Something told me I already knew the answer. Jules never made things easy. It was one of the things I secretly liked about her.
“You’re an arrogant ass.” Calculation entered her eyes. “Since you’re so confident in your abilities with women, let’s play another game.”
Intrigue bloomed. “What kind of game?”
“It’s simple. We see which one of us can get the most phone numbers in an hour.” Jules cocked her head, her hair spilling in waves of coppery silk over her shoulder. “Winner gets bragging rights.”
It might seem low stakes to an outside observer, but bragging rights for us held the same cachet as a Rolex or Lamborghini. Maybe more.
Nothing mattered more than our pride.
“Deal.” Cockiness filled my smile. Jules was good, but I was going to win.
I always did.
“Good.” She glanced at the giant clock hanging on the wall. “We reconvene at ten to seven.”
I was gone by the time she finished her sentence. I’d been scanning the room since she brought up the game rules, formulating a plan, so I didn’t hesitate in beelining toward a group of twenty-something women in the corner.
Lucky for me, the bar’s female to male ratio was about two to one, giving me the upper hand even if I stayed away from women who were with their significant other.
I kept my conversations brief and flirtatious. I never promised more than I could give, and I made the women I talked to feel good enough they had no qualms about parting with their numbers after only a few minutes. I suspected a few knew I was up to something, considering how quickly I was moving through the crowd, but that didn’t stop them from flirting back.
By the time six-thirty rolled around, I’d secured well over a dozen numbers. I should’ve been thrilled, but suspicion trickled through me when I noticed Jules hadn’t moved from her seat. She sipped her drink, her face serene as she watched me work the room.
What was she up to?
Unable to take it anymore, I ended my conversation with the woman I was currently talking to and stalked over to Jules. I planted my hands on the wooden tabletop and narrowed my eyes. “Okay, what’s your game?”
“What do you mean?” Jules asked, innocent as a newborn lamb.
“We have…” I checked the time again. “…ten minutes left and you haven’t even tried to talk to a guy. Don’t tell me you’re banking on them approaching you first.”
A few had, but Jules wasn’t the passive type. She liked to go in guns blazing, no matter the situation.
“I’m not.”
“Forfeiting, then? If you’re scared of losing, just say so. No need to go through this whole song and dance.”
“Oh, I’m not forfeiting.” Jules finally set her drink down and unfolded herself from her chair. She slipped out of her jacket, her movements like honey gliding against the gentle curves of a glass bottle.
Slow, smooth, sensual.
Fucking hell.
My throat dried at the sight before me.
Jules wore a standard professional uniform—a white button-down shirt tucked into a gray skirt, black heels, and a discreet gold necklace that peeked out from beneath her collar. But with her body and confidence, she might as well have been wearing the world’s sexiest lace lingerie.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop my eyes from devouring her flash of cleavage and the way her outfit hugged her ample curves. Her voluptuous figure wasn’t toned and lean like so many of the women in my gym, but it was soft. Lush. And entirely too appealing.
Heat scorched my blood as an image of me pushing her up against a wall, yanking up that tight little skirt, and fucking her until she screamed flashed through my head.
I shoved it aside the minute it popped up, but it was too late. My cock was already hardening, and arousal thrummed low in my gut.
Tension hardened my jaw. I hated this newfound effect she had on me. I’d gone years without being turned on by her, and now, I couldn’t stop fantasizing about her. I didn’t know what changed, but it was pissing me the fuck off.
“I’m winning this bet. Watch and learn, Chen,” Jules purred before sashaying over to the DJ.
The view of her walking away did nothing to ease the ache in my groin.
Of all the horrible things that could happen to me, being sexually attracted to Jules Ambrose topped the list. No question.
Need, frustration, and curiosity battled for dominance as she said something to the DJ. He nodded, his face creasing with sympathy.
A burst of suspicion entered the mix when he cut off the music. Why would he…
I shot up when I realized what she had up her sleeve.