The Games We Play Vol. 2 (Riley Grayson) (8 page)

Ali lifted her eyebrows and turned back to the bar not wanting to look at Pat. She couldn’t. She didn’t realize it until she saw him, but her heart still ached for him. She would never admit it to Hilary either but that painful ache thumping inside her chest was love. She still loved him and it hurt so much to see him with another girl.

“I’m tempted to march over there and give him and that whore of his a piece of my mind,” Hilary said, slamming her beer bottle on the bar. “How dare he bring that piece of trash in here!”

Ali grabbed Hilary’s arm before she could go cause a scene with Pat. Hilary was a little drunker than normal and Ali could see the anger in her eyes. “Apparently she’s his fiancée now.” Just saying the word made Ali want to scream. She’d been with Pat for years—
years!
—and he never once proposed even in jest. He’d been with that tramp for less than a month and they were already engaged.

“What?” Hilary stopped and looked back at Ali, confused.

“Look.” Ali held out her phone, which displayed Pat’s Facebook page. His relationship status had been updated to “Engaged to Chelsea Maria Cole.” Figures her name would be something stupid and super girly like Chelsea Maria.

God! Ali wanted to go over there and rip that fake blonde hair form her scalp, smack her upside the head and scream in her pretty face all the thoughts that now raced through her mind. Then she wanted to kick Pat in the nuts, repeatedly. Once for each time her heart cried out in sorrow.

“That’s probably just a game they’re playing. Engaged? Ha!” Hilary tried to make Ali feel better. Ali rolled her eyes and said, “The games we play for men.”

It wasn’t fair that girl had everything Ali was supposed to have. Pat. A supposed engagement ring. A perfect future.

Tears burned the back of Ali’s eyes. She had to get out of here, now, before Pat saw her. She didn’t want to have that awkward post break up run in with her ex and his new, beautiful girlfriend. Especially knowing Ali was here alone. If she were here with a date, or with Riley, she’d walk right up to Pat and flaunt it in his face. But of course that wasn’t how things worked out for her. Her life, right now, sucked balls.

“C’mon, Hilary. Can we please go now? We can circle around the bar and sneak out the side door before he sees me,” Ali pleaded.

Hilary crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head. “No, we’re not going to let him run us out of here. We have just as much right to be here as he does.”

Ali felt the entire bar start to spin. This wasn’t happening. “Hilary, please. This has nothing to do with the right to be here. It has to do with the fact that he’s here with her, and I don’t want to watch them together.”

“So don’t watch them. Honestly, I don’t get why you’re freaking out right now. You’re over Pat. Or have you suddenly forgotten all about Riley?” Hilary’s lips quirked into a smile that she quickly bit back.

It wasn’t that easy. She and Pat had a history together. He was her first.

“No, of course I haven’t forgotten about Riley. It’s just—look, I don’t want Pat back if that’s what you’re thinking, but it’s not easy to stand here and watch him be so happy with the girl he cheated on me with, okay? It’s like a slap in the face.” Ali lied about the part about not wanting Pat back. Of course she wanted him back. She hadn’t gotten over him. Not by a long shot.

“Oh, sweetie.” Hilary dropped her arms from her chest and gave Ali a quick hug. “I didn’t even think of it that way.” Hilary was definitely drunk.

Ali simply nodded, afraid that if she tried to talk she’d cry. Clearing her throat, she did manage to say, “We can go somewhere else if you want. I just don’t want to stay here.”

Hilary nodded and finally conceded. “Okay, let’s go.”

They went around the opposite side of the bar, intent on sneaking out the side door unnoticed when Pat and his new sexy girlfriend turned around. Ali froze, and for a moment, Pat did, too.

“Allison,” he said, “I didn’t know you’d be here.”

Why would you know?
It wasn’t like we’ve talked much lately,
Ali wanted to say but didn’t. “It’s just Ali now,” she said, surprised that her voice sounded as firm as it did. “And we were just leaving.” She grabbed Hilary’s hand. “Let’s go.”

