Playing the Player(41)

He grabbed another fry. “And she’s smart. Like you.” He paused, examining me like I was a criminal and he was the * detective. “How’s the relaxation mission going? You working your magic?”

Magic. I was back in the park again, sniffing her hippie chick oil. Maybe I should’ve kissed her right then, even though we were on duty. If she’d kissed me back, I’d know if I might have a chance with her.

My eyes traveled around the pool deck. Lots of easy pickings here, if I wanted. But I didn’t want any of them.

Alex slurped from his straw. “Hey, I’d love to be proven wrong about your shallow, sorry ass.” He pointed his hot dog at me. “Don’t be a dick to her.” He looked at his hot dog and laughed. “So to speak.”

I rolled my eyes. “We’re back to that?”

He snorted. “I know you think they’re not in love with you. But every time you break a heart, I’m the one they come crying to. It takes them forever to get over you.”

“That’s a load of crap.” I squirmed in my chair. I tried to let them down gently. I always told them it was me, not them. Which was true. I just couldn’t seem to stay focused on one girl for more than a couple of weeks.

“Let’s come up with a questionnaire for your future conquests.” Alex stretched out his tanned legs. “Number one: Do you expect prom-posals and fancy dinners? If they say no, they move up to the next round.”

“Very funny.” I threw a towel at him. I had valid reasons for not doing that stuff. The one and only time I did, Kristen had dumped me two days later. Why waste my money?

Alex snickered. “Number two: Do you expect late night, flirty Facetime chats? If they say yes, automatic elimination.”

“You suck.” I threw a French fry at him. “Besides, that’s not totally off the table.”

He shot me a look. “Yeah? When’s the last time you engaged in said activities? For longer than a week?”

I scowled at him. “These things have expiration dates, you know.” I shifted in my chair. “Besides, those chats get boring after a while.”

He snorted. “Only when you pick boring girls.”

I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of agreeing. “Sometimes it’s not about the conversation. Most times, actually.”

“News flash: it’s possible to have both. Brainy and sexy, all in one package. Take me, for instance.”

This time I threw my water bottle, which he caught. “You’re not my type,” I growled.

“No kidding. But I’m interested in the potential on-the-job action for you. I bet anybody as tightly wound as Bird Brain lets loose. Like, totally Girls Gone Wild.”

“Shut up.” I launched myself off my chair, slugged him hard on the shoulder, and dove into the pool, tearing through the water like I was being chased by a shark.

After I’d exhausted myself, I leaned on the edge of the pool, pushing wet hair out of my face. Alex raised his sunglasses and smirked at me. “Question number three,” he yelled from his chair. “How do you feel about chick flicks? Extra points for anything with lots of kissing!”

I sank underwater, but not before I heard all the tittering laughter from the surrounding pool chairs. Ever since he’d busted me watching my mom’s old DVD of Bridget Jones’ Diary, I’d never heard the end of it. He’d accused me of being a repressed romantic, which I totally denied.

Just because I watched that movie… Okay, a lot of those movies.

It didn’t mean anything.



“Why are you asking about Trina, Slade?” Desi gave me the stink eye from underneath her dorky white hat.

“We have to work together. You know that. And it’s…just better if I have some, uh, insight into her. For us to work as a team. You know. For the kids.”

Her face split into a gorgeous smile. “You’re so full of it, Edmunds.”

Trey always said he couldn’t get anything past her.

A mom and two little girls walked into the store, clamoring for pretzels, so I stepped aside and pondered my options.

What if Desi reported back to Trina? Of course she would. She was probably sending her some sort of psychic vibe right now. I had to play it cool, but still find out something, anything, that would help me crack the Trina code.

Desi turned to me once we were alone again. “Is this about the swim lesson?” She stacked drinking cups while side-eyeing me.

I shifted uncomfortably. “She told you about that?”

Desi rolled her eyes.

Of course she did. Girls told each other everything.

“Kind of. I don’t know. It’s just…she’s so…”

Desi shoved the bag of cups under the counter. “Slade Edmunds. I never would have guessed you’d fall for her.”

My neck felt hot, and it pissed me off. “What? Come on, no way. That’s not what this is about. This is about my job.”

“Uh huh.” Desi grabbed a rag and started wiping crumbs off the counter. “Here’s the thing about Trina.” She shot me a cryptic look. “I know she’s kind of…intense. But she’s a really cool person once you get to know her.”

I didn’t say anything, but I held her gaze.

“If she lets you,” Desi continued. “Get to know her, I mean.”