Page 23 of Playing with Forever (Players Club Sinners #1)
Andrea
I frowned at the layout of designs spread on the conference table in front of me, contemplating what was missing from the overall message Brandon and I were trying to convey.
While we mostly created social media campaigns these days, sometimes it did us good to print everything out and move it around, like we were arranging spreads on a magazine.
Just staring at a computer screen for so long, you started to feel a little cross-eyed, and I’d found that changing the medium could jolt me out of an artistic rut.
“I think we made this one pop too much,” I said, tapping a section that was brighter than the rest, my brows still furrowed. “It’s too pink. We need to tone it down a bit. It’s hurting my eyes.”
Brandon laughed and made a note. “Sounds good. You know, I think that’s the first time I’ve seen you wear a frown in weeks.”
I looked up at him in surprise. “What do you mean?”
“Just that you seem really happy lately,” he explained.
“Oh, do I?” I said, trying to downplay the fact that I truly was more relaxed these days.
Regular sex, the exact kind I’d always craved—along with Chase himself—was the reason. But opening up to Brandon—who I knew was still interested in me and had even hinted again about a date—wasn’t something I felt comfortable doing.
He tipped his head, studying me too intently. “Yeah, you win the lottery and not tell me?”
He was clearly prying in a joking manner, trying to dig for more information that I wasn’t willing to share.
“No, just in a good mood lately, I guess,” I said, injecting a light tone to my voice while keeping things strictly surface-level.
“No reason to be in a bad mood. Everything’s going well here, we haven’t had any weird client emergencies or complaints…
” I forced a casual shrug and added a laugh, one that sounded too loud in the quiet of the room.
Brandon leaned back against the edge of the conference table, arms crossed, gaze lingering. “I love your laugh,” he said, his voice low and easy.
I stiffened, my smile faltering for half a second before I caught myself. The praise was probably meant to be harmless, but there was always this undercurrent with him. Always just a little too familiar. A little too personal.
“Well, I’m glad that you’re feeling so happy, whatever the reason,” he added when I didn’t reply, his eyes on my face. “You deserve to always feel that way.”
Ugh. There it was again—that tone. Like he was trying to stake a claim to something that had nothing to do with him. “That’s sweet, thank you,” I murmured, because what else could I say? I hated that I felt the need to feign appreciation just to avoid tension between us, but inside, I was cringing.
There was nothing romantic between us. Never had been, never would be. And I wished, so badly, that he’d quit with the compliments. The hopeful looks. The not-so-subtle hints. It wasn’t flattering anymore; it was exhausting.
I wanted to tell him in a firm, uncompromising tone, please stop . But I couldn’t, not without risking offending him. We worked together. One wrong word and suddenly I’m the “difficult” one. Or worse, I make things awkward for the whole team.
So instead, I returned to rearranging the printouts on the table—professional, polite, and internally begging for the moment to pass.
Thankfully, our senior PR manager called Brandon away to work on a different campaign for the afternoon, leaving me blissfully alone.
Knowing I was going to meet Chase at the club tonight after work kept me in high spirits and by the time five o’clock rolled around, I was ready to leave the office, and my earlier encounter with Brandon, behind.
I’d brought a change of clothes with me so I didn’t have to stop at home, and I slipped into the ladies room to swap out my more staid office attire of a pencil skirt and blouse for a figure flattering dress and seductive lingerie beneath.
I replaced my sensible flats for sexy heels, and I made up my eyes with more dramatic liner and shadow.
As the final touch, I swiped a daring red hue across my lips, just to tempt and tease Chase.
On my way, I texted as I headed out of the office building and to my car.
I’m already at the club. Don’t keep me waiting long.
I grinned at the subtle, seductive threat in his words, knowing no matter how quickly I got there, he’d still insist it wasn’t soon enough, and a delicious punishment would ensue. I couldn’t wait.
When I arrived at my vehicle, I came to an abrupt stop, my heart sinking. My front left tire was completely flat, leading me to believe I’d most likely driven over a nail or something equally sharp on the way to work and the tire had spent all day deflating. Shit .
I called Chase first thing, knowing this was going to take a while to get fixed and I didn’t want him to worry.
