Playing the Player: Falling for Best friend's sister. (The Hartford Brothers Book 2)

by JA Low

  And that’s why I find myself in England with my brother, attending a stuffy black-tie affair for his new polo club.

  “Lucky we like your brother because this party blows,” Rainn says.

  Dominic invited us for the opening of the polo season event, and as he doesn’t know anyone in his new home yet, I volunteered us to attend. The beaches of Mykonos will still be there waiting for us in a couple of days.

  “Least there are cute polo players to look at. Not everyone is the same age as my grandfather,” Audrey whispers beside me, making me giggle.

  “Now, can we welcome to the stage the game’s newest rising star, Remington Hartford?” the MC says excitedly as the crowd goes wild for the last person I thought I would see tonight.

  The girls look as surprised as I do, with their mouths hanging open.

  “You didn’t tell me he was going to be here,” I say to my brother. Dom gives me a frown, wondering why I would care so much that Remi is here and why he would have to tell me. Remi’s his friend.

  “Of course, he’s here,” Dom explains. He’s annoyed by my question, judging by the look he’s giving me. He doesn’t know the history between Remi and me. I feel Audrey’s hand under the table, giving me a reassuring squeeze. At least I look good tonight and chose something sexy, thinking we were going to an exciting black-tie event, otherwise this dress would have been wasted. Not that I want Remi to appreciate it, just…I don’t know, I’m a little frazzled that Remi is here in London when I thought he was halfway across the world. I hate that hearing his voice over the microphone gives my skin goosebumps and makes my body tingle. I haven’t seen Remi in years thanks to college and his jet-setting around the globe with polo. It was great out of sight out of mind, but now he’s standing up on that stage mere feet away and confusion swirls in my stomach, on the one hand I’m happy to see an old friend, and on the other I don’t want to see the guy that broke my heart—twice.

  I excuse myself and go to the bathroom to get it together. My brother is excited to see his best friend and I know he’s going to want to go out tonight with him. It would be weird for us to turn down the invite, but maybe I can pretend we have another party to go to instead, but I know them, and they will want to tag along. I don’t think I’m going to escape Remi tonight. Might need to pull my big girl panties up and just deal with it. Try to remember what it was like before you stupidly slept with him. Try to remember that guy who you grew up with; he’s still there underneath all that um…handsomeness. Damn him for getting even hotter after all these years. I had hoped that maybe something happened and scarred his perfect face. Of course, the universe wouldn’t be so cruel, and instead they have him shed his teenage self and now put before me a man. A handsome fricken man, with a square jaw, speckled with light stubble, and chocolate hair that is a little longer than he normally wears it. The style just elevates him so much more. It looks like he’s been working out a lot, his chest has grown wider, his thighs appear thicker, and his tan deeper. The boy who broke my heart has turned into a man that will shred it if I give him a chance.

  “You’re looking well, Nell,” Remi whispers, surprising me as I step out of the bathrooms.

  “Do you always hang out around the women’s toilets like a creeper?” I ask him.

  “No. Kind of seems like that’s our thing, don’t you think?” he says, grinning.

  Do not smile, Nell. Dammit. My lips twitch at his words.

  “You look as beautiful as ever,” he declares flirtatiously. No. Don’t do it, girl.

  Do not fall for that handsome face.

  Be strong, Nell. You can resist his charms.

  11

  Remi

  Didn’t realize how much I missed Nell until the moment I saw her sitting at the table with her brother at the polo event. She looked breathtaking in her red evening dress that dipped low as it crossed over the front, and then when she turned around, it was completely backless. I watched as she walked through the ballroom, exposing her long legs via an indecent split. It should have been illegal. Every single man in the room was impressed by her outfit too. I wanted to rip their eyeballs out of their creepy old eye sockets. All they see is the beautiful packaging on the outside, not the wonderful woman on the inside.

