Jessie: OMG you should see the guy Sienna is all over!
Jessie: We’ve lost Sienna. Woman down! Woman down! Where are you?
Vanessa: We’ve left the bar and gone for Chinese. Msg me back!
Jessie: How far away are you? We’re about to order!
Vanessa: The flight doesn’t take that long! Did you forget your charger… AGAIN???
Geez! You let your phone battery die one time and these bitches would never let you forget it. I’d been looking forward to this weekend for weeks. From the moment we’d booked our annual girls’ getaway I’d been bouncing and as it got closer, I got more and more excited. We were all flying into Melbourne from where we were all scattered around Australia for a weekend of cocktails, shopping, brunches, gossiping, dancing and maybe a few more cocktails.
At university we’d been thick as thieves but obviously Sydney couldn’t handle all of us, and Vanessa ended up living on the sunny Gold Coast while Jessie – I still couldn’t figure out what the hell she’d done to deserve ending up married with a couple of kids – was living in Hobart. Sienna and I were the only ones still battling the morning commute amongst the Sydney traffic, but even though we lived in the same city, we barely saw each other these days. Life had a way of getting in the way. That’s why Sienna had caught the early flight and made it to drinks, and I was sitting in the back of a taxi at almost midnight with a grumbling stomach and pissed off attitude.
Watching the meter tick over thirty dollars, my frustrations were growing with every dollar. I was supposed to be on the same flight as Sienna at lunch time, but at the last minute a client had called a meeting I couldn’t get out of and I’d been delayed. Then I’d gotten caught in peak hour and wedged in a corner between a man whose hand kept accidentally brushing up against my arse and another guy with the longest nose hair I’d ever seen, on the overcrowded, under-air-conditioned train on my way to the airport.
I shouldn’t have rushed.
At first my flight was simply delayed due to mechanical issues.
With nothing I could do about it, I headed to the nearest bar to drown my sorrows and hopefully keep up with my girls. Although I was downing gin and tonic rather than the fruity cocktail I’d been dreaming about, I couldn’t miss the way people around me were staring. After checking my reflection in the window, I decided they could shove their judgement where the sun didn’t shine. I was fucking fabulous and if they were too stiff and boring to see it, then that was their boring black suited bad luck.
Three drinks down and the departures board above my head was still showing delayed and it was almost eight. I was missing everything. Trying to avoid getting trashed on overly expensive drinks, I grabbed my bag and went for a wander. Walking into the kiosk, I headed straight for the shelves of trashy magazines. Depending on which one I was looking at determined whether the hottest couple were getting together, breaking up, cheating or having a baby. It was seriously hard to tell which was the bigger joke. Feeling a little unbalanced, that’s what you get for guzzling drinks on an empty stomach, I stocked up on chocolate bars and a bag of chips and headed out.
Making my way to the gate, I flopped down in a seat and stared out the window. Behind me I could hear a couple whispering; at least they thought they were whispering, but I could definitely hear every single word they were telling each other about all the filthy things they wanted to do before debating the possibility of the airport bathroom. I tried to be disgusted, I really did. The problem was my jealousy overrode my disgust and I was dreaming about all the things I wished a guy would do to me. It’d been way too long since I’d even had the opportunity to get down and dirty, let alone found a ready and willing partner to help make those fantasies come true.
When the announcement came over the speaker that our flight had now been cancelled and to make our way to the counter to speak with the airline staff, I almost lost it. The only upside in this whole shit show was that I was sitting right at the gate and was first in line. After being fed some bullshit about our aircraft hitting a bird on landing and blah blah blah, our plane was grounded, but they could squeeze me on another one leaving in fifteen minutes. As quick as I could I agreed, traded my boarding pass and was told my new flight was leaving from a gate at the other end of the airport. Of course, it bloody was. It wouldn’t be my life if it was leaving from the gate ten feet from me. Not even bothering to get cranky, I smiled and took off jogging through the airport.
