Page 15 of Players Like Us (Reunion Gap #7)

T he problem? Everything was the problem. “And she’s okay with this?” A tiny piece of him wanted the guy to say, Not really . Or She’s hoping for more or anything but the answer Simon gave him.

“Sure is.” The smile spread until those dimples pulled and when he laughed, Neal realized how much he disliked him. “Settle down. She’s not the escort kind you’re thinking about… She’s from Claudia’s.”

“Claudia’s?” Claudia’s was an upscale service that hired out women for various events, created by the sister of the man who’d been ripped off, cheated on, and betrayed by a woman who professed to love him.

The service specialized in hiring women to make the man appear involved, so other “distractions” didn’t try to hook, trap, or engage him.

Neal had considered using their services a few times himself, especially when he just wanted to be left alone.

While some women weren’t bothered by another woman on his arm and took it as a challenge, most were reasonable enough to back away.

Claudia’s knew how to please their clients with sophisticated companionship, tailored to suit their needs.

The upside included protection from the onslaught of females.

The downside? The exorbitant fees for the service as well as the steadfast rule that prohibited physical involvement past a kiss on the cheek.

It was in the agreement. If either party went against it, the woman lost her position with the company and the man paid double and could never use their services again.

Neal had only heard of one instance where the “penalty” had been necessary.

The man fell for his companion, married her and word had it they were expecting their first child. Go figure.

“Why would you need Claudia’s?”

Simon toyed with his napkin. “Because I just want to enjoy myself right now and see what’s out there without the risk.

You can really check out the market when people think you aren’t ‘on the market’.

” Big sigh and a soft “Plus, I might not be done with Paulina. Too many unknowns. Claudia’s seemed the perfect fit.

But I like Rachel, so...who knows? I don’t think I would get serious with her, but she’s different.

” A shrug and another one of those damnable smiles.

“We’ll see. Maybe I’ll be one of those guys who forfeits and breaks the contract. ”

“You can’t touch her, you know that.”

“Isn’t it always about the chase? The fact that, according to some contract I can’t touch her, only makes me think about her more…

those legs...the curves...it’s a powerful aphrodisiac.

” He placed his elbows on the table, eyed Neal.

“Plus, there’s no law against touching her.

I could touch her but I’ll lose a chunk of money.

Not the worst thing in the world.” He winked. “I think she might be worth it.”

Neal sucked in a deep breath, blew it out nice and slow. Tried to keep his cool. “I’m not sure a woman like that wants to be thought of as a sex toy.” Neal picked up his glass, pictured Rachel Reese: dark hair, amber eyes, full lips. “And she’d lose her job there. What about that?”

“What about it? If we hooked up, I’d take care of her.”

“Sure you would. For how long?” The thought of Simon touching Rachel made him sick—and angry.

“What are you, my conscience? You’ve done as much or worse, so stop trying to play Mr. Righteous because it’s annoying.”

Neal ignored him. “Simon, why don’t you just leave her alone?”

Those green eyes narrowed on him. “Because... I don’t want to.

..?” He thrummed his fingers on the table.

“Or...because you are so eager for me to do it? Hmm... You know, Neal, you always thought you were in charge of everything, but you weren’t.

We played you, did you know that?” His words filled with years of pent-up disgust. “You were always the hot shot with the credit cards, the women, the contacts. Or you thought you were.” The laugh said Neal had been a pawn for his friends’ exploits.

“We used to take bets on whether or not you could get us into a sold-out show, or if we could convince you to cover our hotels and expenses.” More laughing, more disgust spilling from the man’s lips.

“I always bet on you because you never could resist a challenge and who was going to tell you no? Certainly not that excuse for a family that you never mentioned. We had parents who would notice how much we spent and why. But you? You had nothing but your big ego and wads of money.”

“Shut up.” He’d always known the people in his circle weren’t “real” friends and he knew they took advantage of him, but to bet on him? To laugh at him? White-hot fury seared his brain, spread through him until Neal had to force himself to remain in his seat and not reach across the booth...

“Did you process all of that? Well, process this. Rachel is a challenge to you, and not just because she’s beautiful and different from our usual women. She’s a challenge because I have her and that makes you want her even more.”

