The Playboy's Gamble

n my mind like the melody of a song I couldn't forget. His voice, his gaze, his smile-

Jacked but I argued that I would never fa

ounter of a quaint bookstore downtown. It wasn't glam

miliar voice said, pull

side of the counter, looking completely out of place in his

The words escaped before I

o a smirk. "Hello t

art pounding. "H

st the counter, his dark eyes glinti

d, still trying to understand w

was soothing. I smiled, hopi

ou worked. I stopped by t

ve you just happened to

nd warm. "I didn't say that.

my arms, trying to m

ntrigu

. There was no arrogance, no pretense-just a qui

I gestured to the book in front of

e and Prejudice fo

rned. "How d

smirk widening. "And you strike me as s

buy a book, or ju

he admitted. "What

lf behind me. "The Great Gatsby. It's about ambi

ngers brushing mine for the briefest m

to be drawn in by his

moment, then set the book o

entire time. When he handed me his credit card, ou

ng the book into a sleek leather briefcase. "But

oes tha

ate curve of his lips. "It

s gone, leaving me with m

the bookstore almost daily, each visit more baffling than the last. Sometimes he'd buy a

rice teased one afternoon wh

" I protested. "He's

with a wink. "Don't fight it, Stel

e things. But there was something about Jack

he shop, Jack appeared again, his suit s

said before I c

e raised

ur dail

fter than usual. "You're

nder if you have no

urned serious. "

guard by his honesty.

u. You int

not an

s suddenly charged. "Maybe I don't have

ed myself to meet his gaze

n le

to respond, but

mething from his pocket. It

t's

d it to me, his eyes watc

cript. It was an invitation to a gala-a cha

me to this?" I as

a

hy

I want yo

But Jack Ashford was an enigma, his true intenti

something like th

t, almost tender. "You belo

ir, and for a moment, I

o quickly. Beatrice, of course, had

ough she wasn't happy with the idea of going out with him,

own with a plunging neckline that ma

e said, stepping back t

Jack saw me that evening, the way his eyes widened ev

id, his voice low and warm

ed, unable to keep t

e, and elegant music. Jack stayed by my side the entire evening

ut. It was the way Jack looked at me-l

into a dream. But as Jack walked me to the car, a q

men like me. And if they did, it