The Playboy

by Alice Ward

  I laughed. “Is that an offer?”

  There was no hesitation. “Yes.”

  I took a long sip of my wine, clinging to the cool glass instead of to him, like I wanted to do. No man had ever affected me the way Zane did. It was like my body was being pulled toward his. Like he had a gravitational pull on me somehow. Whatever it was, I felt helpless to stop it.

  “What makes you think I don’t have lots of ideas in my head already?”

  He didn’t answer, just led me back out onto the deck where he took the wine out of my hand. “Sit.”

  I would have normally bristled at any command, but I found myself sinking into the cushions, scooting over so that he could have room beside me.

  “Exactly how many men from your past am I competing with, Sloane?”

  “Three.” I couldn’t believe I blurted that out so fast. “Don’t ruin things by telling me your number, okay?”

  “It’s not as many as you probably think.” One seductive finger ran over my collarbone as his gaze lingered over the area. “And none of them have been serious. I seem to attract a certain type of female. Ditzy and on the easy side.”

  “You like those kinds of girls?” I was perplexed. If he liked that type then what was he doing with me?

  “That’s a complicated question.”

  “How so?”

  He looked up at the stars as if they might give him answers. “For all of my life, I’ve avoided being held down in one place, so being with women who were, um, not exactly marriage material suited me just fine.”

  “And now?”

  He exhaled a long breath and looked down at me again. “And now, I’m not sure. Recently, I’ve felt, I don’t know, unsettled. Restless, maybe. Or searching might be the better word.”

  I pushed his hair from his face. “What are you searching for?”

  He shook his head as his eyes dropped to my lips before meeting mine again. “I think I might have found it.”

  This could be a line, I knew that. In fact, it probably was. He was most likely feeding me the exact same words he fed every woman. The thing was… I didn’t care.

  All I cared about was how close his lips were to mine. Then closer. Closer.

  There.

  His lips were so warm and they tasted of wine and chocolate. Some people said that fireworks exploded before their eyes. For me, kissing Zane was like sinking into a warm bath.

  It was then that I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, I was screwed.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Zane

  Her lips were soft, supple, yielding, and I was in way over my head. She was warm and sweet, mouth opening to give and receive. I’d never experienced anything like it.

  One of her hands snaked its way around my neck as she ran her tongue around mine seductively. My brain was turning to mush at sonic speed.

  What the hell was happening to me?

  Gently, so as not to alarm her that I was freaking out inside, I ended the amazing kiss that threatened to change the man I’d been. I rested my forehead on hers as I steadied myself the best I could. “Wow, Sloane.”

  Her body trembled under me. “I agree, wow.”

  All I wanted to do was scoop her up and take her to the nearest bed. But I had to regroup. The woman possessed a power over me none ever had — the power to hurt me. No one had ever possessed that power.

  I had to pull back, make some adjustments. Taking her hand in mine, I had to stop it from running all over me the way it was. “Well, I better let you get some rest so you can get to writing tomorrow morning.” Letting her hand go, I started to sit up.

  She reached out and touched my shoulder, stopping me. “Really, Zane? You want to leave?”

  Giving her a quick glance, I pushed to my feet and ran my hands through my hair. “You have a lot to do. I don’t want to get in the way of your first novel. Which I know will be a best seller. I expect you to dedicate the book to me, you know.” Fuck. I was rambling, but I couldn’t stop myself.

  She stood too and followed me to the door. I could feel her presence — sexy, yearning, and confused as hell.

  She had every right to be confused. I was too.

  When I reached out for the doorknob, I felt her hand on my shoulder. “Zane, is everything okay?”

  No. Nothing was okay. Nothing would ever be okay again.

  Somehow finding the strength and tact to turn and face her, I stuffed my hands in my pockets so I wouldn’t pull her into my arms. “Yeah, it’s great. Give me a yell when you’re finished writing and maybe we can hang out.”

  I hated the way I was feeling. My insides were all wiggly. Maybe it wasn’t her that was having that effect on me. Maybe it was the food. Yeah, it was probably the food. Food poisoning made more sense than what I was thinking.

