Page 71 of Power Play Rivals
“Smart. Let the sharks see that there are bigger, meaner ones in the tank with them. Let’s start a bidding war amongst them.” Rex laughs, mentally counting all the dollar bills he might make on this deal just so he can pour it all into his late wife’s charities.
“Invite Lawrence too.”
“Really? I… don’t know,” Rex retorts hesitantly.
“Invite him. Let him see that he’s not the only big fish in the pond interested in making a deal. If his intentions are legit, he’ll have no issue outbidding his competition.”
“What about Mr. Prim and Proper? Should I invite that jackass, too?” Rex scowls at the mention of the senior Preston.
“You can.” I laugh. “Though I doubt he’ll step one foot in our arena, much less stay to watch a full game. It’s too beneath him.”
“Argh,” Rex groans. “Just thinking about us having to return to that box is giving me hives.”
“Go home. I’ll deal with the Prestons,” I tell him.
“No, son.” He shakes his head. “I couldn’t leave you with that vulture alone. Wouldn’t be right.”
“You think I can’t handle that pompous, smug bastard?” I cock a brow. “Trust me. I can handle him just fine. In fact, I doubt he’ll say a word to me once he’s seen that you’ve left. In his eyes, I’m too beneath him to have any type of discourse with.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am. Now go, old man, before I change my mind.” I smirk.
“You’re a good kid.” Rex smiles proudly, knowing I’m okay with taking the bullet for him.
“I’m hardly a kid.” I chuckle.
“When you get to be my age, you all look young to me,” he jokes with a pat on the shoulder. “Call me if anything goes awry. And for god’s sake, don’t antagonize Junior. The less you talk with him, the better.”
“Are you afraid I’ll say something to embarrass you?”
“No, I’m afraid he will, and you’ll end up losing your cool and do something that we’ll both regret. Like giving him a piece of your mind.”
“Good thing then that I never lose my cool.” I offer him a shark-like smile to prove my point.
“Mighty good thing.” Rex chuckles before saying farewell and hurrying out of the crowded lobby.
But just as I’m about to turn around to head back upstairs, I catch a glimpse of long, golden blocks bouncing away in the sea of tuxedos and ball gowns. My gaze fixes on that sexy, all-too-familiar figure strutting towards the intermission stand to place her empty champagne flute on the counter, needing a refill. Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, I forgo returning to the Preston box just yet in favor of tormenting my favorite sports agent.
In just a few quick strides, I push my way through the elegant mob, only coming to a halt once I’m standing right behind her. With her back turned towards me, I capitalize on my towering position to catch a subtle whiff of her enchanting magnolia scent. From my elevated position, I observe the gentle rise and fall of Piper’s chest as she remains unaffected by my presence, even as I gently place my hands on the curve of her hips. This tells me three crucial things.
Number one—Piper must have seen that I was here long before I had the pleasure of seeing her. She’s not the type of woman who would let just anybody put their hands on her so intimately.
Number two—Piper aches for my touch. If she had, in any way, been repulsed by it, then her ass wouldn’t have backed up to my crotch the way it did the minute she felt my presence.
And number three—the dress she’s wearing will be torn to shreds on my bedroom floor before the night is done.
“Never took you for an opera fan, Lee,” I whisper in her ear, loving how her body instantly reacts to me when I see a cold shiver run down her spine.
“I can say the same about you, Nichols,” she retorts coldly, not daring to turn around.
“Hmm,” I hum, wrapping one of her soft, blonde locks around my finger. “Tell me, Lee. Is it just happenstance that you’re here, or have you resorted to stalking me?”
“Don’t flatter yourself,” she rebukes, turning around, her chest purposely grazing mine.
God, she looks beautiful tonight.
Her hair gleams like spun gold, flowing down her bare back against the backdrop of her dark-pink gown. Like most of Piper’s dresses, this one also features a daring side slit that showcases her enviable long, toned legs, one of her most striking attributes and an element of pride for her.