“Wait.” Pat stepped in front of her. “I just . . . I mean . . . it’s good to see you. You look good.”

For a split moment Ali’s shoulders dropped and she wanted to jump up into his arms and tell him how much she missed him. Then her gaze brought her back down to earth and darted to the blonde, who was giving a look that had the power to strike Ali dead. “Thanks.” Then without another word, she yanked Hilary through the door and out into the cool evening air.

“Holy shit.” Hilary laughed. “
It’s just Ali now
,” she mimicked. “That was fucking great!”

Ali blew out a pent up breath and laughed. “I can’t believe I said that to him.” Not that what she said was all that horrible or mean, but she’d always loved how Pat called her Allison. The way he always said it was like a verbal caress. But hearing it now had grated on her nerves, and she kind of snapped.

“Did you see the way his girlfriend looked at you when he said you looked good?” Hilary laughed again.

“Yeah.” Ali nodded and joined in with the laughter until they both degraded into fits of giggles that neither of them could control. Not that they were trying all that hard. It felt good to cut loose like this, to not care what anyone thought. To not care what
they
thought. “I was expecting her to pull out my hair and scratch me with her claws or something.”

“Oh God.” Hilary laughed even harder, wiping tears from her eyes. “Don’t worry, I would’ve had your back.”

“The bitch would’ve bitch slapped you, too!” Ali gasped for breath. She laughed so hard she had tears in her eyes and a pain in her side. But damn, it was fun to be so carefree with Hilary like this. Ali hadn’t realized until this moment just how caught up she’d been with Pat. Her world had revolved around him, what he wanted, she did without question. Now it was like Ali was rediscovering her best friend all over again. It was fantastic.

Hilary looped her arm through Ali’s. “Let’s get out of here and find someplace fun to go.”

“Sounds like a plan. But we have to make sure wherever we go, they have a lot of alcohol. I’m gonna need it tonight to rid myself of the image of the two of them.”

“Oh, don’t you worry, honey. I’m going to get you piss ass, fall down drunk. You won’t even remember your own name.” Hilary grinned and led Ali down the street to a different bar. That was the beauty of living around here—the streets were lined with bars, making it easy to bar hop without having to drive anywhere.

Riley checked himself in the mirror one final time and straightened his tie. He hadn’t dressed in a full suit, but he had opted for a button up shirt, dress pants and a tie. Veronica hadn’t bothered to tell him where they were going, and it wasn’t so clear whether this was more business than pleasure or what, so he didn’t have a frame of reference for how he was supposed to dress. But regardless, he didn’t want to give Veronica the wrong impression: in Riley’s mind, tonight was a celebratory business dinner. It was
not
a date.

He put on a spray of cologne and then left the bathroom just as the car pulled up outside of his house. Grabbing his cell phone, he left without telling his father—not that he’d care. He was too busy getting ready for his long night at work.

Riley looked at himself one last time in the mirror and off he went.

Stepping outside, Riley was shocked to see a full blown limo stopped in front of his house. A friggin’ limo? Wow. He approached, and the driver opened the door with a smile. Alright, this was his lucky day. “Good evening, Mr. Grayson.”

Riley nodded and climbed into the car. Sitting in the seat opposite him was Veronica. She was in a slinky, black, sequined dress. Her hair was swept up into some sort of twisty bun on the top of her head. Strands of diamonds adorned her neck and wrists. She looked absolutely gorgeous. Riley couldn’t deny that. Even his dick couldn’t deny it, but he reminded himself he couldn’t do anything with her. It was a bad idea. Not to mention he was waiting for another night with Ali. Ali was his focus.
Keep focused Riley. Don’t do anything stupid.

“Riley.” Veronica smiled. “You look very handsome.”

“Thanks. You look pretty incredible, too.” He settled into the seat and the car pulled away and merged with traffic.

Veronica grabbed the bottle of champagne from a bucket of ice and popped it open. She poured two glasses and handed one to Riley. Holding hers up, she said, “To a job very well done, and to many more.”