  Love.

  No, that wasn’t it. Love was a ridiculous notion.

  I’d just met the chick.

  But her face had fallen, her shoulders drooped. I’d hurt her, and it was like a kick to the gut. I hadn’t meant to do that.

  Just walk away, Zane. Don’t look back. If you make direct eye contact, you’ll be going right back inside, and lose yourself to the vixen. Keep going, man.

  But I just stood there, my feet planted to the floor.

  “Zane?” Her soft hand grabbed mine before I could make my getaway.

  “Yes?”

  She licked her lips. “Can I have one more kiss?”

  Fuck.

  I cupped her face with my hands, desperate to do just that. But if I kissed her right now, I’d never stop until I was inside her. And once I was inside her, I’d never want to leave.

  “I think it’s best we leave things on a friendly note right now. I don’t want to get in your way.”

  She opened her mouth to say something, then closed it and nodded. “Thank you for a lovely island welcome.”

  I nodded and leaned down to kiss her cheek. Even that was a mistake. It was so hard to pull back. “Sleep well.”

  With an act of willpower I never knew I possessed, I pulled away and stepped through her door. When it closed softly behind me, I almost turned and burst back inside.

  But I needed to think. I needed to understand what was happening in my head. I didn’t want to do anything we would both regret. In the space of a few hours, I’d come to care about her more than that.

  Once I was safely inside my bungalow, I picked up my cell and called the one man I trusted. My college roommate, Jeff. He’d know what I should do.

  Jeff had been a confirmed bachelor up until two years ago. I was at the wedding, and both he and his girl looked happy. She was sweet as honey and dripped with class. Then they got pregnant, and he said she turned into a shrew. If I wanted to talk to someone who knew both the good and bad of a relationship, he was my man.

  After the third ring, he picked up. “Zane? Everything okay?”

  “No.” It was then I realized I hadn’t called my old friend in nearly a year. We’d sent a few random texts here and there. No wonder he asked a question like that. “Sorry. I know it’s been a while. What time is it in Texas?”

  “Six in the morning, a busy time for a Monday, man.”

  “Shit, man. I’m sorry. I was just thinking about you, and frankly, needed some of your sage advice.”

  He grunted. “All my advice got pounded out of me a couple years ago, and I’m fucked on time. My kid’s been vomiting all night, so I’m taking him to the clinic soon. What’s up?”

  “That all sucks, man. Hope he’s better soon. How is life otherwise?”

  His guffaw was so loud I had to pull the phone away from my ear. “Let me give you the quick rundown on my happy life. I lost my job last week because my wife kept calling and interrupting the workday, and my boss told me that if I couldn’t control her, I couldn’t possibly control his company. Little Jeff has a little brother on the way.”

  “Oh, congrats, man.” I had to smile at his good news.

  “Congrats? Yeah, that’s what any unmarr
ied man would say. Sure, kids are a blessing, blah, blah, blah. Listen, do yourself a favor and get a vasectomy STAT. It ain’t worth it, hombre.”

  Shit.

  “Sorry, man. Anything I can do to help?”

  “Yeah. Save yourself. Anyway, what were you needing?”

  Dare I say?

  “Nothing important now. Just woman trouble.”

  The guffaw about blew an eardrum this time. “They’re all trouble. Whoever she is, run. Doesn’t matter how beautiful, how terrific the sex is, how much you think you might love her or she might love you… it’s a trap. T. R. A. P. Run, man. Seriously. Don’t look back.”

  “Um…”

  Jeff sighed. “Have you fucked her yet?”

  “No.”

  He snorted. “Then you’ve known her for what, an hour?”

  Even after all this time, he knew me well.

  “Yeah. We kissed and it, well… it fucked me up.”

  He laughed, but it was bitter. “Let me guess, you saw bursts of bright light, like fireworks or stars or some shit like that? Electricity shot through you?”

  “Man, how did you—?”

