The Game by Vi Keeland by Vi Keeland

I tilted my head and squinted at Christian. “What exactly made you realize you were at the right place?”

Christian flashed a shit-eating grin and shoved his hands in his pockets. “I’m not really sure. Guess I saw what I was looking for when I walked in—the tables and all, I mean...”

My eyes narrowed. “Uh-huh.”

Christian looked over at Julian and extended a hand. “Hi. I’m Christian Knox.”

Julian stood and shook. “Julian Morehouse. I’m a big fan.”

Christian’s grin widened as he looked at me and pointed to my date. “He’s a big fan.”

I rolled my eyes.

“That’s some grip you got there,” Julian said, his hand still encased in Christian’s. “But do you think I can get my hand back? I need my fingers to work my keyboard tomorrow.”

“Oh, sure. Sorry.” Christian’s eyes gleamed. “Habit from holding the ball tight all day during practice.” He motioned to his date. “Candice, this is Bella Keating, my boss.” He made a halfhearted wave in Julian’s direction. “And that’s Julius.”

Julian extended his hand to Christian’s date. “It’s Julian, actually.”

“Oh, sorry. That’s right. Bella has mentioned you. You work in artificial intelligence, right?”

“I do.”

He pointed to Candice. “Such a small world. So does Candice.”

Is he freaking kidding me? He showed up at the restaurant where I was on a date and brought a beautiful woman who would be a good match for my date?

“How about if we join you?” Christian asked. “You know, since we have so much in common?”

Before I could say it wasn’t a good idea, Julian nodded. “We’d love that.” He looked to me. “Right, Bella?”

I put on my best fake smile and spoke through my teeth. “Sure.”

Shocker, Christian wound up right next to me, and his date snuggled close to Julian. The two of them immediately started talking about what branch of AI they were in. So I leaned over to Christian and whispered, “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Enjoying dinner.” He shrugged. “It is my favorite restaurant, you know.”

“I’d bet the team that you have never stepped one foot inside here until tonight. You’re trying to sabotage my date.”

Christian did his best to look offended. “Why would I do that?”

“Because you have no idea how to take no for an answer.”

“I absolutely know how to take no for an answer, when the person means it.”

“Oh my God. You are so full of yourself.”

He leaned closer and whispered in my ear. “I wish I was filling you.”

My eyes widened. I should have smacked the jerk. But instead, I was too busy visualizing him…filling me.

I wanted to punch him. Or jump his bones. There was a very fine line between the two at the moment.

“Elliott over there is out of his league with you,” he added.

“First of all, it’s Julian, and you know it. Second of all, why, exactly, would I be out of his league? You don’t even know the man, so you’re, what, judging him by his appearance?”

“Wasn’t talking about his looks. Guy’s got a handshake like a fish. You need a guy with more self-confidence than that.”

“Oh, and I suppose since you have an overabundance in that department you could fill the role?”

He grinned. “Or I can fill something else…”

I tossed my napkin on the table and stood, speaking to my actual date. “Excuse me for a moment, Julian. I need to go to the ladies’ room.”

“Of course.”

I moved quickly away from the table. I didn’t have to go to the bathroom, but I needed a few minutes to collect myself. Or apparently, talk to myself…

“Julian is perfect for you,” I said, looking in the bathroom mirror. “He’s smart, kind, a gentleman, and handsome.”

I bet he doesn’t talk dirty, my reflection answered inside my head.

I squinted at the mirror. “Big deal. You’re only into it because it’s been a while since you were with a man.”

Sure, that’s the reason your panties are wet right now. It’s your dry spell, not how broad the man’s shoulders are, or how narrow his waist is, or the carved lumps of muscle that run between the two. And it’s definitely not his cocky smile, or how forward he is about wanting you—

“Julian and I have so much in common.”

You own a football team, and Christian lives and breathes the sport.

My lips pursed. “I’m his boss.”

Big whoopty-doo. You’re leaving all the important staffing decisions to the management team anyway.

I leaned toward the mirror. “Shut up. Just shut up.”

I’d been so engrossed in conversation with myself, I didn’t even notice the door to the ladies’ room open until a woman was standing behind me, looking concerned.

“Is everything okay?” she asked.

“Yeah…I was, uh, practicing my Spanish.” Really? Practicing Spanish? That’s the best you could come up with? You were speaking damn English! Ugh. I took a lipstick from my purse and lined my lips, even though they didn’t need it. Once the woman disappeared into a stall, I took a deep breath and shook a finger at the idiot in the mirror before walking out.