He answered immediately. “Hey, what’s up?”
“I have a flat tire,” I said, bummed that our night together was going to be delayed. “I need to call roadside assistance to change it out for me.”
“Don’t bother. I’ll come and do it for you.”
“What? No,” I said, shaking my head, even though he couldn’t see me. “You’re all the way at the club.”
“Which means I’ll get there about the same time as roadside assistance would anyway,” he said in a reasonable, but adamant tone. “Once I take care of the tire, you can drive the car to the club with me behind you.”
I bit my bottom lip. I really didn’t want to encourage Chase’s overbearing protective streak, but the idea of him coming to help me was actually really, really nice.
I sighed, and relented. “All right. But we’re not making this a habit, you rescuing me like I’m a damsel in distress, okay?”
He chuckled. “I would never make the mistake of calling you a damsel in distress,” Chase said, amusement in his tone. “I’ll be there in about thirty minutes.”
We hung up, and standing out in the parking lot made me feel like an idiot, especially with the Vegas sun beating down on me—yes, even at five thirty in the afternoon—so I waited in the lobby where there was air conditioning, sitting in the empty reception area.
I received a text from Chase letting me know he was a few minutes away from my work when I heard someone exit the elevator and glanced up to see who it was.
“What are you still doing here?” Brandon asked, looking surprised to see me there. “I thought you left a bit ago.”
“I tried,” I said, giving him a smile as he walked toward where I was sitting. “My tire has a flat.”
“Oh, shit. That sucks.” He shoved his hands into the front pockets of his slacks, tipping his head to the side. “Would you like me to give you a ride? Or—do you have a spare? I have a jack in my car, I could just—”
Telling myself he was just trying to be helpful, I kept my tone light, but resolute. “That’s so kind of you, really, but my—” I caught myself before I said the word boyfriend “—friend is already on the way.” I kept the gender of said “friend” vague.
A small little frown formed between his brows, and I didn’t miss the way his gaze took in my dress, heels, and the sexier makeup I’d applied after work. “It’s getting late, so I’ll stay with you.”
Again, I had to temper my tone. “I appreciate your concern, but that’s really not necessary.”
He sat down in the chair next to mine. “I insist.”
What the hell did I say to that? The lot had mostly cleared out, as had the building, so I told myself he was just being a gentleman.
To avoid small talk, I pulled out my phone and texted Violet to let her know what was going on.
She’d just arrived at work for the night, but had about ten minutes free before she started her shift, so I chatted with her while I waited for Chase to arrive, which happened shortly thereafter.
Chase parked his car next to mine, and I stood up, and so did Brandon, walking with me outside. When he saw Chase get out of his vehicle, I visibly saw Brandon stiffen.
“So, that’s why you’re dressed the way you are,” he said, finally addressing my attire, a derogatory tone to his voice. “I didn’t know you were seeing anyone,” he added, jumping to his own conclusions about Chase and sounding low key pissed off that I hadn’t divulged this bit of information sooner.
Not that it was any of his business. “I prefer to keep my personal life and work life separate,” I said, even though I didn’t owe him any explanation.
I stopped him before we walked any further, not missing the irritation in his gaze.
“Brandon, I know you don’t want me to say this, but seriously, you will find the right person for you.
You’re a great guy and I know someone is going to see that. ”
Before Brandon could respond, I headed toward Chase. I didn’t know how much more obvious I could be without getting hurtful and I honestly didn’t want it to come to that.
I grinned as I walked up to Chase, focusing on him instead, just as his own appreciative gaze took in my sexy outfit as I approached him.
He looked drop dead gorgeous in a black dress shirt and black slacks—very much the alpha male.
He’d rolled back the sleeves of his shirt, exposing those sexy forearms and the beautiful artwork inking his skin.
His hair, I noticed, was a bit disheveled, as if he’d spent the entire drive shoving his fingers through the strands because of his worry.
“Hey, you,” Chase said, gently laying a hand on my hip as he kissed me—a light touch of his lips, but clearly a deliberately possessive gesture—then glanced back at Brandon. “Who is that?”
Yeah, Chase didn’t miss a thing. “A co-worker who didn’t want me to wait for you by myself, since most everyone else is gone for the night.”