alex to come up with something as ingenious as a binding contract.”

“How binding is it, and can it be annulled without any ramifications?” Carly asked.

“Carly, he got you good, dear.” Kiera tapped her fingers on the table. “I’m not saying nothing can be done, you did sign under duress, after all. You have a chance of fighting it, but Alex will put up a good fight, are you ready to fight him?”

“Do I stand a chance in a court of law?” Carly clasped her hands.

“It’s hard to tell given that your lie...” She paused, leaning in Carly’s direction. “Regardless of how little it was, did cost him millions. Trust me, I know.” Kiera eased back on her chair.

Carly stared out the coffee shop window. “Well, then I guess my options are to suck it up and live with it for the next six months, or fight him with a high probability of losing—”

“I say, let’s fight him,” Kiera cut in. Her statement gained her Carly’s full attention. “I say beat him at his own game. It’s a dirty contract and he’ll be the one to benefit from it, so why not use his own terms and conditions against him and see how he likes it? If I know him well, he won’t like it one bit. Who comes up with clauses like that anyway?”

“The one and only Alex St. Jones,” Carly replied.

“Here’s what we’re gonna do…” Kiera clutched Carly’s hands, a secret, telling smile on her face.

Chapter Eight

Carly owed it to Kiera for thinking out of the box on her behalf every time she hit a wall. Playboy wanted to play? Well, she was ready to play too. Carly shook her head suppressing a half-laugh, wondering what had happened to him. It’d been more than a week since she’d seen or heard from Alex, leading her to think he didn’t yet know his next move. Most likely he didn’t expect to hear from her. She danced in her chair, wishing to see his reaction right now and hit the send button in her instant messenger.

Carly M:
Hello there!

A St. Jones:
Hey…

Carly M:
How are you?

A St. Jones:
Okay. U?

Carly M:
I was thinking about you…

At rereading her last IM, the pressure in her chest threatened to come out in a wave of nervous laughter. She would’ve never dared to say something like that to him, had Kiera not told her Alex ran like his wheels were on fire every time a woman hinted about crossing the line getting emotions involved. If Kiera was right, and she hoped she was, this would scare him away.

A St. Jones:
I’ve been thinking about you too.

Wh-what? Her nervous laughter never made it out of her chest, because his response was a low blow that left her gasping for air. She blinked and reread his last instant message. He wasn’t supposed to say
that
. That last IM should’ve read
I’m busy, I’ll get back to you
or something other than
I’ve been thinking about you too
. Or, he could’ve just ignored it, why didn’t he? What the heck? No, no, no. She had to up her game. Kiera was hardly ever wrong and this had better not be one of her ‘hardly ever wrong’ ones.

Carly M:
Does that mean you miss me?

There, she said it. He’d either cut her off or not respond.

A St. Jones:
Miss me much, don’t you?

Drat! This chat wasn’t what Carly had aimed for. Did he know what she was up to? No. Of course not! How could he? It was time to up her game again.

Carly M:
So, you do miss me.

A St. Jones:
Carly, are you flirting with me?

Pfft! No! Well, maybe she was, flirting a little bit that was, but she’d never admit to it. She had a reason to flirt, her goal was to get rid of him, make him walk the other way. Aaugh Kiera, don’t you be wrong!

Carly M:
Me? Flirting? With you? Alex, get over yourself. You know, you’re not the only man out there.

A St. Jones:
No, I’m not. But I’m the one keeping you awake at night.

Ugh. This man was trouble, she was in trouble, and she’d done it all herself. He wasn’t going to win this round. Not yet.

Carly M:
You got that wrong.
I’m
the one keeping
you
awake at night, don’t you deny it.

Aha! What would he say to that now?

A St. Jones:
Now, see who’s wrong. Darling, I dream of you every night. Do you want to know how I see you in my dreams?

Huh? Did he dream of her the same way she dreamt of him between her thighs, thrusting into her, taking her to heavenly heights? Carly crossed her legs, what was this man doing to her? She stared back at the IM conversation on her laptop. Backing out now would mean defeat and she still had a mission to accomplish: scare him away. Her ‘thinking of you’ hadn’t worked but maybe something else would.

Carly M:
Baseball, Saturday afternoon. R u in?

A St. Jones:
I’m in. Meet you at…?

What? She’d asked him out because Alex was supposed to say no. It was a date. He didn’t do dates, he just slept around. What went wrong? Alex wasn’t running away like his wheels were on fire as Kiera had put it. Darnit!

A St. Jones:
U still there or did I scare you away?

Carly ran her fingers over her keyboard, biting her lower lip as she battled with herself and made up her mind on the response.

