Playing to Win

dressy.”
    He laughed. “No, thanks.”
    “What do you mean, ‘no, thanks’?”
    “I’ve told you before I write checks to charities. I don’t attend fund-raisers.”
    “Well, you’re attending this one. It’s good for your image.”
    “And again, no.”
    “Why are you being so difficult about this?” She stood with her hands on her hips, tapping her foot.
    “I told you. I don’t do those events.”
    “Perhaps you never used to do those events. Now you do.”
    He started to object, but she held up her hand. “There’s no point in continuing to argue. This is part of your image makeover. Charity fund-raisers are a great way to get the media on your side. They make you look good, and frankly they are good for you.”
    “I give plenty to charities. You can ask my accountant.”
    She shook her head. “Not at all the same thing.”
    “Charity fund-raisers are boring.”
    “Suck it up. We’re going.”
    And things had been going so well. “I don’t like taking orders.”
    “Too bad. In this case, I’m the boss.”
    He moved in. “You didn’t seem to mind me being in charge when we had sex.”
    Her eyes widened as she scanned the parking lot, obviously looking for nosy neighbors. She took a step back.
    “That’s different,” she said. “And if you’re going to have a problem working with me because we’re…”
    “Having sex?”
    “Yes. If that’s going to be an issue, then it’ll stop.”
    “It would be that easy for you?”
    “No. Yes. I don’t know. My work is important.”
    “More important than you and me.”
    She sighed. “You’re confusing me, Cole. You know what I mean. I was hired to redo your image. You need to make that your priority. Not us having sex.”
    “I’d rather have sex with you.”
    She looked away. “I knew this wasn’t a good idea.”
    He was teasing her, trying to get her to relax. It obviously wasn’t working. Her shoulders had practically swallowed her neck. He wasn’t ready to give up yet. “Sex is always a good idea, Peaches.”
    “Not if it interferes with our working together.”
    “You have to admit the sex is great.”
    “Yes. It is great. But obviously we’re going to have to stop.”
    He picked up a lock of her hair and rolled it between his thumb and forefinger. “So what you’re saying is, you used me.”
    She laid her hand on his arm. “Cole. No. It wasn’t like that. Please. I don’t want you to think—”
    He laughed and took a step back. “Relax. My feelings aren’t hurt. If all you were interested in was a couple romps, that’s fine with me. You got your itch scratched. We’ll move on.”
    She looked hurt. He felt the gut punch, but he wasn’t going to do anything about it. This was her game to play any way she wanted to. And after everything, she still wasn’t sure about him yet. He got that. He could be patient while she did the wary dance. But he didn’t think they were done yet. “What time is this thing tonight?”
    “Eight o’clock. Do you have a tux?”
    “Oh, sure. I keep one in my closet for all those times I go to the opera.”
    “Okay. No tux. I can take care of that.” She pulled out her phone, punched in a number. She held up her hand when he wouldhave said something. “Claud, this is Savannah Brooks. I’m wonderful, thank you for asking. Listen, I need a favor. I need to come over with someone who needs a tux for an event this evening. Do you think you could help me out with this? He’s with the Traders.”
    She swept her gaze over his body. He liked the way she looked at him.
    “About six feet tall, two-fifteen or so.”
    She listened, keeping her gaze on Cole. “I owe you one, Claud. Thanks so much. We’ll be right over.” She pressed the button and tucked the phone back in her bag.
    “You have some tuxedo fairy on speed dial for emergencies?”
    She grinned. “Something like that. Claud will fix you up. Let’s go.”
    He wanted to balk. He didn’t want to do this, but he needed her to understand that just because they were having sex didn’t mean he was going to use that to have his own way. Cooperation was part of the deal, so he followed her to the tux shop, where he met Claud, a very tall, skinny dude who looked more like a mortician than a tailor. He was pale and creepy, with long icy-cold fingers. His monotone sent chills down Cole’s spine. And this guy was in the service industry?
    Savannah chattered away with him, seemingly unbothered by Lurch. He gave Cole the