Players (Lessons by Loki) by Aubrey Ross Read Free Book Online

explains a lot.”
    “I’m listening.” He happily devoured half his food as he waited for Josiah to elaborate.
    “ She could have been visiting her Dom all these years or meeting him at a club somewhere. That’s why we never see her with anyone.”
    Setting down his fork, Chase thought about it for a second then shook his head. “I don’t buy it. You’ve watched her come and go too often. She’s never gone. Someone burned her bad and she hasn’t recovered.” A pang of guilt accompanied the thought. If she was nursing a broken heart, the last thing she needed was to be the focus of one of their games.
    “ Probably her Dom,” Josiah persisted. “All I know is what I saw. Sweet little Katie responded without question to every command I gave her.”
    “ You try it your way; I’ll try it mine.” He paused for a humorless chuckle. “As soon as I figure out what the hell my way is. You’ve screwed up everything. All the ideas I came up with today were excuses to drop in on someone I didn’t know well and hadn’t seen in ages. If she’s already started a flirtation with you, I’m going to have to be a lot more creative.”
    After munching several mouthfuls of food, Josiah smiled. “I’d offer suggestions, but I’m the enemy.”
    “Even more so now that you fucked up my plans.”
    “Inadvertently.”
    Chase shrugged. “I suppose. It still doesn’t change the fact that I’ve got my work cut out for me now.”
    “ You always did. No we always did. Katie might be the most difficult challenge we’ve ever set for ourselves, which of course makes her even more interesting.”
    They lapsed into silence as they ate. Chase contemplated one scenario after another, but each had a similar flaw. Katie was smart enough to see through the ploy. “I can’t pretend you didn’t tell me what happened today,” he mused. “She won’t believe my interest is coincidental.”
    “So use it to your advantage.” Josiah gathered the dishes and set them in the sink.
    Chase stuffed the empty cartons back into the paper bag then paused as a fresh variation of one of his ideas took shape within his mind.
    Josiah laughed. “I know that look. What did you figure out?”
    “Lies always work best when they’re grounded in truth. What time is it?” He glanced at the clock above stove and answered his own question. 8:37.
    “It’s pretty late for an unannounced visit.” Josiah’s conclusion mirrored his.
    “But the party’s tomorrow night. I don’t really have a choice.”
    “ You’re going to rub Katie in Vanessa’s face? That’s a really bad idea.”
    Rather than explain, he just grinned and left the kitchen. As Josiah had said, he was the enemy. The less Chase told the competition, the better. He looked out the front window and made sure some sort of light was still on in Katie’s house. Seeing her in her nightgown or pajamas might be fun, but it would be counterproductive to the casual conversation he had in mind.
    He stepped out onto the front porch and closed the door behind him. The tree -lined street fostered a nostalgic calm, even at night. He crossed the street and silently practiced what he was about to say. He wanted a hint of hesitation to temper his confidence. Women often responded to a touch of vulnerability. It stirred their maternal instincts and made them more trusting.
    Not wanting to seem like a solicitor, he knocked rather than ringing the bell. The curtains obscuring the front window moved so he turned and waved. Another moment passed and then Katie opened the door.
    “Hi.” He flashed his most charming smile. “I hope I’m not interrupting.”
    She let the door swing inward, but blocked his way. “What’s going on?” Dressed in shorts and a tank top, she looked less dowdy than usual. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail and her face had been scrubbed clean of makeup, not that she ever wore a lot of makeup. Chase tried not to stare, but he’d never seen her figure so clearly