“Becca.” Her name falls off my lips like a prayer.
One of the brutes with long brown hair steps up to me. “Becca?”
Becca’s jaw is unhinged. She’s just staring at me, like she’s surprised I’m here. But there’s no way she didn’t know I was coming, that the entire team is staying here. But from the shock etched in her face, I would say she definitely didn’t know. But she sure does now.
Her stare doesn’t falter as she says, “Yes, I know him. It’s okay, Keanu.”
She pushes him back behind her. And my jaw clenches when I see her hand on his chest.
Keanu. I’ll remember that name.
She is all professional, not the sassy girl I knew, when she speaks next, one eyebrow kicked up. “How have you been, Callum?”
Ouch.
I want to throw her off guard. She’s trying to push my buttons by using my full name. She knows I can’t stand when she calls me Callum. Everyone else in the world does, but I don’t want her to. I’m her Cal, always.
I give her something she isn’t expecting—the truth. “How have I been without you, you mean? Terrible. Fucking terrible.”
The mask she had over her face shatters at my words. Her full lips part, and her eyes shine.
Licking my bottom lip, I resist every urge to wrap my arms around her, to pull her into my chest and never let her go.
Coleman decides to take the silence as a cue to introduce himself. “Hi, I’m Trent. And, wow, may I just say, you are beautiful?”
My jaw clenches. I glance at Coleman for a second before looking back at my girl. I don’t care how much time passes; Becca Chambers is my girl, and she always will be.
And when my gaze drifts back to her, not a sliver of vulnerability remains on her face.
But Becca doesn’t look at Coleman. Her eyes haven’t left mine for a second; she’s locked in, contemplating what to do.
The smallest smirk forms on her lips.I’ve never been so happy to see that damn smirk. Her smirk is her armor, her weapon, and her shield. When she smirks, she’s preparing for war. Her enemy just doesn’t know it yet.
There’s my girl.
Becca takes two steps towards to Coleman. “It’s nice to meet you, Trent. My name is Becca. I own this hotel—well, all of The Chambers Hotels. And, yes, you”—she winks at him, and I feel my feet inch forward—“may call me beautiful anytime you want.”
Coleman smiles at her—the smile I’ve seen him give a thousand girls right before he takes them to his room. “How about at dinner tonight?”
She laughs, and Coleman continues to smile.
But he has no idea what he just walked into. That laugh was a move, calculated. Nothing she is doing right now is by accident. She’s reading him and reacting a certain way to get what she wants.
She is playing with him, like prey. He thinks he might be in control. But he doesn’t know Becca like I do. This is a game, a game he just got caught in. A game that is certainly going to get his ass beat.
Becca leans back onto her heels, acting sheepishly. “I would love to. Pick me up here at seven.”
And with that, she goes to step between us, but I snake my hand around her waist and lean down, pressing my lips against her ear.
I inhale deeply, breathing her scent in, hints of sage and vanilla.
“This is a dangerous game, love. But if you want to play, I’m in. I’m always in when it comes to you. One. Hundred. Percent.”
She licks her lips when I pull away and swallows the lump in her throat. “Have a good day, Callum.” Her voice is venomous. She bats her eyes at Coleman. “See you later, Trent.”
And she walks away with Sophie and the two giants right behind her.
She wants to play a game, huh?
