Seductively: Playing for Hearts Book 2 (Crimson Romance) by Debra Kayn Read Free Book Online Page B

planted his hands on the table and leaned over. “You’ve gotta romance her. You’re all stiff and serious. Women need pretty words — ”
    “I tried that. She thinks I called her fat.”
    Gary’s brows rose. “Jesus … I don’t see how you’ve stayed alive this long.”
    “What do I do?”
    “Find something you both enjoy. Keep her mind on something else, besides you.” He lowered his voice. “I remember watching her dance with her friends back in Cottage Grove. She’s seriously hot, bro. Take her dancing.”
    “I suck at dancing.”
    “Have her teach you. You’re so used to women throwing themselves at you, not even lifting a finger, you’ve got to step it up. Diana isn’t one of your admirers, but she is a woman … a damn hot one. Treat her special.” Gary straightened. “Now, I’m gonna take your advice and get out of here. Give you two some space. Nipple up, man. Don’t disappoint the male race.”
    He saw Gary out, and returned to the living room. If he asked her to go out clubbing, she’d tell him no. He flopped down on the couch. What he needed to do was find a way she’d agree to go out with him that’d leave her with no excuse to turn him down.
    Taking her out in public meant he’d put himself in harm’s way of the women without his security team. He ran his hands over his face in frustration. It wasn’t the first time he wished he could lead a normal life.
    Diana walked into the room. “Hey. Did Gary leave?”
    “Yeah.” He put his feet on the floor and sat straighter.
    “Oh.” She sat across from him in the chair. “It was nice to see him again. It’s weird, but I was just thinking that if Shauna hadn’t moved back to Cottage Grove to go after Grayson, I never would’ve met Gary … or you. It’s weird how things work out, don’t you think?”
    “I guess.” He studied her, but when she shrugged and crossed her legs without another word, he let her fascination with his friend go. “I think we need to expose our relationship.”
    “Our relationship?”
    “Yes, it’s all about you pretending to be my girlfriend.” He nodded. “Because I play for the Sharks, everywhere I go they usually write a column in the paper about where I went, who I was seen with, and then they predict if I’ve become attached.”
    “Gossip,” she murmured.
    “Yes.”
    “You want me to do more than go to your practices?”
    “I think we should go out on a date.” He held up his hand when she opened her mouth. “A pretend date. That way Nomora and the women will see what I’m doing in my private life.”
    She sighed. “If we must.”
    “We do.” He stood and crossed his arms across his chest. He liked the new dominating orders he was giving her. “I think we should go to a nightclub, have a few drinks, and maybe dance during a couple of songs. We’ll let people take pictures of us together. We’ll do that tonight. Tomorrow, we’ll go out somewhere else. Maybe to dinner. Being seen with you two nights in a row will have people speculating on our relationship.”
    “Bed shopping.” She pursed her lips.
    He grinned, practically patting himself on the back. This was working out better than he’d hoped. He had her thinking about beds, which meant sex with her was still in his future.
    “I already have a bed. A very good one,” he said.
    “No. We need to be seen together bed shopping. A real girlfriend wouldn’t want to sleep with you where you’ve had sex a million times,” she said.
    He scoffed and when she arched her perfectly manicured brows, he realized she truly believed he slept with all the women who threw themselves at him. No wonder she thought so little of him. Any denying on his part would make him look guilty, and he was guilty, not that he’d confess to her.
    “Great idea.” He picked his cell off the end table. “I’ll make reservations at a club I know of downtown. We’ll get the VIP room. They all love me there.”
    “Make sure the thugs you hire as