Addie breaks into a warm smile. “They’re all obsessed, though I’d say Uncle Aiden is the most unhinged about it.”

  “Who wouldn’t be obsessed with Lennox?” Josie points out.

  And yeah, she’s right. Lennox is gorgeous and the life of any party.

  “And you can’t date Bray,” Josie says.

  I pout. “You’re ruining all my fun.”

  She scowls. “Please. I’m not ruining any fun on that front. Brayden is the least fun guy on the team. All serious and focused. He probably won’t even see your boobs tonight, and they’re in everyone’s face.”

  I give my chest a little shimmy. “They’re even sparkly.”

  Addie giggles. “You are a shimmering goddess.”

  “Okay, so no brothers, married uncles, or anyone whose last name is Langfield. Does that leave anyone I can test out my dating prowess on tonight?”

  The door to the limo opens, and the driver holds out a hand. He helps Addie out first, and we all follow. As we head toward the house, Addie lists the men who’ll be in attendance.

  “There’s our center, Bobby Dean.” She nods at a man in a navy velvet suit that shows off his ridiculously large thighs and is cut at his ankle. He’s got dark brown hair, and with cheekbones like that? Damn, he could be a model. When he sees us, his face lights up and he gives one of his signature smirks. The kind that could incinerate a girl’s panties. Not this girl, though, since I’m not wearing any.

  “He’s twenty-seven and single, and honestly, I really like him,” she adds.

  I scrutinize her for a moment, noting the way she stares at him like she’s seeing him for the first time. Her light brown hair is pulled back in a messy updo, curled wisps framing her face. With the gold dress that hugs all her curves and red lipstick, she’s a fucking knockout. Tonight, every player is gonna wish she wasn’t set to be their newest coach. “Oh, and there’s Maksim Loob, our defenseman.”

  “Magnum,” Josie mutters, holding her hands out in front of her and dragging them farther apart. “We all can surmise how he got that nickname.”

  Sutton snorts. “Oh my god. You’re awful.”

  I lick my lips, studying the Russian as he slaps Bobby’s hand and the two of them hug in greeting. His light brown hair is pulled back in a messy bun, low on his head. The scar across his cheek, and even the chipped tooth, make him look ruggedly handsome.

  “There’s my personal favorite.” Sutton points to a man unfolding himself from the driver’s seat of a white Corvette. “Royal Bombardier.”

  “He’s a winger,” Addie explains. “From Canada.”

  “Those Canadians sure know how to make a man,” Sutton whispers. She’s practically drooling as she watches the tall man with dirty blond hair that curls at the ends.

  With an easy swagger, he approaches the other guys and greets them. But when he spots Sutton, his eyes go wide and his face lights up. He surveys our group, and when he sees Josie, his captain’s little sister, he makes a beeline for her.

  “Josie,” he says emphasizing the first two letters of her name for reasons unknown to me. “You look gorgeous.” Though he’s speaking to her, his attention keeps drifting to Sutton, who can’t seem to make eye contact and whose cheeks are flaming red.

  Yup. She’s half in love already. Damn. I wish I was half as interested in a man after a week as she is after twenty seconds.

  “Royal, this is Sutton,” Josie says. “And you know Addie.”

  He slips his hands into his pockets and grins. “Hello, Almost Coach.”

  “And this is Savannah. She works with me at Jolie.”

  His blue eyes light up with what looks like mischief. “JJ has banned us from reading the magazine, so naturally, we take turns reading it out loud before games to annoy the shit out of him.”

  Addie coughs out a laugh. “Probably not the best way to get your goalie in the right headspace.”

  JJ’s mom is Catherine Bouvier, my boss, so I can understand why he wouldn’t want his teammates reading her magazine, which is often filled with advice on sex. Especially her own editorial articles. She’s very open about her adventurous sex life with her husband and sometimes others.

  Like I said, she’s my hero.

  “We don’t read Cat’s articles. We wouldn’t do that to him. But Calliope’s are a must-read.”

