by Diana Nixon
No Strings Attached
By Diana Nixon
Checkmate Series
Book II
No Strings Attached
(Summary)
Games can be different. Some are innocent, others are dangerous. But there are also those that you will never learn how to play.
Oliver Altier is a guy whose every day is a game, a game of passion. His only rule is: no strings attached, no guilt involved. Oliver thinks he knows everything about how to please women. Until one day, he meets Jillian Murano, a woman who is so much like him when it comes to relationships: she hates obligations, but she loves men, margaritas and fun.
What will be different this time?
Will passion and lust be enough to turn their games into something real?
If they thought it would be nothing but another play, they should have thought twice before getting into something that will change them both, once and for all…
Print edition details:
ISBN-13: 978-1502809414
ISBN-10: 1502809419
Copyright © 2014 by Diana Nixon
All rights reserved
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval systems, without prior written permission of the author except where permitted by law.
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
Cover design by Amina Black
To Carine Farrow Sullivan and Natasha Liggett. Many thanks for everything you have done to promote my books and help me find new readers:)
Acknowledgements
To my many dear readers, I would have never been able to write this book so fast without your support. Thanks to you, now I know that everything I do, is not pointless.
Special thanks to my wonderful editor, Heather Anne Davis. As always, you did a great job, lady!
I would also like to thank Mona Tippins and Carine Farrow Sullivan for their help with proofreading and French:) Amina Black, the cover that you have created for this book is stunning! Thank you so much for your talent and help!
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
About the author
Chapter 1
Jillian
You already know that your day is going to suck when you wake up in the morning and see a dress you had prepared for the day, the night before, hopelessly ruined by a dog that you never ever expected to see in your house, let along in your own bedroom.
“Anna!”
“Jeez, why are you shouting?” My sister entered my room, wearing a pair of stunning, dark-gray shoes and a trench that I bought just yesterday and didn’t even have a chance to wear yet myself.
“What the hell is that?” I asked, pointing to her outfit. Anna was only sixteen, eight years younger than me, but for at least the hundredth time now, I regretted inviting her to live with me while our parents were on their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary honeymoon. Thank God, this torture was about to end in less than 24 hours.
“It’s Robin,” Anna said, holding the dog in her hands. “Isn’t he cute? A friend of mine was selling him, and I couldn’t help myself, I just had to have him, so I bought this adorable, little creature,” she said in a baby voice, while making cutesy faces at the dog.
“No shit? Does my dress look as cute as he does? Now, I can only use it as a doormat! Wait, I was asking about my shoes and trench actually.” The dress was forgotten in no time, as my love for shoes could hardly be compared to anything else. Besides, I needed to work my butt off to afford this particular pair; they were freaking expensive!
“Oh, that… I thought you wouldn’t mind me wearing them, since I didn’t bring that many clothes and shoes with me.”
“You could have chosen anything, absolutely anything from my wardrobe, but you took my brand new pair of shoes that I didn’t even have a chance to wear yet!” I said, fuming.
“I thought you were having a day off today, so I really didn’t think you would mind if I borrowed them. I’m not trying to steal them or anything.”
“Why the hell would you think that I’m having a day off today?” I asked irritably, slipping into my black and red Mickey Mouse slippers. How very refreshing after wearing high heels almost twenty-four-seven, right? Well, I always liked contrasts.
“It’s 8:30 AM and you are still sitting on your bed, wearing pajamas with the most pissed expression on your face, ever.”
“What?” I looked at the clock, horrified. “Shoot! Dominick’s gonna kill me!” I jumped up off of the bed and rushed to the bathroom, hoping I would still have my job when I finally managed to get to the office.
I was working for Wilson’s Publicity, one of the biggest companies in the publicity business, the main disadvantage of which was its principal.
Dominick Altier was a man who always got what he wanted. So it was with my best friend, Scarlett Wilson, the daughter of our company founder, who he fell in love with at first sight and simply couldn’t let go just like that. That’s why now, I had to deal with the consequences of their romance, trying to combine my work as Dominick’s secretary and my friendship with Scarlett that I was sure was about to be sent to hell in a hand basket. Not that I didn’t like Dominick, but he was my boss and the world’s number one jerk; at least when it came to criticizing my duties. Or maybe he simply enjoyed driving me up the walls? Unfortunately, I didn’t know the answer to that question. But one thing I knew for sure, he was about to chew me up for being late.
Normally, it would take me about an hour to get ready for work. But today, I had to limit that time to the minimum, which turned out to be ten damn minutes; no enjoying a long, hot shower for me today.
I put on the first clean outfit I laid my eyes on, and ran out of the house in a hurry, promising my little sister that I would come back and kill her and her adorable dog later for ruining my house and my wardrobe. If only I knew that my dress would not be the only thing screwed about the day…
****
My cell phone rang in my pocket. I looked at the screen, and cursed, twice.