  Unfortunately, I’ve fucked up so many times with Nell that there is no way in hell she will ever give me another chance, nor do I deserve one. But I miss her friendship all the same. If she could give me a second chance at being her friend, I wouldn’t mind that.

  Since graduating from Harvard a couple of years ago, my life has become a whirlwind. Nell’s dad, Nacho, took me on full-time with his polo team. I can never repay him for the knowledge and experience he has given me these past years. As my polo star has risen, so has my public profile, and that has been the strangest side of this business that I wasn’t expecting. I know I’m not an ugly guy, but the amount of sponsorship and ambassador deals I’ve gained since going professional has shocked me. Somehow, I’ve become a model with photoshoots all around the world. Working with some of the most beautiful women, being paid an enormous amount of money to do what I love is a blessing for someone my age.

  Now, here I am being honored with an award in London in front of royalty and the richest people in England and all I can see is Nell when I stand up on stage and collect my award. My stomach sinks as I notice her reaction upon hearing my name being called. How she sinks down in her chair, and a look of panic crosses her face as her friends reassure her she’s going to be fine. Not going to lie, it hurts me to my core watching the visceral reaction she has over me. I’m sad that I’ve messed up so badly that all these years later she still hates me, that my mere presence irritates her. I guess I have a long way to go to get any kind of relationship going again with her.

  My eyes never leave her location no matter who I am talking to, it’s as if there is an invisible string between us. Whenever she moves, I know exactly where she is always.

  “Congrats, man,” Dominic says, finally able to pull me away from some guys wanting to chat about the old days. It’s so good to see him, it’s been a long time since we have been in the same room together.

  “Congrats to you too. I heard that you’ve signed with Cowdray, that is big, man,” I tell him excitedly.

  Dom likes polo, he’s grown up with it, it’s a part of him, and I know he never wanted to let his father down because he knows he’s always wanted Dom to follow in his footsteps, but Dom enjoys working with the animals more than playing the game. He always told me how happy he was that I could fill the shoes that he couldn’t for his father, that I took the pressure off him and let him pursue the things he’s always wanted to do. It makes me happy I could do that for him.

  “I can’t believe we are finally in the same place at the same time,” Dom says, grinning.

  “It’s been too long. Hey, I have this after-party thing I have to go to. Did you want to come?”

  “Sure. But I’m here with the girls. Is it an open invitation to them too?” he asks.

  “I thought I saw them. They should come along too. If it means you and I will have time to catch up without people wanting to talk shop, then the more the merrier,” I say, giving him a slap on his shoulder.

  “Must be hard being the famous Remington Hartford, world’s best polo player.” Dom chuckles, teasing me. Just as I am about to refute his claims, someone interrupts our conversation.

  “Sorry,” I say, annoyed that I’m being pulled away from my friend. “I’ll text you the address. And we’ll catch up then,” I tell him. He gives me a nod in agreement as I’m being ushered away and introduced to someone else.

  Eventually I’m able to excuse myself from the hundredth person wanting to chat with me to go to the bathroom. Ouch, my cheeks hurt from smiling so much and I feel like I’ve got a crick in my neck from nodding politely all night. As I step out of the bathrooms, a vision in red captures my attention as she walks into the ladies’ room. Now’s my chance before anyone else demands my
attention. I stand outside playing on my phone with my back to the ballroom while I wait for Nell to reappear from the bathrooms.

  “You’re looking well, Nell,” I say, glancing down at her. She looks so beautiful and my hand itches wanting to touch her. A gasp falls from her lips as I surprise her.

  “Do you always hang out around the women’s toilets like a creeper?” she asks, annoyed.

  “No. Kind of seems like that’s our thing, don’t you think?” I say, reminding her of the time that I found her in a dark corridor and had my way with her. I don’t mean to flirt with Nell, but it just comes so easily. She’s trying not to smile, but her lip twitches and that tiniest of movements lights a fire in my belly. Maybe there is hope for me, that she may not hate me, just dislikes me. “You look as beautiful as ever.”

