Page 29 of Playing Dirty

Wetting my lips, I murmur, “I don’t know what kind of criteria you require to bring someone to bed.”

“Seems like you have some ideas.”

There’s a knowing gleam in his hazel eyes, amused and almost taunting, and I don’t know how I feel about it. Too many things to unpack while I’m under his scrutiny. So instead, I just spew the next thought that comes to my mind.

“I just don’t know why you would be spending your night at a bar with someone you weren’t interested in hooking up with.”

He nods a couple times, leaning forward and resting his elbows on the table. “That’s a fair point, but here’s the thing: I’m not really looking to hook up with my cousin.”

I scoff instantly. “Really? And thiscousinjust happened to be in the area?”

Madden doesn’t even flinch from the suspicion laced in my question, just supplies me with a seamless answer.

“He lives in Boston now but is originally from here. When he heard I’d be at the resort over break, he asked to meet up since he’d be home for the holidays too.” He pauses, arching a brow. “If you’d bothered to show up for dinner tonight, my mom would’ve happily confirmed all this for you. But I guess you’ll just have to take my word for it.”

I study him for a beat, then two, before my stomach tightens with realization that there’s very little chance he’s lying. Which means… I just mistook his chatting and having a good time with hiscousinas him trying to get laid tonight. And I don’t know if I’m more pissed about my reaction to watching them in the first place or the relief flooding my system now knowing I was wrong.

“Cousin,” I echo like it’s some foreign concept I’d never heard of.

“Cousin,” he confirms before adding, “Well,secondcousin, if you wanna get technical.”

Shit.

Almost as if he can read my mind, he nods again, and his lips roll inward, fighting a smile while I process this new bit of information. It’s obvious he’s amused, and I’m… I don’t know what I am.

Confused as shit, for sure.

There’s no way for me to back-peddle out of this, not when I’ve already made an ass of myself for no goddamn reason. I don’t have time anyway, because the cousin in question returns from the bar and slides on his stool across from Madden. His eyes, the same hazel color as Madden’s, but with a dash more green, flash between us.

“Um, hi. You know each other?”

Madden simply offers, “Adam’s son,” as if it explains everything.

But apparently it does, because the blond guy smirks a little and gives me one of thosesup brochin nods. “Archer. Madden’s cousin.”

The vise constricting my lungs releases when the blond guy confirms Madden’s story, andfuck,I don’t understand why. Why would it matter if he was some random dude Madden’s trying to bed?

Jesus Christ, what is wrong with me?

“I’m gonna hit the head quick, but it looks like the pool table’s about to open up if you wanna grab it,” Archer says, his gaze trained on Madden before flicking to me. He studies me for a minute with the same penetrating stare his cousin possesses before murmuring, “Nice meeting you, Theo.”

I have no idea how he knows my name, seeing as Madden hadn’t used it when he introduced me, but it doesn’t really matter. I don’t bother returning the sentiment either, still too stunned and embarrassed by what just happened.

Madden rises from his seat to go grab the pool table, and the only thought on my mind, once again, is escaping before I can make this situation any worse.

Unfortunately, Madden’s faster than me—and possibly a mind reader—grabbing my wrist before I can even take a step back toward Camden. His skin singes mine where it makes contact, and there’s an intensity in his gaze as he leans in a little closer.

“Don’t worry, Theo. The only guy ending up in my bed tonight is you.”

Eight

Madden

A hand taps me on the shoulder around ten o’clock, pulling my attention away from Archer to find one of the guys Theo’s been hanging out with waiting behind me.

“I think it’s time for this one to go home,” he says, motioning over his shoulder with a thumb before I can even get a word out.

My gaze shifts to follow, only to land on Theo.