“Morning, Scar!” I said as if I didn’t know why she was calling.
“Where the hell are you? We’ve been waiting for you for twenty minutes!”
“Don’t get angry, I’m getting into the elevator right now, so I’ll be in the office in about two minutes.”
There were about ten more people in the elevator, so I smiled apologetically for pushing myself into the cabin that obviously didn’t have enough space for one more person, and pushed the button that would take me to the very top of the fifty-storey building.
“What happened to you?” Scarlett asked into the handset. She knew I was a very responsible lady, but every now and again, I could be a very reckless person when I wanted to be, but I always took my work seriously. So if I were late, there should be a damned good reason for it.
“My phone died, so I didn’t hear the alarm.”
“How many times do I need to tell you to buy a new one? And just don’t tell me that your salary isn’t enough for that, because I, myself, raised it twice in the l
ast three months.”
“What’s the point in buying a new cell?” I waited for the people to leave the elevator and proceeded, “We both know that sooner or later it will end up kissing the wall, because every time I finish my conversation with your precious fiancé, the only thing I want to do is to break something. So thank you, God, for blessing me with the most arrogant, pain-in-the-ass boss.”
She laughed. “We both know that Dom is not that bad.”
“Oh, yeah? You may defend him as much as you wish, but his pretty face and a good-looking ass doesn’t change the fact that he’s a royal jerk.”
“Anyway, we are waiting for you in the conference room, so try to come up with a more or less believable explanation for being late.”
“How about I tell my boss the truth then?”
Scarlett giggled. “I’m sure he would just love to hear all of the oh-so-friendly names you call him, especially when you’re the one who is late.”
“Very funny.” I grimaced, ending the call.
The moment I thought my life couldn’t get any more fucked-up, that morning anyway, I heard someone laughing quietly behind me.
Slowly, I turned around and froze; my blood pounding in my ears.
Screw me dead…
“Mr. Oliver, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean-”
“Relax, Jill. I of all people know that your every word about my brother is true. He is a royal jerk and a real pain in the ass.”
I don’t think I have ever been so mortified in my life. Oliver Altier wasn’t a permanent visitor of our company, so he was probably the last person I expected to see there today. Unlike his brother, he didn’t give a damn about business, suits and ties, and he was totally crazy about music, girls, striptease bars and well, you get the general point, right?
I felt my cheeks burning with the invisible fire. “Sorry,” I said again, before I heard the relieving sound of the elevator doors opening. Quickly, I turned on my heel and power-walked out of the cabin that suddenly felt too small for the two of us, praying for Oliver to keep his mouth shut about all the names he heard me calling his brother.
“You know what’s the best way to handle him?” He asked, as he stopped at my desk.
“Excuse me?” I asked, a little dumbfounded.
“Ignore him,” he said, winking at me with a mysterious grin lighting up his face. The guy obviously knew how to make a girl swoon, because I did. That wink and devilish grin were all I needed. Dominick was capable of the same, he could make any girl fall to her knees to worship the ground he walked on. As for Oliver, mother nature had blessed him with a face and a body to die for, with just enough muscles in all the right places, sexy smirk and the eyes that only the devil could have.
“Um, thanks. I’ll remember that,” I said, trying really hard not to stare at his low riser jeans and black shirt with a few upper bottoms undone, making me wonder about how good it would be just to slide my palm under the fabric and…
Shoot, stop right there girl!
I shook my head, hoping it would help my naughty thoughts go away.
“Call me if you need help.” Oliver smiled and headed for the conference room where I guess his brother and my best friend had already been waiting for him.
Good to know that I’m not the only one who’s late. By the way, can I call you if I need anything else, like to play? A play-date sounds good right about now.
I sighed irritably, watching him walking down the hall. I was just not having the best morning. I cannot believe I am daydreaming about getting down and dirty with my boss’s brother. It wasn’t just my worst morning, it was my worst day, week, or maybe even lifetime. Great…
Mark and I broke up just a week ago and it already felt like for-fucking-ever that I spent without him. There was a time I thought we were the absolute perfect match. But then, I found out that he was just another gigolo, wanting nothing but the contents of my wallet and my femininity under my skirt. Fucking bastard! True, for the first time ever, I let a man trick me. That’s why now, I was so angry about every small occurrence happening around me, including a man looking and smiling like walking sex that I sure as hell didn’t need now, did I? And today was not just another day at work, it was the final day of Dominick’s and Scarlett’s wedding planning. The Big Day was about to take place in two weeks, and everyone, including me, was on high alert because of the amount of things we needed to do inside and outside of work.
