Playing Passion's Game

In most games, you play to win. In matters of the heart, you play for keeps.

Trent Williams’s entire world revolves around her love of gaming. She has little time for romantic distractions and prefers instead to be with her closest friends who, like her, live for the thrill that comes from a competition well played. Happy in her job, seemingly content with her life, Trent still finds herself haunted by the past that threatens to keep her alone forever. The self-imposed solitude she places on her heart only leaves her all too aware of just how lonely she is.

All work and no play in her executive job forces Juliet Sullivan to search for a different direction in life. Disillusioned by it all, Juliet is desperate to seek out new horizons. When Trent unwittingly comes to the rescue of her younger sister, Juliet immediately finds herself drawn to Trent’s silent strength and undeniable charm. Now the new direction Juliet so desperately desires seems intent on leading her straight into Trent’s arms.

Playing Passion's Game

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Playing Passion's Game

© 2011 By Lesley Davis. All Rights Reserved.

ISBN 13: 978-1-60282-518-5

This Electronic Book is published by

Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

P.O. Box 249

Valley Falls, New York 12185

First Edition: May 2011

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.

Credits

Editor: Cindy Cresap

Production Design: Stacia Seaman

Cover Design By Sheri ([email protected])

By the Author

Truth Behind the Mask

Playing Passion's Game

Acknowledgments

My sincerest of thank-yous to Radclyffe for your endless encouragement and support of my writing.

For all at Bold Strokes who work hard behind the scenes to get these books out there.

For Cindy Cresap: Words cannot express my deepest admiration or gratitude for your marvellous editing skills. You make my words read so much better. Thank you always.

To Stacia Seaman, for taking “one last look around the house before turning out the light” on the whole editing process. Thank you for your discerning eye.

Thank you, Sheri, for another wonderful cover.

For Wayne Beckett, my precious and much loved friend.

To my Number One Stalkers, most dedicated readers and truly marvellous friends—Jacky Hart and Jane Morrison.

And to all my readers: I really appreciate all your support and wonderful e-mails spurring me on to write more. Thank you. And I’ll try to put aside the controllers a little more to get back on the keyboard for you!

To my Cindy

For understanding the necessity of my playing
“just one more level!”
Thank God you’re a gamer too! My love is yours always.

And to all the gamers out there, be they casual or hardcore:
Game on!

The increasingly loud shouting coming from outside finally drew Trent out from under the table where she was working.

“What the hell is going on out there?” she asked her friend Elton, who was running a length of cable behind her. When he ignored her she grabbed at his pants leg and yanked hard. He looked down blankly at her, then swept back his long hair and removed his earbud.

“Say again?”

Trent scowled up at him. “Some use you are. It sounds like World War Three is starting up outside and you’re plugged into your MP3 oblivious to it.” She connected her last lead, then scrambled out from where she’d been linking together computer cords. She headed to the front of the hall they were in and opened the large metal door to peer out. She slammed the door behind her and was more than pleased with the startled reactions from the group of boys who were causing part of the noise.

“Is there any particular reason why you’re disturbing the peace out here, boys?”

The group took a step back at her presence. Dressed all in black, towering over the boys at a solid six foot, and wearing a scowl she had perfected for just that moment, Trent was certain she was putting the fear of God into them.

As they all stepped back, the boys revealed what they had been huddled around. A little blond girl stood holding her ground, fists balled before her, ready to start swinging.

Trent growled low in her throat. “Tell me you guys weren’t bullying this girl?” She scanned the faces and found more than one she knew. One especially she was disappointed to see. “Wade? I thought you were a better man than for this kind of childish behavior.”

The boy cringed at being singled out of the group. “We were just seeing who she was.”

“By backing her into a corner and crowding round her like a pack of wolves? Some welcome committee.” Trent stepped forward and gently lowered the girl’s fists. She stood before the girl, effectively blocking her from their view. “Wade, don’t make me mention this to your brother.” She had the satisfaction of watching his face turn ashen. “Imagine how he’d feel to find out his brother consorts with
big
boys who terrorize
little
girls.” She looked around to stare down each boy. “I ought to let her pound each and every one of you.” Trent began to roll up her sleeves as if preparing her own hands for battle. “Get the hell away from this property and leave this kid alone or you’ll have me to deal with.” She took one step forward. “Understand?”

The boys tripped and tumbled in their backpedaling haste to escape Trent’s wrath.

“Kids,” Trent muttered. She looked behind her. “You okay?”

The girl puffed out a breath that blew her hair out of her eyes. “They were just being stupid.” She straightened her shoulders and tried to look composed. “Boys are like that.”

Trent looked her over. “They didn’t hurt you?”

“No, they were just crowding me even though I asked them to let me pass.” The girl watched as the boys disappeared from view. “I don’t think they’ll do it again. You scared them off.” She held out a small hand. “Thank you…?”

Trent took the offered hand and shook it solemnly. “I’m Trent Williams and you are very welcome…?” She waited and got a sweet smile in return.

“I’m Kayleigh Sullivan.” A frown creased her forehead. “You’re a girl, aren’t you?”

Trent bit back the sigh. Her masculine features, though perfect for her butch persona, often led to awkward questions. “Yes, I am.”

