The Name of the Game by Dawson Jennifer

Author:Dawson, Jennifer [Dawson, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2015-08-03T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

For a while they drifted, his fingers playing over her skin, while Gracie practically purred. She couldn’t remember ever being so completely satiated. Her lashes fluttered open and she found him watching her.

“What were you wrong about?” He traced a path over her ribs, in a slow, methodical pattern. As if he was trying to learn her by touch.

“You’re not a dud,” she said, grinning.

He laughed, shaking his head. “You’re the most impossible woman I’ve ever met.”

“I prefer the word challenging.”

He stroked the curve of her breast. “You are. At lunch as I watched you swoop in and charm your way into that table, I was thinking that a man had to have superhero self-confidence to deal with you.”

She sucked in a breath when he circled her nipple. “Everyone says I take after my daddy that way.”

She blinked. Why on earth had she brought him up? She’d meant to make some cute quip.

His fingers stilled. “What happened to him? I’ve never heard you mention him.”

She shrugged. “He left. Did the classic going out for cigarettes routine and never came back.”

He leaned down and brushed his mouth over hers. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m not. I was glad. Once he started drinking, all that charm disappeared. And he drank a lot.” She shuddered, remembering how he’d go out Saturday night, the life of the party, which would end with Sunday-morning bruises on her momma’s face.

“Was he mean?” James asked, his voice soft.

She nodded. “Yeah, he was. He used to hit my mom.”

His whole body stilled. “And you?”

“I think that’s the one thing she wouldn’t have allowed.” As she felt her muscles going tight at the memories, all her satisfaction evaporated. “Everyone loved him.”

“I didn’t know. That must have been hard growing up.” Once again, James began stroking her skin.

“Sam and I don’t talk about it much. And once he was gone, money got tight, but I didn’t care. At least it was peaceful.” Where was this coming from? They were supposed to be giggling and talking dirty, not dredging up the past. She rolled into him, giving him her most seductive smile. “I’m glad I was wrong.”

He cupped her chin, tilting her head to look deep into her eyes. He studied her for a long time, and when she felt the catch in her throat she looked away. He stroked her cheek. “I understand that, and I know what it’s like to lose someone suddenly.”

“That’s different. Your dad died. And from everything I know, he was a great man.” Bruce Roberts walking out on his family was the best thing that ever happened to them, although her mother mourned him until the day she died. He was like that. Knew just how to charm everyone and get what he wanted. And no matter how ugly he turned, he’d always been able to sweet-talk her momma into believing it would never happen again.

James’s gaze darkened, the corners of his mouth dipping. “It may not be the same, and yes, I had a good dad, but the shock of your life suddenly changing is the same.

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