Carly M:
Meet me at my place at three.

A St. Jones:
It’s a date. Sweet dreams.

The beeping sound of her IM window let her know Alex had left the chat. A d-date? She took deep breaths to process what had transpired in their brief exchange. Her plan had backfired, and now she was stuck on a date with the one man she was trying hard to get away from. Carly paced around in her office. A date…a freaking date. All right, she’d give him a date he’d never forget.

****

Alex had purposely busied himself with work since he’d last seen Carly. He needed the time to clear his head and to think about his next step with her. She was nothing like the other women he was used to, and Alex was ready to fight her every step of the way until he had her in his bed, underneath him, moaning in pleasure.

He’d laid out his plan and thought everything was going splendid until Carly changed tactics by asking him out. Now, Alex didn’t know what to do. How did she get his IM? Ah, naturally, she was friends with Kiera. This scam had his friend’s wife’s name written all over it! He swore under his breath. In any case, if Carly thought for one second he hadn’t caught on to her game, she was sadly mistaken. Getting rid of him wouldn’t be that easy. Not until after he’d made her his. His? Alex pushed his chair away from the desk staring back at his laptop. “Yes. Carly, you will be mine,” he whispered.

Alex met her promptly at three on Saturday afternoon, and halted mid-step when Carly walked out the door. Was there anything she didn’t look right in? He cussed under his breath at his dick’s reaction to the way her black skinny jeans fit her like a second skin and how the off shoulder fuchsia top hugged her hips. Alex quickly recovered and hid his body’s reaction with one of his dazzling grins.

“I didn’t know you could wear that to a baseball game.” He gestured to her outfit, opening the door to his car.

Carly stopped and looked down at herself. “Why not? My outfit is as comfortable as the jeans and polo you’re wearing.” Her gaze traveled the length of him. “Close the door, we’re walking.”

Alex did as she told him and followed. Keeping his hands off of her would be torture. He cleared his throat. “I thought we were going to a baseball game.”

She kept her pace, walking straight without bothering to look at him, when she replied, “We are.” Carly turned onto a street leading into a park and guided him to the bleachers.

“Little Boys Big League.” He read. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Her green eyes hid behind dark designer shades but Alex could swear they danced in merriment at his shocked expression.

“No. I’m not. I’m a sponsor for the league and I never miss their games.” She paused. “As you can see it isn’t real baseball. It’s tee ball.” At his silent regard, she continued, “You know, three, five, eight year olds play tee ball,” she said the way a teacher would explain something to a kindergartener.

Spending his afternoon watching a bunch of little kids play, throw tantrums, kick and scream whenever they missed, or parents argue over whose kid was better and whose kid sucked, wasn’t what he’d had in mind. Crap! Carly got him good.

Alex had better ideas on how to spend such a beautiful afternoon and not one included watching brats play. He was ready to spin on his heel and leave Carly with her bunch of spoiled brats. His gaze surveyed the crowded place once more, deciding his next move. Darn woman. Then, it dawned on him. That was exactly what she expected him to do. Alex chuckled. Carly, Carly, Carly, he sat next to her on the bench.

“What’s so funny?” Carly asked.

“How long have you been a sponsor?”

She glared past him and focused her attention somewhere out in the field. “A couple of years. It’s not a league for the less fortunate children, but they do need sponsors to keep it going and I very much enjoy helping. I bet it never crossed your mind you’d be spending the afternoon watching little kids play. You’re more than welcome to leave. I’ll understand.”

The warm soft breeze of the sunny afternoon carried her lily-vanilla scent, teasing his senses. Alex scooted closer to her on the bench. “Darling, we have a date. I’m not leaving,” he whispered in her ear, casting a glance at the goosebumps spreading down her arms at the warm contact of his lips with her baby soft skin.

Soon Carly was surrounded by all the mama bears who didn’t bother to hide their curiosity about the new visitor.

“Ladies, this is Alex St. Jones. He’s interested in becoming a sponsor too.”

No freaking way! Had she just volunteered him? All the women chatter got louder between “oohs”, “aahs” and “that’s wonderful”, leading to another fifteen minutes of conversation he had zero interest in. Finding no way out, Alex agreed to an appointment with the league’s president. Apparently, that was the only way to be rid of her.

The game started and just as he’d expected there were as many tears, tantrums, as there were shouts. Throughout the game Carly cheered for everyone, even if the kid sucked, she was everyone’s cheerleader. In a few years he imagined her here as one of the many mama bears cheering for her own kid. Alex shook his head. That would be a sight—a beautiful sight at that.