“Finally, your maid of honor has decided to grace us with her presence,” Dominick muttered, watching me enter the conference room.
“Sorry for being late. I had an emergency with my sister,” I said, taking the only seat that was available, and that turned out to be next to Oliver. How is it possible that out of all the available chairs, mine would have to be next to his, because it’s the only one left? There were only the four of us in the room, and the only available seat had to be next to the man that was nothing but another problem for me.
Oliver laughed under his breath. “Didn’t know you had a sister. Back in the elevator I thought you were talking about some jerk ruining your morning.”
Clenching my teeth, I turned to him and smiled, saying, “That was about a dog.”
“A dog?” He laughed even harder, this time joined by Scarlett’s giggling.
“Yeah, Anna bought a dog and didn’t even bother asking me beforehand.” I gave the two of them a murderous glare and then turned to Mr. Ass. “So what will be my duties for today, Mr. Altier?” Even though after he and Scarlett got engaged, he said I could call him Dominick, with the amount of work he made me do every day, I could call him anything but that. So I thought it would be safer to stick to Mr. Altier or Sir.
“I wanted you and Oliver to take our mom to the church. Her driver has a day off, and she wanted to talk to the priest, and I doubt my brother can handle driving today.”
“I can handle anything I want,” Oliver said, a little offended.
“I didn’t realize Monday mornings had became your favorite time of the week.”
“For the record, I spent last night reading.”
Dominick smirked. “Kama Sutra?”
“Ha-ha, no Smartass. I’m working on a new project and I needed some extra information about what I’m going to do. Besides, to look at the naked women and study new sex positions, I don’t need books, I have contact list for that.”
Scarlett spoke, “Okay, why don’t we leave your sexual issues for later and talk about more important things?”
“My sexual life is important,” Oliver said.
“I’m sure it is.” My friend rolled her eyes. “But for now, I need you to switch off your little brain, use your big brain, and switch your attention to our wedding day. We still have a lot to do.”
“I’m all yours for the next two weeks.” Oliver stretched out his legs under the table and crossed his arms, watching me with that leisurely half-smile that made me have butterflies in my belly. Until now, I never paid much attention to how he always looked so damn good. Even after a night of dancing, smoking and drinking, he could still look as if he had just stepped out of a magazine cover. Or maybe those were just my stupid hormones that missed a man’s touch so badly? I hoped no one would notice me staring at Oliver. I surely didn’t need Dominick noticing my little infatuation with his brother; it would just give him more reasons to pester me.
“What plans do you have for the rest of the summer?” Scarlett asked her future brother-in-law.
“After the wedding, I’m flying to L.A. to find a good recording studio. Want to try myself in producing,” he said, running one hand through his messy, sandy hair that surprisingly enough, always looked groomed, no matter how much time its owner spent in bed, with or without a woman. Though personally, I was sure that Oliver never went to bed alone.
Lucky bastard…
Again, I thought about Mark, and again I cursed the day I met him. Oliver’s words came to my mind and I couldn’t help but smile.
“Producing, huh?�
� I asked, looking into his honey eyes. Today they looked even brighter than usual, and damn my unsatisfied needs, I wanted nothing more than to get lost in the intensity of their look.
Scarlett and Dominick shared a knowing glance.
“My goodness, people, why don’t you give me a little more credit?” Oliver said. “I’m not going to bang every girl I produce. And what if I want to produce a guy one day?”
“Ew.” I grimaced, hardly holding back another smile.
“Do whatever you want,” Dominick snapped. “But today you have other things to do, and Jillian is driving.”
Well, thanks for asking me first, asshole.
“Sure, no problem,” I said aloud.
“I also wanted you to check on the flowers,” Scarlett said. “I don’t want the florist to mess up my bouquet. Besides, you still need to choose flowers for your own bouquet, Jill.”
“Consider it done.” I made a few notes in my notebook and turned to Dominick. “Anything else, Sir?”
He had the nerve to smirk every time I called him that. “No, thank you, Miss Murano. You can go now. And don’t forget to take my brother with you. Find him something to eat as well, I’m sure he didn’t have time to have breakfast that early in the morning. He’s a night guy, you know?”
“Yes, please, remember that,” Oliver whispered, rising to his feet.
“I will.” I smiled at Scarlett’s sympathizing expression. She knew better than anyone that dealing with the Altier brothers would never be easy. Well, now I knew that too. I left the room, followed by my sexy distraction.
***
“My brother knows me too well, I’m starving,” Oliver said, watching me pack my bag. “Can we eat first and then go and do the rest?”
“No problem. Whatever you wish, Mr. Oliver,” I said too late thinking about the double meaning of my words.
“Now, I am already enjoying our upcoming errands.” He winked at me and headed for the elevator.