The bastard was goading him. Stay cool. Don’t let him get to you.

Yeah, too late for that. But Neal had years of pretending he didn’t care and knew what to say, the expression to paste on his face, and the casual disregard.

The words came first. “Nice to finally have you admit you were manipulating me.” The smile came next.

“You think I didn’t know?” Of course, he had, but the betting part?

Laughing at him? No, that was a surprise, though it shouldn’t have been.

Worst of all, they’d pegged him as a loser whose own family didn’t care about him, and they were happy to exploit it—and him.

Last, but most effective was the casual disregard for what Simon Bainbridge had just revealed.

“I always knew exactly what you were doing, but I needed an entourage, and you were all it.” Neal forced the smile so wide his damn cheeks hurt.

“Guess you weren’t the only ones being manipulated. ”

Simon flung out a curse. “Do you have any idea how much I can’t stand you?”

Neal rubbed his jaw, encouraged by the flaring nostrils and red face. The man was seconds away from losing control. “I figured that out when you slept with my girlfriend, but I guess I really knew when you trashed your hotel room in Vienna and tried to say it was me.”

“I was in law school,” he snarled. “I couldn’t have my father pull funds.

What did it matter if you took the hit for it?

You didn’t need your integrity for a job, since you didn’t plan on having one and your old man kept your account filled like it was an ATM machine.

” He blew out his disgust, cursed again.

“But no, you couldn’t just go along with it.

You had to pick that one time to insist on doing the right thing.

Like you ever knew what that was...” More disgust, more curses. “You did that to spite me.”

No, Neal had done it because he was tired of covering for the group who acted like irresponsible, spoiled babies—himself included. “Obviously, you still hold a grudge.”

“Obviously. “

“Look, Simon, I didn’t ask you here to rehash the many errors of our misspent youth. I’m trying to do the right thing by Rachel because she’s decent and I don’t want to see her used.”

“Unless you’re the one doing the using, right?”

“I’m not involved with her and I don’t plan to be.”

The harsh laugh said he didn’t agree. “Sure, tell that to somebody who doesn’t know you.”

The guy thought he knew him? One day, Neal might tell him what he’d really been doing these past few years when Simon and most of the world thought he was playing.

“Anyway, you’ve signed on with her at Claudia’s.

Is the contract complete?” All he needed was a “yes” and he’d take care of the rest, along with another warning to Rachel about the danger of spending time with Simon Bainbridge.

“Well, we’re going to a show tonight, so no, it’s not complete yet. Another night with her will give me more time to figure out how much I enjoy her company and imagine what she’ll look like in my bed.” Big sigh. “Like I said, the not touching is a powerful aphrodisiac.”

Damn the man. Neal fought for patience, failed. “So, tonight’s your last night with her?”

“Maybe.” Pause and then “Or maybe not. Hmm. On second thought...” He grabbed his phone, punched out a number.

“Hello, Claudia? Hi there. This is Simon Bainbridge. How are you?” A soft laugh, followed by a polite “I just wanted to thank you for connecting me with Rachel Reese. She’s truly stunning.

” Another laugh, a dip in his voice. “Oh, indeed. Listen, can you book me with her for the next week? Great. Thank you, Claudia.” Click.

Neal stared at the man he’d once traveled and partied with, even though he’d never particularly cared for him. The many reasons why smothered his brain, threatened the use of logic as anger tore through him. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I’m scheduling time with Rachel.

” The man’s expression hardened. “You think I don’t know your games?

You invite me to one of my favorite restaurants, bring out the high-end scotch, and give me big-money basketball tickets?

That’s got desperate and ‘want something’ all over it.

” He rubbed his jaw, studied Neal. “And I know exactly what or should I say whom you want. Not. Going. To. Happen.”

“Leave her alone.”

“What if she doesn’t want to be left alone?”

“Can’t you for once be a gentleman and honor the rules?

” Neal didn’t stop to consider the irony behind his words before he pushed on.

“You agreed in that contract with Claudia not to get involved in a relationship with your companion.” Wait until he saw Rachel…

How could she think this jerk was decent?