Page 57 of Games We Play

“Certainly wasn’tyourgirlfriend,” Sloan said. “You know. Christie Yearwood? The woman you sent to the shack Sunday morning?”

Aaron didn’t deny it. Not the dating Christie Yearwood part, and not the sending her to Sloan’s hideaway, either. All he said was, “Surprised you turned her down. She was so disappointed.”

“Sex at eight in the morning is reserved for women who have already stayed the night, not late arrivals. You know this.”

“I already had prepped her for you and everything.”

“That’s abominable. Seriously. I just ate.”

Aaron was still smug enough to choke the staff coming in and out of the dining room. They cleared plates, asked their employers if they wanted anything else with their dinners, and relayed pertinent information such as the arrival of guests left waiting in the downstairs salon.Aaron’s guests. He’ll make them wait, too.Occasionally, Aaron’s butler brought in a message from the office telephone. Aaron barely looked at those, too.

“Is that what this dinner is really about? Because I was shocked when you said you wanted to eat together, and it wasn’t about business.”

“Everything is business between us.” Sloan had to remind him that every five minutes. “What the hell do you think you’re doing, dating Christie Yearwood?”

“What’s the problem? Everyone knows you cavort with other women. Hell, you’re legendary in Chicago. Is there a single heiress in the Midwest whom you havenotfingered in the past five years?”

Sloan continued to regard him with a smile. “Fuck you.”

“I fail to see the difference with my seeing Christie in private.”

“Except she’s probably going to be marrying that department store cad by the end of next year. Do you really want to cause that kind of scandal with your dick?”

“If my dick isn’t causing scandals, I simply don’t know what to do with myself.”

“Apparently.”

Aaron pushed his empty plate aside. “Are you jealous, Maggie? When you have that beautiful girlfriend to call your own?”

“You want to know why I wanted to have dinner with you?” She sniffed. “It’s because you’re stalking Leah, and I want you to stop.”

“Stalking? Because I stopped in to see what she was like? Hardly call that stalking.”

“I know you ran background checks on her.”

“Idid.I ran the same ones your man Sean did, although I bet he didn’t tell you the juiciest bits.”

“Such as?”

“She’s half Honduran. Her mother’s maiden name is Reyes.”

“So? You were once half-engaged to that Brazilian film star.”

“That’s different. She was from a rich family. You know how it is.”

“If you’re implying that my girlfriend is undocumented…”

“So sheisyour girlfriend?” Aaron continued to interrupt her with his laughter. “That’s rich, especially for you. Have you ever had a serious girlfriend in your life?”

“Once, a very long time ago.” Sloan pretended to think about it. “In fact, it was a while before I met you. Fancy that. Knowing you has killed my ability to have a serious relationship. You have such a wonderful effect on the people around you.”

“Cut the crap and get to your real gripes, Maggie. I’ve got a date of my own to get to.” He propped his hand on his chin. “Unless you feel like taking up my time for yourself.”

Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the edge of the table with ferocity. “We’re not sleeping together. Ever.”

“Fine, fine.”

“You want to know what my problem is with you, Aaron? You interfere. You stick your nose where it doesn’t belong. You’re tracking where I am, who I’m seeing,andsniffing around the people I see. Don’t tell me for one second you care about my image or how it reflects upon you. You’re a bigger sleaze than I will ever be.”