Scored(60)

“I care so much about you, Paige.” He brushes his lips against my nose, my cheeks, and my forehead. “And I should be fucking scared, but I’m not. This is right. We’re right.”

I take a breath, not believing what I’m hearing. A part of me wants to run away because this is starting to feel a lot like love… but instead, I tell the truth because that’s what both of us deserve. “I feel the same way.”





CHAPTER 24




Dallas


The next day, after another round of marathon sex with Paige, I give us a break and we join civilization by hanging out at the pool. Sam and Mitchell jetted off for parts unknown on day one, leaving me to entertain Aiden.

Sorry fuckers.

I’m going to be sure to thank them, but first, I’m going to ogle my girlfriend’s ass in a barely there bottom as she shoves Layton into the pool. Those two… I shake my head and smile.

“She’s going to be pissed when she surfaces,” Aiden says.

“Layton?”

“Yeah, she’s not a fan of getting her hair wet.”

I slice my gaze his way. “Is this based on personal experience?”

He lifts his shoulder, dark shades hiding his eyes. “I’ve known her since she was eleven and I was nineteen.”

“You’ve known her for fifteen years?”

He nods once. “She liked to follow me around. I humored her because she was not only a sweet kid, but also my best friend’s sister. Once she turned eighteen, though, I avoided her at all cost because there was no way those pretty hazel eyes were going to mess with my head. I kept my distance for a long, long time.”

Pretty hazel eyes? “Is that your only reason?”

Aiden takes a drink. “She’s a straight-up brat when she doesn’t get what she wants.”

Layton shoots through the water, sputtering and yelling at Paige that’s she going to have a come-to-Jesus meeting with her a soon as she fixes her hair.

“Told you.”

“She’s never acted like that around me.” And she sure as shit can’t be that bad and still be best friends with Paige. It doesn’t jive.

“Consider yourself lucky.” His head turns slightly. I swear he’s tracking her as she marches out of the pool, her bikini just as skimpy as Paige’s—not that I’m looking because I’m not.

Just in case it appears that’s exactly what I’m doing, I find my girl again and zero in on her. She waves at me and dives into the pool before Layton can shove her in.

“Let’s go out tonight,” Aiden suggests casually, but knowing him, it’s already in the bag. “New club. My friend said she could get us the VIP room that’s normally reserved for people who own houses like this.”

Called it. “I don’t know. I don’t think Paige would be down with that.”

As if reading my mind, Aiden says, “My friend has offered to give you a platform to talk about your foundation, and she promised there will be major donors there with cash to throw your way.”

Fuck my life, I can’t miss an opportunity like that. My gaze lands on Paige again as she climbs on a float and lays back, her delectable body gleaming in the sun.

I shrug. “They can go if they want, but I’m not going to make Paige go somewhere that makes her uncomfortable.”

“Have you put out an APB yet?”

“On what?”

“Your missing balls.”

I flip him off. “Stop obsessing over my junk, or I’m going to think you’re trying to make Paige jealous.”

A few of the staff suddenly appear, out of nowhere like the butler in Mr. Deeds, to serve dinner. The ladies towel off and join us at the table.

“Poolside service. I could get used to this on vacation,” Paige says with a grin.

I wait until she has started eating and is making happy noises before I bring up tonight. “So I’ve been invited to a club to promote my foundation this evening.”

“Fun. You go on and promote the crap out of the event for the foundation. Layton and I will have a girls’ night.”

“Could you and Layton have a girls’ night with Aiden and me?”

“At a club where you’ll be the center of attention?” She shakes her head. “I don’t think so.”

“C’mon. You and Layton would have so much fun dancing and seeing the nightlife in Miami.”

Layton shakes her fork at me. “Don’t put me in the middle of this.”

“Middle of what?” Paige asks.

“Y’all’s drama.” Layton nods at me. “It’s clear he wants you to go, and it’s clear that you would rather braid your hair.”

“It’s clear I’m right here and can speak for myself.” I work my jaw. “Paige doesn’t have to go. It’s her choice. Since we’re playing by her rules, she can stay here with you.”

“Don’t take that tone with Layton. She’s rooting for you to win,” Paige all but snaps at me.

Aiden smirks from his side of the table. The motherfucker. “We all are.”

Layton glares at Aiden. “Stop stirring the pot.”

“Your pussy isn’t mine, so don’t even try to whip me into doing your bidding.”