Read Game On (The Bod Squad Series Book 1) for Free Online

Sure to impress a girl unfamiliar with New York. Or at least he hoped so. He was getting distracted by her, big-time, nearly spilling his soul to her out there on her balcony. He’d never felt comfortable like that around a woman before. But this filly was something else! A Thoroughbred. Different from what he’d been around. And he found himself getting reeled in by her personality, her wide green eyes, and her scent. Something about her made him want to reveal himself, layer by layer, piece by piece. Or maybe that was just his libido talking. Yeah, that was it. It was just that he was turned on, nothing else. He wasn’t really interested in anything else anyway. Not in this life. Not until he found out who had murdered his father, rooted them out at the core, and exacted his revenge. And he might die trying.
    “Chas?” she inquired, looking concerned. “You okay?”
    “Fine,” he said, covering. “Great. Just admiring the scenery.”
    “Oh,” she said, looking around, “is there scenery too?”
    “I meant you, Susannah,” he replied, gazing into those beautiful eyes.
    She looked taken aback. “It’s Susie.”
    “Right.” He chuckled. “Susie. Isn’t that what I said?”
    “No,” she said pointedly. “You called me Susannah.”
    “Isn’t it the same thing?” he asked provocatively, knowing he had tripped up but enjoying the reveal all the same.
    “No,” she said. “No, it isn’t.”
    The waiter approached the table, but before he could get a word out, Chas cut him off with: “We’ll have the prix fixe. Come back later for the particulars. And we’ll start by each having a Truth Alone Triumphs and a dozen oysters—please choose a sampling of all the ones you offer.” The waiter nodded and left, dismissed.
    Susannah paused. “Truth Alone Triumphs?”
    He smiled, confidence oozing off him in waves. “It’s a fabulous gin drink with curry. And feels like the perfect drink to have when I come clean.”
    Their eyes caught and held for the entire length of time it took for the waiter to return with the drinks. They continued to lock eyes while the drinks were poured, and they toasted, in silence, to the passionate strains of “As Time Goes By.” They drank, a long pull each, and set the glasses down. Then Susannah spoke. “Okay,” she said, “come clean.”
    Chas took another sip. Then met her eyes. And looked straight into them for a long moment. She met his gaze with challenge, and it only enticed him more. “I know who you are,” he said with surety. “I know that you’re looking into me. I find you fascinating, intriguing, and downright magnificent. How ’bout we screw all this and go investigate each other?”
    There was a long silence. Susannah’s eyes widened beyond all possibility. Chas’s mouth curved into a deeper smile, a deeper challenge. Jackson’s voice came clear over the earpiece: “Susie Q. Time to go. We’ve been had.”
    “Well,” Susannah said, “if we’re really coming clean, give me a moment to talk to my babysitter.” She pulled out the earpiece and spoke into it. “Jackie, honey. Go to bed. Feel free to use the penthouse. I’m taken care of for the night.” And with that she took the earpiece and crushed it between her palms, then tucked the pieces into her cleavage.
    Chas laughed, a throaty, full-bodied chuckle, filled with anticipation of a long night ahead. “Lucky earpiece . . .”
    “If you want to fully destroy it,” Susannah said, well on her way to pleasantly tipsy, “you’ll have to get it.” And with that she stood up a bit shakily on the heels, grabbed her purse, and walked toward the exit.
    Chas inhaled the scent of pursuit. It was going to be a fine, fine night. As he stood up, he left a crumpled hundred on the table out of respect. It was a small price to pay for skipping dinner and going straight to dessert. He just hoped he’d get several helpings before the night was out.
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    SUSANNAH GOT OUT of the town car in