Making it to the gate with no time to spare, the lady standing at the top of the stairs scowled at me as she scanned my boarding pass before insisting very politely, I move my arse. Finding my seat, I didn’t even care that I was next to a five-year-old with the patience and attention span of a goldfish. Well, not for the first thirty seconds I didn’t. When he elbowed me in the boob because his mother said he couldn’t have his drink until the plane took off, I quickly changed my mind. Kids were definitely not my thing.
It wasn’t the smoothest flight I’d ever had but touching down in Melbourne meant I was finally here, and I wasn’t about to let the wind and rain scare me from having a fantastic weekend with my girls. The moment the wheels hit the tarmac, I turned my phone on, ignoring the stink eye the lady across the aisle was shooting me. I wanted to know where the girls were. Hopefully they were still out, and I could change my shoes and top and head to meet them.
Vanessa: We’re going to a club called Utopia. Get your skanky arse there!
Jessie: Save me! Vanessa’s ordered shots.
Jessie: OMG! You should see Sienna! She’s not sleeping alone tonight.
Vanessa: Can you get pregnant watching someone dance? Cause I think I just got knocked up!
Vanessa: And Sienna’s out.
Jessie: He was hot AF.
Jessie: I want one.
Jessie: I know I’m married, but…
Jessie: I love Chris. I do…but…
Jessie: Why won’t he fuck me anymore?
Jessie: Am I not pretty anymore?
Jessie: I miss Chris.
Jessie: Hurry up! I need you.
Jessie: I love you, Em.
Vanessa: Jessie’s plastered. I’m carrying her back to the hotel. MSG me when you get this.
I couldn’t stop the snort from slipping out. I could picture Jessie’s meltdown. If Vanessa had ordered shots, it was all her fault and she deserved to be the one stuck in the hotel bathroom holding Jessie’s long strawberry blonde hair out of the toilet while she puked her guts up. Jessie and booze had never been a good combination. A hilarious combination, yes, but it never ended pretty.
Vanessa’s message was almost an hour ago. They must’ve gone too hard too early. At least if they were already tucked up in bed sleeping off their bad decisions, we might have a hope of hitting brunch in the morning. I’d been dreaming about the poached eggs with the thick, creamy hollandaise sauce from my favourite hole-in-the-wall café for weeks. There was no freaking way I was missing that all because party girl couldn’t hold her liquor.
Finally arriving at the hotel, I paid the driver the small fortune he charged and beelined it straight for reception, only to be stopped by the concierge manning the front door.
“Excuse me, Miss. Are you a guest here?”
“Yes,” I replied, sounding a tad snooty.
“Do you have your key card?”
“I haven’t checked in yet.”
He eyed me sceptically. I got it. I did. It was after midnight, I was showing up to a fancy pants hotel with no luggage, mud on my boots, my hair an absolute disaster and a chip on my shoulder the size of the Grand Canyon; if I was in his shoes I’d probably question me too.
“Can I get your name?” he asked politely.
“Emma Hardy.”
“Thank you. I won’t be a second.”
Standing there I watched him scurry off to his little booth to the side of the marble staircase before lifting a phone to his ear and speaking in hushed tones. I don’t know why he even bothered. It wasn’t like I didn’t know that he was
talking about me. Folding my arms across my chest, I shivered as the breeze kicked up, ruffling my already messy hair. Wishing I had a hair tie, I shook my head trying to get it out of my face.
“My apologies for the delay. The reception desk is unattended at this time of the evening, however if you head inside and to your right, Justine will meet you there and is happy to assist you in checking in. Do you have any luggage I can assist you with?”
Honestly, I was caught off guard. Maybe the whole world wasn’t against me tonight. Glancing down at his name badge, I replied. “Thank you, Paul. Unfortunately, the airline didn’t believe I needed my luggage tonight, so no, I’m all good.”
I’d obviously made him uncomfortable. I was an idiot. No wonder they didn’t usually let me out near people. I had absolutely no filter. It was a well-known fact I tended to speak first and think second. It wasn’t something I was proud of, but I gave up apologising for it a long time ago. I didn’t have time for that shit.
“Ah. Have a good night, Miss Hardy,” Paul murmured before almost vanishing before my eyes as he tucked himself away behind a wide marble column out of the wind.
