The Games We Play Vol. 2 (Riley Grayson) (13 page)
Read The Games We Play Vol. 2 (Riley Grayson) Online
Authors: Elizabeth Nelson
“Nope.” Riley gave her one of those smiles, the one that made her knees weak and her body throb for his touch. She inhaled sharply. “Then if I’m wrong this time, I will do absolutely anything
you
want. Just name it and I’ll do it. But,” he held up a finger, “it’s a one-time offer. I’ll do any one thing you want me to.”
Oh, now this could be interesting. “Deal.”
“Okay.” Riley nodded and shifted in his chair as if he were trying to get in a comfortable thinking position. “Veterinarian,” he finally said confidently.
“Ha! Though, I do love animals.” Ali smiled.
“Oh c’mon!” He laughed. “All right then. What is it?”
“I’m a marketing major with a minor in public relations,” she said.
“Wow. I was way off huh?” He laughed again. It was impressive. He had to admit that.
There was something about his laugh, about the way he seemed so different tonight compared to the first time she’d met him. He appeared more relaxed and at ease. She really liked this side of him. It was something she could definitely get used to.
Reaching into the front of her dress, she pulled out the hotel key card. “How about we get out of here?”
“I thought you’d never ask.” Riley was on his feet in a second. “It’s about fucking time,” he grumbled, reaching for her hand. “Wait. Are you cashing in on our deal?”
“Oh no.” She shook her head. “I haven’t decided what I want from you yet, but when I do, you’ll be the first to know.”
He pulled her into him, her body melding against his perfectly. She rested her hands on his biceps and closed her eyes when his lips touched hers. Something so soft shouldn’t be able to ignite such a firestorm in her body, but it did. Without fail. Every single time he kissed her. She couldn’t get enough.
“If we don’t leave now, we’ll never make it to the damn hotel,” he said, guiding her through the restaurant and out to his car.
Ali’s heart raced at the possibilities the rest of the night held. She couldn’t wait to be alone with him, to touch him and be touched by him.
Was it too early to not seem like she was being easy?
A shudder worked through her body. Her body was screaming to stop thinking, to just let go and let the night unfold the way it was supposed to, but a part of her told her to hold off, see if he was really worth it. When they stepped out into the evening air, Ali stopped cold.
A few feet away, parked near Riley’s car, was her dad’s car. It was unmistakable. The license plate read FORDAD. A mixture between their last name and Dad.
She panicked for a moment. What was he doing here? And how would she explain Riley?
Oh my God. He didn’t see me on the patio, sitting on Riley’s lap, did he?
She couldn’t exactly tell her father Riley was her new boyfriend. Her dad would think it was too soon to be dating after her breakup with Pat. Of all the people to run into way out here. Just her luck.
She continued with Riley toward his car when she saw he was on the sidewalk next to his car, not in the restaurant
.
Now she was hoping she could get into Riley’s car before her father saw her.
She couldn’t seem to take her eyes off of him. She watched his every move to make sure she wasn’t spotted. It was suddenly clear that he had eyes for only one person and it wasn’t Ali.
A woman with long, black hair took her dad’s hand and he helped her out of the car. Ali’s mom was blonde. Then Ali watched in horror as her father leaned down and kissed that woman, on the lips! With tongue!
What the fuck?
“Ali, is everything all right?” Riley tugged on her hand.
No matter how badly she wanted to, she couldn’t tear her gaze from her father and that unknown woman. They walked toward the entrance of the restaurant she and Riley had just left and her father’s hand slid down the woman’s back, caressing her ass. He was too focused on her to notice anything else around. Lucky for Ali, but still.
Ali wanted to be sick. It was crystal clear what was going on. Her father was cheating on her mother and everything Ali had grown up to believe, everything she’d just told Riley about her family—unconditional love and everlasting romance—completely evaporated in that split second.
Ali doubled over in pain and looked up at Riley. Moving in closer, Riley rested his hand on her lower back and leaned in asking her once again if everything was okay. With swollen eyes, Ali shook her head. Riley stood up. Letting out a sigh, he looked at Ali wondering what he’d done wrong when Ali continued, “I’m not sure I can do this anymore.”
About the Author
After earning a master’s degree in secondary education from UNC, Elizabeth Nelson worked abroad teaching English, bar-tended at late night clubs in Chicago, and continues various philanthropy projects that focus on empowering women. But her love of writing never changed.
One Last Thing. . .
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The Games We Play
series will consist of five books in all. Each book will be approximately 30K words or 125 pages – A total of 625 pages.
The Games We Play
release schedule:
Book 1: October 15
th
Book 2: November 3
rd
Book 3: November 21
st
Book 4: December 9
th
Book 5: December 29
th
Other Books by Elizabeth Nelson
Backstage Pass: Behind the Music
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Behind Closed Doors – Nashville
Behind Closed Doors – Across State Lines