“I thought so. Where did you come from?”

Trent flipped a thumb over her shoulder at the Rowley Civic Center. “I was working in there when the commotion started.”

“That was me. I was kind of yelling at them. I figured if I was loud enough I would frighten them off. Boys don’t like screeching girls.”

“Good work. It was you squealing like a stuck pig that got me out here to see what all the fuss was about.” Trent turned back to the Center. Kayleigh followed after her, obviously not wanting to be left behind.

“What are you working on in there?”

“We have a big games meeting tomorrow. Me and a few guys are setting up the room for the event.”

“I play games. I have a DS Lite.”

Trent relaxed. Now this was something she could relate to. “Good gaming choice. I have one too.”

Kayleigh’s face lit up at finding someone who understood. “It’s my birthday soon. I’d like my parents to buy me a Nintendo Wii, but they have no clue what I mean when it comes to stuff like that. They’ll probably buy me something girly they hope I’ll be more interested in.” She made a face. “I won’t be, though.”

“That sucks,” Trent said. She looked up at the darkening sky. It was getting late. “What were you doing around here anyway?”

Kayleigh looked abashed. “I had to get out of the house. My folks were too busy and I was just getting in the way. I thought I’d go for a walk, but I lost my direction a few times and got all turned around.”

“How old are you?”

“Ten.”

“Then I think it’s time you went home. It’s going to get dark soon.”

Kayleigh nodded, then added sheepishly, “I’m still a little lost.”

Trent shook her head at Kayleigh’s pitiful tone. “How about I just finish up in here and then I’ll walk you home. You do know your street name, right?”

“Of course. I’m just miles away from my house, that’s all.”

“Miles, eh?” Trent hid her amusement at Kayleigh’s serious tone.

“Well, at least one. I was walking for quite a while, though.”

Trent coughed to cover her laughter. “Okay, follow me. I’ll go get my coat and we’ll start your long trek home.”

“If I had a cell phone I could call my sister. She’d come get me. She’s cool like that.”

Trent pulled her own cell phone from her pocket. “Here, use this.”

Kayleigh made a face. “I don’t know what her number is.”

Trent sighed and put the cell phone back. She opened the Center’s large door and yelled inside. “Elton? Can I leave you to clear up here?”

Kayleigh’s eyes widened as she took in Elton as he walked toward them. “Wow, he’s even taller than you are!” Kayleigh viewed Elton’s six feet five inches of lanky length, taking in his long dark hair, mustache, the long wispy beard that today was plaited in two like a Viking’s, and the wild tattoos that decorated his arms and neck. She fixed on his ornate eyebrow ring.

“Did that hurt?” she asked, running a finger over her own eyebrow in sympathy.

“Not as much as I thought it would.”

“Is your name really Elton?” Kayleigh was obviously intrigued by Elton and his Gothic clothes.

He nodded. “My mom named me after her favorite singer.”

Kayleigh considered this. It amused Trent that Kayleigh was obviously a child who questioned everything and anything.

“It’s different, like you are. It suits you.”

Elton bowed courteously. “Thank you.” He cast a curious eye at Trent. “She with you?”

“This is Kayleigh. She was outside fending off Chris’s kid brother and his friends.”

“Actually,” Kayleigh said, “the red-haired boy that you made turn really white was the only one who wasn’t being cruel. He kept telling the others to leave me alone.”

“Maybe Wade isn’t such a little bast—” Elton hastily curbed his tongue at Trent’s warning glare toward Kayleigh. “Sorry.”

“I’m going to walk her home to make sure she’s safe.”

“No probs. We’re all done here anyway. You’ve got the servers all set and the monitors are plugged in. We’re good to go.”

Trent scanned the room and nodded. Rows of monitors were lined up ready for tomorrow’s gaming. “You’ll wait for the security guard to come?”

“I’ll make sure Todd is here to watch over the consoles and computers, and then I’ll head off home myself.” Elton flexed his hands and popped his knuckles. “Ready to wipe out the competition tomorrow?”

“Always,” Trent said and snatched up her leather jacket. “You, me, frag fest at nine a.m.”

Kayleigh waved good-bye to Elton as she was steered out of the Center.

“What’s a frag fest?”

“It means my team is going to beat the Harley Hurricanes for the third year running at a game they keep thinking they can win.”

“What’s your team called?”

Trent struck a fierce pose and growled out her reply. “We are the Baydale Reapers and we rule the consoles.” Trent looked down at the giggling Kayleigh. “We are very good; I promise you. We have the trophies to prove it.” She cast her eye down the road. The evening traffic sped by. It wasn’t safe for a young girl to be out on her own. “What’s your street name, Kayleigh?”

“Castleview Street.”

“You
did
wander a little far from home. Good thing I know where that is. Come on. Let’s get you going.”

“Juliet should be there by now.” Kayleigh looked at her watch. “I hope she brought pizza. Mom and Dad don’t like it, but I love it. Juliet brings it for me as a treat sometimes.”

“Juliet?”

“My big sister. She’s twenty-seven years old so she’s my really
old
big sister. How old are you?”

