Tempting The Player by Linda Verji

Author:Linda Verji [Verji, Linda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-05-15T16:00:00+00:00

17

A

PPARENTLY, BEING A HELLION WAS a very tiring career. Jay fell asleep before they got to Tazeem’s car. He didn’t even stir as Chess strapped him into the backseat.

“Uh-uh!” Chess protested when Tazeem tried to get into the driver’s seat. She snatched the car keys from his grip. “Not when you’re this exhausted. I’m not trying to die.”

Tazeem had the look of a man who’d been through it. He could barely keep his hooded eyes open, and every step he took was heavy and slow. Hell, he looked like he was using all his strength just to stand. She doubted that he could drive for even five minutes without wrapping his car around a light or something

Tazeem sluggishly protested, “I can drive.”

“No, thanks. I’m not trying to die today.” Chess grabbed his arm and escorted him around the car. “I’ll take us home.”

A few half-hearted protests later, Tazeem was safely strapped in the passenger seat. He immediately leaned back and closed his eyes.

Talking about I can drive. Chess scoffed. She was surprised he didn’t start snoring immediately.

Despite his exhaustion, Tazeem was somewhat aware of his environment. When she started moving, he opened one eye, took note of their direction, and mumbled, “Are we going to my house?”

“Yeah.” She said, “We’ll drop you off first, then Jay and I can take a cab home.”

He nodded and closed his eyes again. A minute or so later, he opened his eyes. His voice was gruff with drowsiness as he proposed, “Why don’t you guys just spend the night at my place?”

The suggestion came from so out of left field that she was struck speechless. “Huh!”

“It will save you the hustle of a longer trip and having to take a cab at this time of the day-” He turned slightly to meet her gaze. “-and I’d get a chance to spend a little more time with Jay.”

“No,” she instinctively nixed the idea. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Why not?” he asked.

Why not? Because the last time I was at your apartment, we slept together then you cussed me out. But she couldn’t say all that because it would look like she was still salty when the situation was all her fault anyway. So she reached for the first alternative excuse she could find. “We don’t have any clothes.”

“We can stop at a store.” He was quick with his response. “I’ll buy.”

Breathlessly, she grasped for another excuse. “Jay isn’t used to sleeping in strange places.”

“Well, if we’re doing this co-parenting thing, he’ll need to get used to sleeping at my place,” Tazeem countered. “Isn’t it better for you to be around for his first time at my place so he doesn’t get disoriented?”

Why was this fool making so much sense and trashing her excuses?

Chess spent a few seconds looking for another excuse. When none came, she grumpily surrendered, “You’re right.”

Right after getting his way, Tazeem fell asleep. He woke up when they got to the supermarket, but she told him that she was okay shopping for hers and Jay’s things alone.

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