Read Online A Playboy's Love Affair by Emily Quinn - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Emily Quinn
Tags: Contemporary
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asked.
“Please excuse me,” Alex said.
The sponsor nodded as Alex walked away.
Jay and his companion were involved in an enthusiastic conversation with two other couples, in fact too enthusiastic for Alex’s liking. Jay handed a champagne flute to the woman next to him and placed a proprietary hand on the small of her bared back, the woman in return raised her hand to his face adjusting a strayed strand of his sable brown hair back into place. Alex quickened his pace.
Alex stepped in the small circle as he offered Jay a handshake, his grasp unbreakable. “Jay, it’s a surprise to see you here tonight.”
Jay didn’t shy away and returned an equally firm shake. “Alex it’s good to see you’re back in town. I didn’t think you’d be here,” Jay replied.
“Well, I am back.” Alex went on about greeting the other couples in their circle focusing at last on one person. “Carly,” he said in a dry tone, appreciating the way the rouge silk halter gown hugged her curves like a second skin. His fiery gaze was filled with a mix of anger, jealousy, and a promise to claim her, whether she wanted it or not.
“Hello, Alex.” Carly remained at Jay’s side and nodded in return. Her smile lacked the warmth he’d seen her give Jay just a few moments before he’d crashed their little circle.
“If you’d please excuse us,” Jay addressed everyone in their small ring, placing a possessive hand on the small of Carly’s back and guided her to their table.
“Alex it’s great to see you’re back.” Paul’s voice sounded from behind. Paul and Dominic stepped in the small circle. “Pardon me, I have an urgent matter to discuss with my business partner and I’m afraid I’ll have to steal him away from you for a moment.” Without waiting for the other guests to acknowledge his statement, Paul gestured to Alex and Dominic to follow him out to the arts center terrace.
The cool night air hit him as soon as he set foot outside. Alex walked to an isolated corner and the other two men followed. Scanning the terrace making sure others were out of earshot, Alex turned facing his friends. “Can anyone tell me what’s going on? What’s Jay doing here with Carly?”
Dominic shrugged, shoving his hands in his pockets.
Paul approached him. “Alex whatever is going on, don’t make a fool of yourself. Carly is here with Jay, like it or not, there’s nothing you can do about it.”
“Like hell I can’t.” Alex paced back and forth in the corner of the terrace.
“Alex,” Dominic cut in. “Paul is right, you don’t want to make a fool of yourself here of all places.”
“Then, what am I supposed to do…sit back and watch them together?”
Dominic raised a brow. “Why are you so upset about it, anyway? Your only binding to her is that senseless agreement which if you weren’t so set on it you could end now. Come on Alex, it’s not like your little game is going to turn into a happy ever after. You’re not interested in that stuff. You don’t do emotional crap, remember? What’s wrong with you man? Or, have you changed your mind? Please don’t tell me you’re thinking of doing the love and marriage ordeal?”
Alex didn’t respond to that, instead, he stared angrily at something out in the distance.
Paul broke the silence. “I think it’d be best if you left.”
“You know damn well I can’t leave.” Alex planned to stay as long as he could take it, but leaving this place without Carly was out of the question.
Paul studied him. “If you stay you’re going to have to keep yourself in check. No scandals.”
Alex glared at his friends for a moment as he turned on his heel, retreating into the shadows. Confusion, anger, jealousy even, filled his chest. Carly had put his life upside down since the moment they’d crossed paths, and he couldn’t get her out of his mind. He wasn’t even sure if getting her in his bed would do the trick anymore to put his life back in order.
He stayed at the
“Please excuse me,” Alex said.
The sponsor nodded as Alex walked away.
Jay and his companion were involved in an enthusiastic conversation with two other couples, in fact too enthusiastic for Alex’s liking. Jay handed a champagne flute to the woman next to him and placed a proprietary hand on the small of her bared back, the woman in return raised her hand to his face adjusting a strayed strand of his sable brown hair back into place. Alex quickened his pace.
Alex stepped in the small circle as he offered Jay a handshake, his grasp unbreakable. “Jay, it’s a surprise to see you here tonight.”
Jay didn’t shy away and returned an equally firm shake. “Alex it’s good to see you’re back in town. I didn’t think you’d be here,” Jay replied.
“Well, I am back.” Alex went on about greeting the other couples in their circle focusing at last on one person. “Carly,” he said in a dry tone, appreciating the way the rouge silk halter gown hugged her curves like a second skin. His fiery gaze was filled with a mix of anger, jealousy, and a promise to claim her, whether she wanted it or not.
“Hello, Alex.” Carly remained at Jay’s side and nodded in return. Her smile lacked the warmth he’d seen her give Jay just a few moments before he’d crashed their little circle.
“If you’d please excuse us,” Jay addressed everyone in their small ring, placing a possessive hand on the small of Carly’s back and guided her to their table.
“Alex it’s great to see you’re back.” Paul’s voice sounded from behind. Paul and Dominic stepped in the small circle. “Pardon me, I have an urgent matter to discuss with my business partner and I’m afraid I’ll have to steal him away from you for a moment.” Without waiting for the other guests to acknowledge his statement, Paul gestured to Alex and Dominic to follow him out to the arts center terrace.
The cool night air hit him as soon as he set foot outside. Alex walked to an isolated corner and the other two men followed. Scanning the terrace making sure others were out of earshot, Alex turned facing his friends. “Can anyone tell me what’s going on? What’s Jay doing here with Carly?”
Dominic shrugged, shoving his hands in his pockets.
Paul approached him. “Alex whatever is going on, don’t make a fool of yourself. Carly is here with Jay, like it or not, there’s nothing you can do about it.”
“Like hell I can’t.” Alex paced back and forth in the corner of the terrace.
“Alex,” Dominic cut in. “Paul is right, you don’t want to make a fool of yourself here of all places.”
“Then, what am I supposed to do…sit back and watch them together?”
Dominic raised a brow. “Why are you so upset about it, anyway? Your only binding to her is that senseless agreement which if you weren’t so set on it you could end now. Come on Alex, it’s not like your little game is going to turn into a happy ever after. You’re not interested in that stuff. You don’t do emotional crap, remember? What’s wrong with you man? Or, have you changed your mind? Please don’t tell me you’re thinking of doing the love and marriage ordeal?”
Alex didn’t respond to that, instead, he stared angrily at something out in the distance.
Paul broke the silence. “I think it’d be best if you left.”
“You know damn well I can’t leave.” Alex planned to stay as long as he could take it, but leaving this place without Carly was out of the question.
Paul studied him. “If you stay you’re going to have to keep yourself in check. No scandals.”
Alex glared at his friends for a moment as he turned on his heel, retreating into the shadows. Confusion, anger, jealousy even, filled his chest. Carly had put his life upside down since the moment they’d crossed paths, and he couldn’t get her out of his mind. He wasn’t even sure if getting her in his bed would do the trick anymore to put his life back in order.
He stayed at the
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