Page 65 of Player For Hire

“My delivery guy.”

“Oh.” My hands went to my cheeks. “Oh...”

Jimmy laughed. “I can see why my brother is a smitten kitten.”

“He mentioned me?”

“No, but that will be rectified very soon.” He nodded over my shoulder. “What’s up, asshole?”

I turned to find Colder with his hands in his pockets of his jeans. The were the perfect kind—old and worn in with holes at the knees with a matching Henley to the one I stole a few days ago, this one white against his tanned skin.

“I see you met Naomi.” He came up beside me. “Whatever he said is probably a lie.”

“You’re not a smitten kitten?” Jimmy grinned and reached out to tap Colder’s cheek. “Pretty sure I’m right on the money there.”

Colder ducked away from the tap. “Don’t be obnoxious.”

“Aww, you really do like her.” Jimmy flipped open the box and took out a slice of loaded pizza. “Today’s going to be fun.” He took a big bite and headed toward the television where the game was starting.

“I’m sorry in advance. Between Cal and my brother, it can get a little heated on the trivia.”

“I didn’t realize you had a brother.” I didn’t really know anything about him except that his mother had died.

Because we were transactional.

My stomach twisted. My choice there, but I still could have asked him more questions about himself. Not just used him for my own devices.

Colder didn’t seem to have the same reservations. He flipped one box open, then he went to the other and took out a piece of pepperoni. “Do you have any annoying siblings?”

“No.” I didn’t know what to do with my hands, so I picked at the snack items and made a plate I didn’t really want all of a sudden. “They only ended up with me.”

He glanced at me, those silvery eyes seeing far too much. “Think they ended up with a pretty great kid, as far as I can tell.”

Which made me feel even worse. Before I could ask him more about himself, Cal interrupted.

“Since we’ve got a new player today, how about we play girls against guys?”

Iona held her glass aloft. “Oh, that just means we’re going to kick your ass. Especially since my roommate is a brainiac.”

My eyes widened. I certainly was not. I was pretty sure my general studies degree would not be the winning flavor additive. “I guess that’s my cue to get over there.”

“Looking forward to roasting your truly spectacular ass, Naomi.”

I laughed, surprised at the change in Colder’s demeanor from earlier as well as after the elevator ride. “Do you have a competitive streak?”

“Iona threw the gauntlet.”

“Sweeten the pot?”

His eyes sharpened. “Definitely.”

“Your team wins, you pick what we do tonight. Lesson or not.”

“And if you do?”

“My lesson of choice.”

He held his hand out. “You’re on.”