Page 17 of When He Plays

Her gaze darted around the table.

Sebastian hadn’t laughed. He frowned at her. “What made you think we care about legal here?”

Oh. Right. She was in a back room full of criminals.

Freya and Harper were silent.

But then Harper shook her head. “I don’t like this.”

“You’re not even supposed to be here.” Ares did not glance her way. “You got in with your brother’s invitation. This game was never meant for you.”

Harper leaned toward Charlotte. “Do you want to leave?”

Absolutely. “No, I’m good. But thank you.”

Harper did not look reassured.

Logan had turned his attention back to the table. “I don’t see you pricks putting up anything worth her value. She’s a great personal assistant.”

Uh, she’d started her PA job like the day before, give or take some hours, and she’d done zero work for him in that time.

“If you want her, you have to make it worth my while,” Logan added.

“What?” she croaked. No way. No. Way.

“We can still leave,” Harper rushed to say.

“No one is leaving.” Ares pursed his lips as he surveyed Charlotte. “I’ll put up my casino in Greece. The one in Loutraki.”

She could hear the drumming echo of her heartbeat in her ears.

“What do you have, Pierre?” Logan’s hands were still flat on the table.

Pierre licked his lips. “I…”

“This isn’t happening,” Charlotte said. Loudly. Because someone had to be the voice of reason. “You can’t bet me. You don’t just get to trade me in a game. I’m not a commodity that you control.”

Harper tried to rise, but Sebastian took her hand. He pulled her back down beside him and shook his head.

“This will not be a trade.” Logan was adamant on that. “More like…a loan.” He nodded. “I figure the casino in Loutraki is worth two weeks of my assistant’s time.”

Charlotte sucked in a breath.

“She’s that good?” Ares seemed doubtful.

They are talking about sex. Her cheeks turned molten. About me in bed. This is not some⁠—

“You have no idea,” Logan said.

Her hand flew out because she was going to slug the jerk.

In a flash, and without even looking her way, his hand rose to curl around her swinging fist.

Her breath rushed out. His grip was tight, but not painful.

But the man’s reflexes are insane.

He brought her hand to his mouth. Kissed her knuckles.