  Josie eyes me, but I shake my head. No one knows I’m Calliope, and we’re going to keep it that way.

  “She’s my favorite,” Sutton says. They’re the first words out of her mouth, and already, she’s flirting.

  Head tilted, he hitches a thumb over his shoulder. “Why don’t we get a drink, and you can tell me which articles you like best? See what we have in common.”

  With her lip caught between her teeth, she nods shyly. “Sure.”

  He holds out an arm and she takes it easily. Then they’re gone.

  Josie huffs and stomps toward the house. “She better not start talking baby names before we get inside.”

  Coughing out a laugh, I follow her. My laughter dies, though, when I step inside. The sound of our heels dull on the black carpet that’s been laid out to protect the gorgeous light wood floors.

  The back of the house is all windows with a view of the dazzling harbor and the pink and orange sky above it as the sun sets over the water.

  “Okay, I could maybe put up with a man for life if this house came with him,” I mutter.

  Josie snorts. “And you haven’t even seen the man yet.”

  “I’ve seen pictures.”

  After we were invited to the party, I looked him up, and yeah, Camden Snow is a hot older man. Forty-six, I think, with a full head of dirty blond hair. Bright blue eyes. A cocky smile and a different woman beside him in every photo.

  “Pictures don’t do him justice,” Josie promises.

  Addie rolls her eyes. “Your father would kill you.”

  Our friend lets out a raspy laugh. “Please, I’m far more into the women he’s hired for tonight. Look at them!”

  Sienna warned me that these parties were over-the-top, but I definitely didn’t picture women walking around in little more than silk bows like they’re Christmas presents meant to be unwrapped. They’re adorned in red, green, silver, and gold silk. And every one of them is gorgeous. Of course, none of them have large breasts like mine. The thick bands of ribbon would never cover a chest like this, and every woman drifting around with trays of drinks in her hands is no bigger than a size two.

  I love my body, but damn do I feel extra curvaceous around them.

  Camden Snow obviously has a type, and it is tall, slim, and naked.

  “Champagne?” one of them asks as she approaches with a silver tray.

  “Thank you.” I pluck a champagne flute with a smile. “Love the outfit.”

  She grins. “Certainly doesn’t leave anything to the imagination, does it? Make sure you check out the show downstairs in a bit.”

  Head tilted, I frown. “Show?”

  “It’s a surprise,” a deep male voice says from behind me.

  I huff, annoyed at the interruption. I hate when men think it’s their right to hold all the cards. Like they can tell women what they can and can’t do. “And who are you to keep secrets?”

  “That,” Josie says as I turn toward the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen, “is Camden Snow.”

  SIX

  CAMDEN

  The most gorgeous woman I’ve ever laid eyes on brings her drink to her glossy lips and sips the bubbly without bothering to respond to her friend. Instead, she eyes me, like she’s memorizing every damn inch of my body. Much like I did with hers as she stepped into my house. One look at her, and I practically swallowed my own tongue.

  Wide hips and a narrow waist, but fuck me, those curves have nothing on her damn face. My attention is drawn to the small beauty mark above her mouth as she swipes her tongue over her lip. Creamy skin, long, dark lashes, plump fuck-me lips.

  I’ve never seen her before, I know that for certain. A man doesn’t forget a woman like her. Her deep red hair is loose and hangs halfway down her back.

  I itch to touch it. To wrap a fist around it. Instead, I clench my hands and let out a breath through my nose.

  Her green eyes widen, and I swear to god she smirks like she can read my thoughts.

  Holy hell, this one is trouble.

  I’m entranced. I can’t look away. So when her friend says “Hi, Uncle Cam,” I startle, blinking rapidly. Holy shit. This goddess’s friend is Josie.

  Fuck. Please don’t let this woman be as young as my honorary niece. “Hey, Josie. Addie,” I add when I clock Adeline Langfield beside her.

  This isn’t good.

  I take a step back, putting distance between myself and the woman I am quickly realizing can’t be my date for the night, let alone an integral part of my three-month experiment.