  “I know,” Nell states confidently before flicking her hair over her shoulder.

  “Every man in this room wants you tonight,” I state matter-of-factly. “It did not impress their wives.”

  “Unlike you, Remi, I’m not a cheater,” she replies tersely.

  That little barb stings. I took her for granted, let my ego get the better of me, and hurt the one person I never, ever wanted to hurt.

  “You’re right, Nell. And I probably have never told you this, but I’m truly sorry for the way I treated you all those years ago. I was young and stupid, still am. You deserved better, and I knew better, but I wanted you. Still do,” I confess to her. “But I know I don’t deserve a third chance.” Nell’s doe brown eyes widen at my honesty. I watch as she takes in my truthful words and her eyes become glassy with emotion. “Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  Nell holds up her hand, shaking her head at me. “No. I’m…surprised, that’s all. I never thought you would ever apologize, Remi,” she tells me softly. She then looks up at me through dark, long lashes. One tiny tear escapes and cascades down her cheek. Without thinking, I reach out and swipe it away with my thumb as I cup her face.

  “I hate that I hurt you. And I hate you hate me for it.”

  “I don’t hate you, Remi,” she whispers, holding my gaze. “Not now anyway.”

  A shaky breath leaves my chest at her words. “I want us to go back to being friends, Nell. I miss you.”

  “Friends?” she asks, surprised by my request.

  My thumb caresses her cheek subconsciously. I realize what I’m doing, and I let my hand fall back beside me. “Yes, friends. That’s all. Polo is my life, and everything is a whirlwind at the moment. It’s all I can give to you,” I tell her honestly.

  “Does that mean no flirting?” Nell asks curiously as her tongue sweeps across her bottom lip and my dick notices.

  “Not sure if I’ll be able to stop that with you,” I say, giving her a flirtatious wink, which makes her giggle.

  “Guess that was too much to ask from you.” Nell smiles widely. It’s the first one she’s giving to me in years, I’ll take it.

  “I spoke to Dom earlier, and I told him about this after-party. I wanted to invite you all there, too. Will you come?”

  “Will there be free booze?” she asks happily.

  “Yes.”

  “Then we’ll be there,” she answers lightly before turning around and heading back to her table. “Oh, and, Remi.”

  I look up at where she is standing with a smile still on her face.

  “You’re looking good too.”

  12

  Nell

  “How are you feeling?” Audrey whispers softly as we take a taxi to the club that Remi has invited us to. Rainn and Dom are having a loud conversation about something and aren’t paying attention to our conversation.

  “He apologized and asked to be friends.”

  “And how do you feel about that?” she asks.

  How do I feel about that? I’m not sure. It surprised me that Remi was so open with me tonight about all the ways he majorly fucked up in the past. Never did I ever expect that, and now I don’t know how that makes me feel. A guy being mature about his feelings and owning his shit. It shouldn’t be hot, but it kind of is. Maybe I’m defective if I am thinking anything Remington Hartford does is hot. Even if he wore the shit out of his tuxedo tonight. And touched my cheek, capturing my tear or the way he so easily flirts with me.

  No.

  Stop.

  Do not pass go, Nell.

  Back away from those thoughts slowly. Nothing good will ever come from them.

  Can I be friends with Remi, then? Sure. I think so.

  “I don’t know, Aud,” I say honestly to my best friend.

  “Sometimes you can’t rationalize the way you feel about someone,” Audrey explains carefully. “If you slip up, don’t be hard on yourself,” she tells me, with a smile on her face. “Enjoy it for what it is.”

  “Nothing will happen,” I tell her, shaking my head.

  She just nods and smiles.

  It’s not long till we arrive at the club. Dom walks up to the door woman manning the VIP entrance and drops Remi’s name. She looks down at the list on her clipboard and then nods to the bouncer to let us all in. We follow Dom, who seems to know where he is going, and as soon as the doors open, loud music thumps against our eardrums as we make our way through the VIP section. We turn the corner and there, sitting in the booth, is Remi taking center stage while a gaggle of women surrounds him. Of course he does. My stomach sinks at the realization that Remi’s womanizing ways are not behind him. I was foolish to think he had changed.