Although Justine met me at the counter, just as Paul had promised, it was evident she wanted to be anywhere else. I was dying to ask her why she even bothered working the night shift if she didn’t want to actually work. She was probably more interested in watching Netflix or porn or something and my arrival had interrupted her plans.
After snatching the key card and fobbing off her pathetic attempt at upselling me the overpriced breakfast package, I stepped into the lift and hit the button to the seventh floor. We were all in the same hotel but had separate rooms. I liked my space and my hot water. I’d roomed with Sienna when we were at Uni and had more cold showers than any teenage boy alive. I didn’t care if it cost me a week’s worth of wages, I was here to indulge, and on the seventh floor there was a king-sized bed and full bathroom with a spa tub waiting for me.
I was so caught up in my daydream of filling the bathroom with steam and standing under the scalding water that when the elevator dinged it almost had me pissing my pants. After pulling myself together, I trudged down the hallway looking for room seven twenty-four. Of course, it was at the opposite end of the hall. Inserting the key into the slot, I waited for the green light to flash and let me in. Instead I got a red one. Trying again, when red flashed, I saw red. Taking a deep breath, I figured I’d give it one more attempt before I marched my tired, cranky arse downstairs and ripped Justine a new one. At some point, something would go right. Trying to simmer down my temper, I closed my eyes and when I opened them again, I inserted it slowly, making sure it was dead straight. The green light flashed, and I’ll admit the relief that flooded me almost dropped me to my knees.
Stepping into the darkened room, I didn’t even bother to turn on the light. I was desperate to pee, and I wanted a hot shower. Everything else could come after that. Well, everything but me. I’d left my favourite battery-operated boyfriend at home in my nightstand and after the day I’d had, I needed him more than ever.
Flicking on the bathroom light, I turned on the taps and let steam start filling the room while I stripped out of my mud-covered and smelly clothes.
CHAPTER THREE
BRYCE
Rolling over, I thought I heard someone in my room. Scrubbing my hand over my face, I forced open my tired eyes and let them adjust to the darkness. No one was there. I was probably just imagining things. I was used to rooming with guys on trips but this time I was solo, thank god. I couldn’t handle another night of Damien’s freight train snoring or Caleb’s arse trumpet – that thing was toxic. Careful not to knock my shoulder which was throbbing, I turned back on my side, snuggled down, and closed my eyes.
“What the fuck?” I yelled, feeling the bed dip and something warm move behind me.
“Who the hell are you?” a high-pitched voice shrieked, almost deafening me.
Fumbling around, I found the switch on the lamp sitting on the night stand and clicked it on. Immediately my eyes squinted at the harsh light but there was no way I was closing them. There was someone in my room. In my bed. You could bet your arse I was sorting this shit out.
Kicking my legs free, I climbed out of the bed and stood to the side, staring down at the most beautifully terrified chick I’d ever seen. Her face was scrubbed clean, her long inky black hair tickled her tits, tits I couldn’t drag my eyes away from. And hey, no one would blame me. They were right there. The pink dusky nipples pointing directly at me.
“Do you mind?” she snapped defiantly as she tugged the sheet up to cover her chest forcing my eyes higher.
Her emerald eyes were alight with fight, and I shivered. This chick, this spit fire, the one currently cowering, naked in my bed, could be a hell of a lot of fun.
“Sorry,” I offered with a bullshit shrug. I wasn’t sorry, not one little bit. She was hot and deserved to be admired.
And she wasn’t as innocent as she was pretending to be. With me standing, she was at the perfect height to be at eye level with my hardening cock. Luckily, I’d worn my boxers to bed but right now they were doing very little to hide my growing predicament. I had two choices. One would be the right thing to do, the gentlemanly thing to do – cover myself appropriately and sort this mess out. The second option, and the one anyone who knew me would bet I’d be going with, was to see just how far I could tempt the little minx. Option B it was.
Folding my arms over my chest I watched as she licked her lips. Fuck! This chick was good. Maybe I wouldn’t win this round but damn it was going to be fun losing. “What’s your name?” I asked.