  “Get out of there, man. Run like hell. Get on a plane, a boat, a bicycle, anything, but get the hell away from her. That’s how it all starts. Don’t you see that? Don’t be a fool like me. It’s too late for me.”

  “But—”

  “No buts. You have a chance. One kiss is all it takes. But you can get over that one kiss. If you go in for another, you’re done for. If you have sex, forget about it, Zane. You’re as good as married and on the road to hell.”

  “It’s—”

  “Sure, it all seems like a pretty fucking picture as they get you up to that altar. After the I dos are said, it takes no time for their fangs to sprout and their claws to show. By then, it’s too late. You’re a daddy and stuck like Chuck.”

  I was dead silent. Was he right? Should I leave?

  “I don’t know…”

  Another snort. “I hope you’re packing. I hope you’re about to get off this phone and do what I’ve said. If you can’t leave, then for fuck’s sake avoid that woman at all costs. She’s the devil, dude.”

  I barked out a laugh. “She’s not the devil. And how bad is marriage, really? Aren’t there good times?”

  “No.”

  Wow, this wasn’t good. Maybe it was just sleep deprivation talking.

  “Okay, thanks for the pep talk, Jeff. I hope things start to look up for you. Tell Maggie hi from me.”

  “Zane says to tell you hi, babe.”

  Fuck, had she been right there the whole time?

  Had he been fucking with me? Was she actually giving a blow job as he railed at me?

  “Tell him love isn’t quite as bad as you make it out to be, sweetie.”

  Jeff laughed, but it was a softer sound this time. “Run, Zane. See you, buddy.”

  Now I was just confused. Was fighting their form of foreplay?

  I shook my head and tapped my dad’s number. After half of one ring, Dad answered, “Zane, what’s wrong, son?”

  Damn, I need to make more calls to people.

  “Nothing, Dad. I met a girl.”

  “Oh no, son. I thought we had this talk. Always, and I do mean, always wear a condom. You can’t trust these loose women you tend to run with. Is there a doctor down there in…” he paused. “I’ve lost track. Where you are, Zane?”

  I fell backwards onto my bed. “Maldives, Dad.”

  “Oh, yes. I think I recall your mother saying you went there to some resort. Is there a doctor there? Maybe he can get rid of whatever you’ve gotten.”

  Wow, was I really that fucking bad or did they just think I was?

  Whatever the case, I needed to make some changes if my own father’s brain went immediately to sexually transmitted diseases when he thought of me.

  “Dad, I’ve managed to stay disease free for thirty years, by the way. Jumping to that conclusion won’t make me call home more often.”

  “So, you’ve got some girl pregnant then?”

  What the fuck?

  “No, Dad. Look, you listen while I talk. Deal?” I pressed the heel of my hand into my eye, hoping to keep my head from exploding.

  “Deal, son. I’m sorry for jumping to conclusions. Go ahead.”

  “Thanks. I met a woman today. She’s smart, gorgeous, a good girl. We kissed just once, and it was like shooting stars filled the universe. What does that mean?”

  “It means that you two have good chemistry.”

  “Did that happen to you with Mom?”

  He laughed. “Oh, no. We were set up by a mutual friend. Three years later, we decided marriage was the next logical step. Not a shooting star in sight, but we’ve had a good relationship all these years.” He paused and I could practically see him stroking his beard. “Do you like this woman?”

  “Yeah, she’s great, but she has something going on that she can’t tell me about. I’m pretty sure she’s a private eye, but she says she’s a photographer. She says things that don’t add up.”

  “Perhaps the woman is just a liar, Zane.”

  That stung.

  “There’s more to it than that.” Shoving my hand through my hair, I stared at the ceiling. “She’s watching this couple for some reason. She hasn’t told me she’s doing it, but she is.”

  “Mysterious.” He seemed to be pondering things. “Maybe the mysterious nature of things has you excited.”

  He was right. I was excited about all the spy shit. “Maybe.”

  “I think we’ve found the cause, son. Don’t you?”