Riley tapped his glass to hers and took a sip. It was bitter but he did his best to hide his distaste. He didn’t want to appear ungrateful. But he also didn’t want her to think he was interested in anything more than a professional relationship. He had been, once, before Ali.

God, that woman was wreaking havoc on his life. He hated it and loved it at the same time. Was that even possible? Why should he wait around for a date with her? If he wanted to fuck his boss or a hundred other women then he should. There was nothing to stop him.

“Thank you,” Riley finally said. He needed to get his head in the game and stop spending so much time thinking about Ali. Riley was here. Now. With Veronica. His smokin’ hot boss. That was what mattered. Nothing else.
Stop feeling guilty for being out with another woman. Ali is not your girlfriend.

“So, I have something very special planned tonight. A private dinner out by the ocean.”

Riley coughed on his champagne. Veronica handed him a napkin. He took it and wiped his mouth.

A private dinner? Shit. He’d been expecting a restaurant. A public place. Somewhere he wouldn’t be tempted to cross the very thin line he’d set for himself. He should have never agreed to this. He knew Veronica had something more in mind than just dinner, than just work.

“Is there a problem with that?” Veronica asked, her eyes growing teasingly wide.

He shook his head. “No, I just wasn’t expecting you to go to so much trouble. That’s all,” he lied. He did have a problem. The problem wasn’t the private beach dinner she had planned, the problem was his weakness for sinfully sexy women.

“You’re my shining star, Riley. Nothing is too much trouble where you’re concerned.” She smiled sweetly.

Veronica shifted in her seat and her skirt moved further up her silky, tan thigh. Riley couldn’t help but notice and find her even more attractive. She had done it on purpose to get his eyes on her.

Riley took the bait. If this was going to happen, it was going to happen on his terms. He moved over to sit beside her. He extended his arm along the back of the seat, letting his fingers gently graze over her bare neck.

Fuck it. Here it goes.
Then he leaned closer. “I have to be honest, Veronica. Working with you is the best part of this job.” Another lie. The money was the best part of his job and maybe if he played his cards right he could talk his way into a hefty raise tonight.

She placed her hand on his knee and smiled. “Are you trying to seduce me?”

“Maybe.” He winked.

“Well it’s about damn time.” She slid her hand along his cheek and onto the nape of his neck, pulling him to her lips.

Riley closed his eyes and leaned into her kiss. As a rule, he hated kissing women—Ali was his only exception of recent conquests—but he wasn’t about to push his boss away. That wouldn’t go well for him. So he sucked it up and just did it. She wasn’t a horrible kisser, but he’d definitely had better. Veronica’s hand inched up his thigh and brushed his crotch. His dick twitched at the sensation. He wasn’t sure what he was doing or if he’d regret it later but he knew he couldn’t stop now.

He left her mouth and trailed kisses down her neck and collarbone, nearing closer and closer to her breasts. She tilted her head back and moaned. Riley kept his eyes closed, wishing it was Ali’s body he was kissing.

“Mmm,” he hummed, “tell me. Are we going to go through the charade of dinner? Or shall we just get down to business?”

“I am a little hungry, but I’m not opposed to having my dessert first.”

Riley grinned and sat back, unzipping his jeans and grabbing his cock. “This what you want, Veronica? My lollipop.”

She smiled. Teasing Riley, she handed him a condom and wiggled her dress up over her hips and then straddled him, her pussy sliding down on his cock. Veronica’s moan reverberated around them. He grabbed her hips and helped to guide her down on him until he was buried all the way inside of her. The feel of her was exactly what he needed.
Why wasn’t I going to do this?
In the heat of the moment he couldn’t remember a single reason for his hesitation.

Veronica clutched his face and kissed him, her body rocking against him, bouncing up and down on his length. “I’ve wanted to fuck you since you walked into my office.” She nipped at his bottom lip.

Riley gripped her waist tightly and pounded into her with jackhammer quick thrusts, causing her to scream and writhe on him. “I’ve wanted it, too,” he murmured. It wasn’t a total lie. He’d thought about it more than once.