“What’s yours?” she replied haughtily.
“Bryce,” I offered, deliberately leaving my last name off. She should be grateful she was getting my actual name not the fake one I usually gave the women who climbed into my bed.
“Emma.”
“Hi, Emma. Nice to meet you. Wanna tell me why you’re crawling naked into my bed in the middle of the night? I mean, I’m not exactly upset about the whole situation, especially the naked part, but usually you’d have to buy me a drink first.”
“Firstly, you’re an arse, did you know that?” I nodded, encouraging her to go on. After all, I’d been called a lot worse. “And secondly, this is my bed. I just checked into the hotel, got my room key and here I am. So, if you wouldn’t mind, I’ve had a really shitty day and I just want to get some sleep. In other words, I’d appreciate it if you could get your crap and get the hell out.”
I took a minute to consider her explanation. Although it’d never happened to me before, I’d heard about girls paying off hotel staff to get into our rooms. Some had stolen our shit, others had climbed into bed, waiting for us to get back before trying to seduce us out of our jocks but this didn’t feel like that. Her words almost felt honest.
Walking over to my exploded suitcase on the floor I bent down and grabbed a pair of sweatpants, not completely unaffected when I heard the sharp intake of breath escape from her as I stuck my arse in the air. After pulling them on, I grabbed a shirt.
“Here, put this on,” I instructed, passing her one of my training shirts.
She sat there staring at it like it might bite. It wouldn’t. I might, but my shirt most certainly wouldn’t. “I’m not wearing your clothes! I don’t even know you.”
“You’re right. You don’t know me. Yet you’re in my bed naked. I mean, I’m more than happy for you to stay that way…”
With a huff she yanked my shirt over her head, but not before giving me another peep show. Trying not to be an arse, at least not a complete arse, I turned my back and picked up the phone on the desk, calling down to reception. When the snarky girl on the other end answered, my patience plummeted.
“Hi, this is room seven twenty-four,” I began, trying to keep my cool.
“I know.”
Seriously? That’s her response. Did she even understand that she was in a customer service industry? If she didn’t,
she sure as hell would tomorrow after I’d spoken with her manager.
“Great. Now we’ve established you know which room I’m in, could you please send someone up? We have a situation here.”
“What situation?”
“Please just send someone up so we can resolve this?”
“Really? You want me to send someone up to your room to sort out a situation? It’s almost one in the morning.”
“I know it’s almost one o’clock. So, I suggest you send someone straight away so we can get this sorted out and we can all get some much-needed sleep.”
“Fine.” And with that she hung up. I honestly had no idea if she was sending someone or not. Her snot-nosed attitude didn’t exactly inspire confidence.
“Is someone coming up?” an exasperated voice behind me asked with a heaving sigh.
Spinning back around to find the woman who was the source of all the drama staring at me, I couldn’t hold it against her. I couldn’t hold anything against her. She was sitting straight up, her back leaning against the bed head. Her long black hair hanging loose around her shoulders and her wide emerald eyes staring back at me. But it was my shirt she was wearing that had me sucking in the short sharp breaths. It was at least three sizes too big for her and it gaped at her neck. Not that it was a problem, though. At least it wasn’t from where I was standing. Towering over her, it gave me the perfect view straight down the collar to her perky tits that had my mouth watering.
“Hopefully,” I admitted, not really convinced.
“Shit!”
“Something wrong?” I asked. I thought getting someone up here and sorting this out would be a good thing, unless there was more to this story than Emma was letting on.
“Ah, yeah something’s wrong. I don’t even have any underwear on.”
Not what I was expecting.
Leaning my butt on the corner of the desk, I smirked like the arrogant arse I was. “I don’t see the issue?”
With a breathy sigh that made my balls tingle, Emma narrowed her eyes at me. “Just go and get my panties from the bathroom, would you?” Geez! She sounded like my mother did when she was exasperated with my dad, and instantly I understood why he took so much pleasure in riling her up. It was fun.
Played: A Second Chance Sports Romance (Playing Games Book 2) Page 2