  I sighed as relief took the tension out of my body. “So, do you think it’s safe for me to pursue things with her without the fear of falling head over heels in love?”

  His chuckle was deep yet raspy with age. “Are you afraid of love, son? Has that been your issue all these years? Why would you fear something so nice?”

  “It kind of rules you, Dad. It makes you do things you normally wouldn’t. Like drugs and alcohol does.”

  “Don’t be silly. Love is nothing to be afraid of. You’re not some spring chicken, Zane. Love isn’t something one should avoid. True love doesn’t happen with just anyone.”

  “But you said that you and Mom didn’t have any big sparks.” I shook my head as I pinched my brow.

  Why was this relationship shit so damn complicated?

  And why the hell was I even thinking about it?

  “Just because we never had sparks like that doesn’t mean our love is any less real. It settled in with us. Little by little, we both realized we had more than an admiration going on between us. Take my advice and let things happen however they will.”

  I suddenly missed my family.

  “Thanks, Dad. I’ll call more often.”

  “See that you do. I like to hear your voice, son. A visit would be even nicer.”

  Yeah, it would be nice.

  “Soon.”

  He chuckled. “I won’t tell your mother you said that. Don’t want to get her hopes up.”

  That jab hit center mass.

  “Goodbye, Dad.”

  “Bye, son.”

  I ended the call, feeling even shitter than before, and no closer to knowing what I should do.

  I’d sleep on it. I’d just close my eyes, get a good night’s sleep, and reconsider everything tomorrow. I’d see Sloane tomorrow and kiss her all day if I had to. I’d get those shooting stars under control. No electricity was going to conquer me.

  At least that’s what I hoped.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Sloane

  Leaning with my back against the door, I held my fingers to my pulsing lips as my mind raced.

  Why did he leave me like that?

  Slowly, I went to the bathroom to look in the mirror to see if something was wrong with me. I half expected to see something peeking out of my nose or a smudge or something on my face. Instead, I found my normal face, free of any faults.

  “So
why’d he leave?”

  I put my hand in front of my mouth and breathed out to see if my breath was stinky. “It’s not that.”

  Leaning in to inspect myself further, I looked into my eyes. “Maybe he just didn’t get the same sparks you did, Sloane. Let it go.”

  I turned and walked out of the bathroom, knowing I wasn’t about to let it go.

  We had a spark, dammit.

  Traipsing into the living area, I was about to fall on the sofa when I saw a light come on in Smith’s bungalow. Hurrying to the window, I peeked out and saw that Smith and his girlfriend were leaving. I’d been wrong about them staying in for the rest of the night.

  Now would be the good time to sneak into his place and see if I could get any incriminating photos. Moving quickly, I had to put the Zane business out of my mind.

  Finding the wet suit in my bag in the bedroom, I pulled it out and sighed. It was a complete bitch to put on and take off, but it was a necessary evil. It was black, so it would keep me from being seen too easily. And it was waterproof if I had to slip into the water. It would also give me a place to hide my Glock, unlike any of the bathing suits I had with me.

  With a bit of tugging, I got into the suit and pulled a black mask over my face. If Smith had any type of security camera set up, I wouldn’t be recognized on it. I noticed he’d left the door on the deck open. That might be because he had other ways of keeping his things safe or he might just be a dumbass. Either way, I wasn’t about to take any chances.

  I grabbed my phone and gun so I’d be ready if I encountered Smith. He might have a gun too. I had to cover all my bases. Moving out onto the deck, I gave a quick glance at Zane’s place. His lights were all out. Had he already forgotten about me and fallen asleep?

  Bastard.

  Had our kiss meant nothing to him?

  Shaking off that mess, I headed off my deck and walked down the pier to get to Smith’s. They’d left the light on in the living room, making it easy to see. But I’d be easy to see too. I had to be careful.

  If I was lucky, paradise would have made Smith stupid, and he’d forgotten to lock his safe or left a suitcase of evidence open. I knew it wouldn’t be that easy, but a girl could hope. I could impress the home office with my quick actions, then go home and forget about all this.