Read Online Playing Hard by Melanie Scott - Free Book Online Page B

job being boring.”
    “We’ve talked exactly twice,” she pointed out. “That’s not hardly always.”
    “This is the third time,” he corrected. “And you’ve joked about your job all three times.”
    “Most people don’t find economics all that interesting,” she said. “It’s not really glamorous.” Most guys didn’t seem to find economics a sexy occupation. Though at least the Wall Street guys had some idea what she actually did. Which simplified matters.
    “Perhaps, but you think it’s interesting. You’re obviously pretty good at what you do or you wouldn’t be working where you are. You should be proud of yourself. Screw anyone who isn’t.”
    She didn’t know what to say to that. “Thank you. Maybe I’ll get you extra gummy bears.”
    “Just come by and see me. You and your big brain can beat me at Scrabble or something”
    “Scrabble?”
    “Well, I can’t take you out just yet, Amelia. So I have to find other forms of entertainment. Board games, I can manage one-handed.” His voice went low. “Unless you had something else in mind?”
    “No.” Her voice actually squeaked slightly as she spoke. “Scrabble is great.”
    “Good. We can play for gummy bears. I’ll see you tonight. I’ll tell the concierge to expect you.”

 
    Chapter Four
    Oliver’s apartment building wasn’t exactly what she expected but true to his word, when she walked into the lobby, the short stocky guy with neatly trimmed graying hair and wire-rimmed glasses behind the desk took one look at her and asked, “Ms. Graham?”
    “Yes,” she said. “I’m here to see Oliver Shields.”
    He smiled at her approvingly. The discreet silver name badge on his lapel read ANTHONY .
    “He told me to look out for you. Take the second elevator. He’s on fifteen.” No apartment number. Did that mean Oliver had a whole floor? She knew there was a lot of money in baseball, but the Saints were hardly the richest team in the league. Still, Oliver had been playing for a long time. Maybe he was good with his money. Or maybe he’d gotten some sort of deal. A sweet sublet like she’d scored when she’d moved to New York. Though her apartment was nowhere in the same league as this one.
    “Fifteen, got it,” she said. “Thank you, Anthony.”
    “It’s Tony, ma’am,” he said. “You go on up.”
    She followed instructions and soon enough was standing outside the elevator on Oliver’s floor. There was only one door in the hall, and she stared at it.
    Oliver Shields was behind that door. Her palms felt clammy in the warm air. She peeled off her coat and scarf while she kept staring at the door as though it might explode. Was she really going to do this?
    Apparently the answer was yes. Because she walked over to the door and knocked. The sound was surprisingly loud. Almost loud enough to drown out the pounding of her pulse in her ears.
    “It’s open.” Oliver’s voice came from inside. “Come on in.”
    She turned the handle and the door swung open. No sign of Oliver.
    “Second room on your left.”
    She followed the sound of his voice. To find him lying on a sofa in a pose so similar to Finn’s the previous night that she almost laughed. The only difference was that Oliver had a book in his lap instead of a video game controller in his hand. His right foot was encased in a black foam-and-plastic contraption, and his right hand was in a plaster cast, nothing visible but a thumb and his fingertips. When he saw her, he grinned with such delight that for a moment she froze, caught in the answering pulse of happiness that spiked through her like an electric shock.
    Then she regained control of her senses. Hauled back the reckless emotions and shoved them down. Sensible. She was going to be sensible about this. No broken heart. No emotional wreckage. Stay in control. She held up the bag of candy she’d bought for him. “Gummy bears as requested.”
    “You are my new best friend,” he said. He still looked so