  Fuck me. If she could be, the bet would have been a damn cakewalk. I could look at this woman for years and not get tired of studying her curves.

  My jaw flexes as I survey them one more time. Then I force a smile and will my eyes to avoid drifting to the gorgeous tits she’s not even trying to hide.

  “Amazing party,” Addie says. “This is our friend Savannah. Thank you for inviting us.”

  Savannah.

  My attention slips back to her. Even her name is beautiful.

  She licks her lips and holds out a hand. “Yes, thank you for the invite.”

  I shouldn’t touch her, but I’ve never been good at rejecting my impulses, so I step closer and take her hand in mine, reveling in the warmth of it. Relishing how small and soft it is. “Pleasure is all mine. Enjoy the party, girls.”

  I release her hand and step back. While Josie and Addie get the message, my silent signal that it’s time for the conversation to end, and wander off, Savannah only turns so she’s facing me fully. Like she’s determined not to obey.

  So she’s a brat.

  Fuck, this keeps getting worse.

  “So what’s the surprise?” Her voice is sexy, with a slight rasp.

  “You should definitely not go downstairs. None of you should.”

  I run a hand over my forehead. What was I thinking pulling my usual tricks tonight? I keep forgetting how young the players are now. A few are the actual kids of my teammates. Like Brayden. Though at thirty-three, he can’t really be considered a kid.

  Maybe the problem is that we—I—keep getting older.

  “None of us?” she asks, a slight smile on her lips.

  I discreetly scan the people around us, feeling like a dirty old man. It appears that all my guests are lost in conversation or ogling the half-naked women serving drinks. Obviously the players would rather look at them than pay attention to me. Though they’re fools if they don’t realize the best-looking woman in this room is standing here, busting my balls.

  I drag my focus back to her, and when our eyes lock, my chest tightens in a way I haven’t felt in god knows how long. I stopped feeling years ago.

  She rolls her teeth over her bottom lip, her green eyes searching mine.

  Fuck it. “How old are you?”

  A surprised laugh spills from her. “Twenty-seven, why?”

  Twenty-seven. That’s not too young. Right?

  I tilt my head, sip my whiskey. “How’s your relationship with your dad?”

  “Nonexistent.”

  A rumble works up my throat. “I can work with that.”

  With a single step, I’m by her side, my hand pressed to her lower back. Savannah tilts her head, the move bringing her lips so fucking close that mine tingle at the idea of tasting them. She smells like a rich dessert. Like chocolate mousse. The scent makes my mouth water.

  “I’m not sure how I feel about that response,” she says softly.

  I shrug. “I don’t like to start things I can’t finish, and let’s be honest, baby girl, no father in the world would let a beautiful young thing like you anywhere near the likes of me.”

  She pulls her shoulders back and hits me with a haughty look. “Maybe I’m the type of girl who doesn’t listen to her daddy.”

  I squeeze her waist, desire already threading through me. “Oh, you definitely will. But I wouldn’t mind if you were a bit of a brat either.”

  “Oh my god.” Her lips form an O, her eyes widening. “I’m⁠—”

  “Turned on,” I say, cutting her off. “Don’t even pretend otherwise. And you’re too invested in what the surprise might be to walk away.”

  Her plump lips thin as she presses them together. “You seem to think you know a lot about me, Mr. Snow.”

  I inhale. Damn, this fucking tease of a woman is going straight to my head. Already I’m hard and dying to get her alone. “I don’t know nearly enough, but I’m certainly interested in anything you’re willing to share.”

  She sinks those teeth into her bottom lip again, trying to hide a smile. “This house is gorgeous.”

  “Would you like a tour?”

  That smile breaks through in earnest. “Is this where you offer to show me the view from your bedroom?”

  A chuckle rumbles out of me. “No. Only good girls get that tour.”

  She rolls her pretty green eyes. “I doubt that’s true.”

  I pinch her waist and dip in so my mouth is at her ear. “Brat.”

  “Lead the way.” She flutters her lashes and affects an innocent expression. “Daddy.”