“Thirty-two.” Trent suddenly felt even older by Kayleigh’s standards.

“Are you a lesbian?”

Trent stumbled off the curb and had to quickly get back on the pavement before she was run over. “Excuse me?”

“You look like a lesbian. You’re like some of the ladies I’ve seen at Juliet’s parties. But they weren’t as nice as you are. You talk to me. They couldn’t be bothered to.”

Trent was a little lost for words so she just stared at Kayleigh chatting away at her side.

“Juliet’s a lesbian. That means she goes out with other girls on dates.”

Trent began to seriously wonder what she had gotten herself into rescuing this kid.

“Do you go out with girls?” Kayleigh asked.

Trent nodded dumbly.

“I thought so. And you beat boys at games. You are so cool!” Kayleigh took a breath. “Maybe you could tell my parents I want a Wii. They’d probably listen to you.”

Trent listened to Kayleigh’s endless chatter all the way back to her street. Once past the minefield of the lesbian queries, Trent and Kayleigh discussed favorite games, what kind they liked to play best, and what they were good at.

“Yes! Juliet’s here! That’s her car.” Kayleigh pointed to a small red Honda parked against the curb. From the line of houses a front door opened and Trent looked up as Kayleigh’s name was called.

The woman standing at the door was tall and slender. Her long blond hair was held back by a loose tie, but tendrils escaped to frame a face that instantly captured Trent’s attention. She couldn’t help but stare at this woman whose beauty was undeniably unique. With a self-conscious act, Juliet pushed her hair back behind her ear when she caught sight of someone with Kayleigh. It was only Kayleigh’s shouting that brought Trent back to her senses.

“Jules, come meet Trent.” Kayleigh raced ahead, and her sudden departure broke the spell that Trent had woven around her. She shook herself slightly as Kayleigh hugged her sister. Hanging back at the gate, Trent was entranced by the way the much older sister gave her full attention to the younger. Kayleigh led Juliet down the steps to where Trent stood waiting. Her breath stuck in her chest as bright blue eyes singled her out and seemed to pierce through to Trent’s very soul.

“I understand you have been Kayleigh’s knight in shining armor, and not only have you rescued her from a gang of boys but walked her all the way home too.”

Trent looked at Kayleigh. “You tell her all that in one breath, kid?” She shrugged at Juliet. “It sounds more exciting than it was, believe me.”

Juliet ruffled Kayleigh’s hair affectionately. “I’ve got pizza warming in the oven. Go wash up and then you and I will talk about you not just leaving the house as and when you want to.”

Kayleigh nodded quietly at the censure in Juliet’s voice. “Thank you, Trent, for walking me home.”

“You’re welcome.” Trent waved as Kayleigh ran inside the house.

“See you tomorrow for the frag fest!” With that tossed over her shoulder, Kayleigh disappeared inside.

Juliet faced Trent. “
Frag fest
?”

“I help run a gaming club at the Rowley Civic Center, and tomorrow we are in competition against other local teams.”

“And you invited my sister?”

“Actually, no. She’s too young to watch the competitions I’ll be taking part in, but she’s more than welcome to come and try out in the kids’ competitions we run.” Trent withdrew a flyer from her inside pocket and handed it over. “She seems very interested in her games. I think she’d enjoy playing with the other kids.”

Juliet looked at the flyer. “She hasn’t made any friends here yet. This might be good for her. I’ll see if I’m free tomorrow to bring her.”

Trent couldn’t hide the delighted grin that escaped at the thought of seeing Juliet again. She stifled the feeling down just as quickly.
Look at her, Trent, you stand no chance there.
“I’ll look forward to seeing you both tomorrow, then.”

“Thank you for bringing her home safe.” Juliet reached out and touched Trent’s hand. The slight pressure sent tingles of pleasure through Trent’s body.

“It was no problem. She’s a great kid.” Trent hastily pulled herself away from the gate. Part of her could have stayed there all night, just staring at the shifting shades of blond that streaked through Juliet’s hair. She didn’t usually react so strongly to a woman she’d only just met, but there was something about Juliet that seemed to call to the place that had lain long dormant inside her. Feeling unusually edgy, she decided to beat a hasty retreat before she embarrassed herself. “You’d better go inside before she eats all your pizza.”

“Good night, Trent.”

“Be seeing you, Juliet.” Trent took a step then stopped. “Do me a favor?” She liked the way Juliet’s eyebrow rose as she waited for Trent to continue. “Talk to your sister about Stranger Danger. I promise she’ll always be safe with me, but not everyone on the street is as understanding when they find a kid alone. Please stress that to her.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll make damned sure she never wanders off again,” Juliet said with a steely edge to her tone.

*

Juliet remained at the gate, watching the retreating figure of the woman who had brought her sister back home. She tore her gaze away from the edge of the woman’s jacket where the tight fit of jeans accentuated a trim rear end.
Goodness, but she’s handsome
. Juliet knew she shouldn’t be hanging outside admiring the lean form of Trent as she walked away, but she didn’t really want to have to go inside and have
that
talk with Kayleigh. Knowing she couldn’t put it off any longer, Juliet closed the front door and went to find Kayleigh in the kitchen.