  “You made it,” Remi says excitedly, his face lighting up. He jumps up from his booth and pulls Dom into his arms and gives him a hard bro hug. Then he waves at us girls. “Come, come,” he suggests eagerly, with his arm around my brother’s shoulder. “Guys, make room for my friends,” he tells everyone in the booth who start shuffling down, making room for us on Remi’s command. Dom takes a seat beside Remi in the booth, where someone hands my brother a drink. He takes a large gulp. Remi looks up at the three of us girls and a frown forms on his face as he sees we didn’t follow him like his other minions.

  “We’re just going to head to the bar,” Rainn says politely, pointing past the booth to where a silver mirrored bar is set up. She didn’t even wait for Remi to answer before walking off. Audrey and I follow her. “I’m sorry, babe. But I will not subject you to all that male testosterone,” Rainn tells me angrily. I love my girl. “We know how this story is going to end tonight,” Rainn grumbles, annoyed as she rolls her eyes. “Six tequilas please,” Rainn asks the bartender. Moments later, he brings back a tray of shots. “Bottoms up, girlies,” Rainn squeals with delight as we all throw back our shots.

  My head hurts. Why? I roll over and hit something hard. What the…? As I force my eyes to open. A tanned back comes into focus. On white sheets. I roll onto my back and stare at the white ceiling as my heart runs a million miles inside my chest, so much so that I swear I’m having a heart attack. Then my eyes move down lower, and the further down my eyes travel, the faster my heart beats. I lift the white sheet that is covering me, and that’s when I realize I’m naked.

  No. No. No.

  Who the hell did I go home with last night? My mind draws a blank. Shit. Where the hell are Audrey and Rainn? They must be worried sick about me going home with some random. Carefully, I roll over and search for my belongings. Thank God my phone is on the bedside table. Easing myself over, I grab it off the glass table and turn it to silent so as not to wake Mr. One-Night Stand until I’m ready.

  I open the group chat with my friends which is filled with messages from them.

  Rainn: I can’t believe you went home with him.

  Audrey: Please, like you haven’t gone back to one of your exes.

  Rainn: Good D is hard to find.

  Rainn: He better have made you come, Nell. Otherwise, what a wasted walk down memory lane.

  Audrey: Have fun. We love you.

  Audrey: Message us when you’re up. We are staying at the same hotel as you.

  R
ainn: Don’t hate us. We took Remi’s bribe so he could spend the night with you.

  Audrey: That makes us sound like her pimps.

  Audrey: It wasn’t like that, babe. You wanted to go, actually your lips weren’t separated for long. So we probably didn’t really have time to talk about it.

  Rainn: Don’t worry, we ran block with Dom. We wing womaned the shit out of him, so the coast is clear.

  Oh no. No. No. No.

  Turning, I look over my shoulder at the tanned body beside me. Fuck. I lay back against the silky sheets, trying to stave off a panic attack. How the hell did this happen?

  Then a memory hits me.

  Tequila. It’s always fricken tequila.

  I’ve sat here all night watching these groupies sit there giggling at anything and everything these guys say. Making them think they are the funniest guys on earth. They aren’t. The hair flips, the titty bounces, the bending over in front of them while pouring drinks. I think I have RSI from the number of eye rolls I did all night. Are these the type of women Remi is into now?

  “Remi hasn’t stopped staring at you all night,” Audrey tells me. I turn my head and true to her word, there he is, staring at me over his glass with those intense green eyes. His arm slung around the shoulders of some groupie who is stroking her hand down his chest while her overinflated lips whisper something into his ear.

  “He can stare all night, but I’m not interested,” I tell her, exhausted by his antics. I throw back another shot of tequila, hoping to scrub any memories of Remi from my mind. “I need another shot.”