  SEVEN

  SAVANNAH

  Camden hisses through his teeth and turns away, though I don’t miss how he adjusts himself before he turns back and guides me through an open door down the hall. I’ve heard about the dangers of going into dark spaces with strangers, especially older men, once or twice, but with Camden this close, there’s no chance I’ll follow the rules.

  He is the perfect first mark.

  Charming, gorgeous, wealthy. A catch in every sense. And totally unattainable. But I imagine women throw themselves at him all the time. That he’s the kind of man who will enjoy them for the night and then spit them out the next day.

  He’s a lucky man tonight, though, because I swallow, and I intend to enjoy the hell out of him too.

  I don’t even feel bad about using him as my first guinea pig. I’ll show him a good time, and then I’ll prove my point.

  If you want a man like Camden Snow, you don’t play his game. You walk away.

  There’s a pretty good chance he’ll let you, and then you’ll save yourself some heartbreak.

  I guess that could be a part of this series of articles too. Tips for spotting the kind of men who aren’t looking for a real connection and how to avoid being ensnared. If, that is, you’re looking for an actual relationship. I’m not, so proving my point won’t be a hardship.

  Tomorrow I’ll walk away from Camden Snow with my heart intact.

  But tonight I’ll enjoy the hell out of this ride.

  At the end of the hall, we’re met with another wall of windows, and the view nearly knocks me back. “Holy shit.”

  Camden chuckles low in his throat. “It’s pretty nice, right?”

  “Nice?” I scoff. “This might just be the best view in Boston.”

  On the other side of the glass is Boston Harbor in all its glory. The moon glows low in the deep inky sky, giving the water a magical glistening, shimmering effect.

  The house is loud, but as he leads me out through a sliding glass door and closes it behind him, silence descends.

  “No, the view from my bedroom is absolutely better,” he promises.

  Heart tripping, I turn back to him. I keep my expression schooled, only raising a brow.

  He shrugs. “Doesn’t mean I’m going to show it to you.”

  “You will,” I assure him as I walk to the edge of the stone patio.

  To my right is a hot tub. The lid is pulled back and the water is bubbling. I almost laugh at how fucking sexy this place is, and that’s not even considering the man who owns it. It’s a quintessential bachelor pad, and I’m sure he does very well in that department. A woman would merely need to see this place to drop her panties.

  I lean against the stone wall that separates the property from the harbor and breathe in the cold, salty New England air. I’ll never get enough of the seasons. Being from Las Vegas, the cold of my first winter here was a shock. But the fall season had already enchanted me, and I was in love with the place, so there was no going back. It took some time to adjust, but now, in my opinion, there’s nothing as magical as a wintry night in Boston. This already incredible view would only be enhanced if there was snow falling around us.

  Almost makes me wish I was going to be around to see it.

  But all we get is tonight. It’s all anyone gets with me.

  With that reminder, I spin and face Camden. He’s already watching me, and the intensity in his expression causes my throat to go dry.

  “So what do you do, Savannah?” Camden murmurs.

  “I work for Jolie.”

  His eyes light up. “My buddy’s wife just took over as creative director.”

  “Yeah, Sienna. She’s actually the one who gave me this dress.” I hold one arm out. “She told me to watch out for you too.”

  He chuckles. “She’s right. You should.”

  “Don’t worry about me, Camden Snow. I’m not naïve.”

  “Oh yeah? So what is it you know about me?”

  I step closer. Mostly because I’m starting to get really freaking cold, but also because I’ve found myself trapped in his gravitational field, and at the moment, I don’t even want to fight the pull. “I know you used to play for the Bolts.”

  He nods.

  “Were you any good?”

  His brows jump, practically hitting his hairline. “So you really don’t know anything about me.”

  “That good, huh?”

  With a low huff of a laugh, he grips my waist and pulls me against him. “I was a fucking god on the ice.”

  I tip my head back and lick my lips. “Bet you’re a god in the bedroom too.”

  He shakes his head, but there’s no hiding his cocky smile. “You seem awfully interested in my bedroom.”