Read Online Playing the Game by Jl Paul - Free Book Online

you, too.”
    “ I know you can do better.
Hell, I’ve heard you sing before. I think the bitchy woman has a
point. What, are you trying to lose?” His voice was high and tight. And
confusing me. Since when did he care?
    “ No, I don’t want to lose.
Maybe I had an off night,” I said.
    “ Bullshit, Aubrey. You
haven’t been yourself the entire season.”
    My head spun. His words clumped in the front
of my brain, making me wince. “I’ll be fine,” I whispered, at a
loss for words. “Did you have any other reason for calling?”
    “ I’m leaving in the
morning and won’t be back for about a week. I thought you might
like to get together.”
    A frustrated groan escaped my lips. “Are you
serious? It’s late.”
    “ Why wouldn’t I
be?”
    “ I haven’t heard from you
in days and all of a sudden you want to see me?” He grew silent and
I grew triumphant. Stew on
that , I thought.
    “ We’ve both been busy,” he
said in a dangerously low voice. “But if you don’t want to see me,
fine.”
    And I thought I was winning this latest
conversation. How did he always manage to do this to me?
    “ Where do you want to
meet?” I asked, defeated. Tears were burning my eyes and I hadn’t a
clue why.
    “ Come over,” he ordered,
sending brain into plan mode. What would I tell my
mother?
    “ I’ll be there in a few.”
I actually hung up before him this time.
    My mother barely raised a brow when I
announced I was going out for awhile. It was far too easy an escape
but I would deal with it later. My longing to see Jess was too
great.
    ***
    He opened the door as soon as I set foot on
his porch and he yanked me inside. Before I knew what was
happening, I was in his arms and his lips were pressed firmly to
mine. I had to pull away for oxygen and to give my heart a chance
to settle.
    Taking my hand, he led me to the living
room. My eyes took in the rich, masculine décor as I settled on the
leather sofa. The room was painted dark beige with several prints
from local artists adorning the walls. A huge bay window faced the
road.
    “ Nice place, Jess,” I
said. He nodded, his eyes on me.
    When he tenderly brushed a strand of hair
out of my face, a jolt of worry shot through my heart. Jess wasn’t
usually so gentle.
    “ Thanks for coming,
Aubrey.” His voice was husky
    I squeezed his hand in mine. “Jess, what is
the matter?” Panic ripped at my stomach and rippled throughout my
body.
    He chuckled. “Nothing. I guess I just got a
little attached to you.”
    I narrowed my eyes at him and he did the
same. His gray eyes smoldered and my worry ebbed away. Panic was
quickly replaced with excitement. Leaning in, he captured my lips
with his own - a little softer this time. My hands traveled up his
chest, reuniting behind his neck. He held me carefully, not
pressing for more, making the worry return. I broke the kiss to
look into his eyes.
    “ Jess?”
    Grinning, he flipped me around, pulling me
into his lap. My back pressed into his chest as he reached for the
remote control on the coffee table and turned on the big screen
television. He leaned back, taking me with him, and rested his chin
on my shoulder. My heart’s thump increased again, only this time in
concern. Jess was so out of character that it scared me worse than
standing on a stage facing Marissa.
    “ I have to go to bed in a
few hours, Aubrey. I just thought it would be cool to chill out
with you for awhile.”
    I nodded as I snuggled into him. I’d take
what he was willing to give and analyze it later.
    His love of all things on The Discovery
Channel hadn’t waned in the past five years and we watched episodes
of his favorite shows quietly with only a comment here and there.
Every once in a while, he’d press his lips to my neck or my temple
and I’d have to fight a shiver.
    Finally, when it grew close to two in the
morning, he released me. He eased me gently off his lap and walked
me to my car.
    “ Drive safe, Aubrey Rose.”
He kissed me again