A Wicked Game (10 page)

Authors: Evie Knight

Tags: #Literature & Fiction, #Romance, #Contemporary, #Short Stories

BOOK: A Wicked Game

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Epilogue

Tori took a sip from her wine glass, staring out the floor-to-ceiling window of her and her friends’ favorite rooftop restaurant, admiring the nighttime lights of downtown LA. Tomorrow would be her six-month engagement anniversary, and her friends insisted to move up their girls’ night out since Jack was taking her some place secret for the weekend.

“Tell me again, what does your handsome nerd do for a living?” Vivienne asked, inspecting the diamond on Tori’s finger.

Tori turned to Vivienne, smiling. Her friends wouldn’t give her a break on anything. They’d always been there for her during her ups and downs, the same way she had for them. When she’d come back from Paris, she’d been nervous about their reaction when she shared the good news with them. For some inexplicable reason, she’d thought they wouldn’t be receptive to the news about her and Jack. She couldn’t have been any more wrong. A wave of relief washed over her when they all gave her a group hug, expressing how happy they were for her.

Ariana cocked her head. “Why do you care?”

“I don’t know. We may have some competition going on here about whose rock is prettier.” Vivienne paused. “Bigger, too” she murmured, chuckling.

“Why? You want yours to be the biggest one?” Scarlett said.

“No. She doesn’t want one,” Tori said.

Vivienne straightened on her chair. “She’s right. I don’t want one.”

“Not yet,” Tori added.

“I agree she’s not ready yet. It doesn’t mean she doesn’t want one,” Ariana said, her lips curved into a knowing smile.

Claire tapped her index finger on the table. “You know, the one thing still not clear to me is how Vivienne keeps getting these select invitations.”

Tori leaned forward, gesturing with her hand. “I’ve wondered the same thing.”

Vivienne slid her eyes from one friend to the next. “Well, you shouldn’t. Thanks to the likes of me, you both have found your happily ever after.” She focused her gaze on Claire and Scarlett. “So I suggest you two be nice. Who knows? Maybe I’ll get another invitation I may not want to use. Or, depending on the timing, I may just use it myself. Now, you wouldn’t call me selfish if I did, would you?” She raised her wine glass in a toast and drank from it.

“Ladies.” A waiter approached their table. He placed a small black envelope next to Scarlett and another next to Claire. “These came for you a few moments ago. I was asked to let you know you must read the content when you’re alone.” He turned to leave but looked back. “Ah, right. Your dinner bill has been taken care of too.” Smiling, he walked away.

“What the hell is this?” Claire stared dumbfounded at the envelope sitting in front of her.

Vivienne touched her throat. “Those are from Elite Classified,” she murmured.

Scarlett glanced at her, a puzzled expression on her face. “H-how do you know?”

“Trust me, she knows,” Ariana and Tori said in unison.

Scarlett angled her head and Claire waved her hand in question.

Vivienne shrugged. “I just know.”

* * * *

Vivienne

What the hell happened? Why didn’t I get an invitation? Not that I’d use it this time. But, still. If Elite Classified is being generous and issuing invitations to the rest of my friends, why didn’t they give me another one this time?

The valet guys bring around my friends’ cars first, so I watch them leave one by one as I wait for my car. I never like being excluded from anything and now I feel a total outcast, even though I’m not—not yet. Who am I kidding? I’ll be an outcast sooner rather than later.

Two of my friends found the men of their dreams and are on their merry way to getting married. My other two friends received invitations to the exclusive online dating service. They wanted it so bad, I don’t doubt they’ll find their perfect other half soon. I hope it takes them a while to find their matches because that would buy me time to find new friends. Oh God, what kind of friend am I?

I shake my head in time to see my car stop right across from me. I walk to the driver’s side, still bothered by my own thoughts, by my fear of being lonely. Perhaps going on a short getaway somewhere will take the edge off and get me out of the funk I’m starting to drown in.

“You’re the glitch in my system,” a man says.

I blink, looking at the man standing by the driver’s door, not bothering to make eye contact. “Are you with the valet?” I slide my gaze down his body, noticing he isn’t dressed like the rest of the attendants. “Because if you are, you should know better than to address your customers that way.” I cast a glance at the booth, ensuring there are other people nearby should I have the need to… well, scream?

“What if I’m not?” he asks.

I let out a slow breath, closing and opening my eyes, and look back at him, meeting his eyes this time. Holy shit. A pair of the most enchanting amber eyes stare back at me, gluing my feet to the ground. I swallow, realizing my throat is dry. Straightening to my full height, I say, “You shouldn’t be driving my car. People may take you for a thief.” I hold his electrifying gaze, trying to ignore the warmth invading my body and the tingling I shouldn’t feel for a man I’ve just met.

He throws his head back, letting out a soft chuckle. “Darling, I’m not a thief, but you are indeed a troublemaker.”

I blink at his statement. “I fail to see the humor in that. I don’t know how you think I’m a troublemaker when we’ve never met before now.”

Backing me back to the doorframe, he places his hand next to my shoulder on the car. “Does Elite Classified ring a bell?”

My knees almost give way. “Y-yes.” My gaze lingers on his perfectly sculpted lips, feeling the heat of his body creep up mine.

“Darling, you’re a system glitch I intend to fix,” he says, leaning forward. His lips hover over mine and our breaths mingle.

My heart races and I swallow again, glancing up at him. If I am his glitch, I don’t have a problem with him fixing me. He could start right here if he so wants. I lick my lips, wishing he’d close the distance. Is it wrong to want a stranger to kiss me senseless?

He brushes his hot lips over the corner of mine. “There’s a new invitation on your passenger’s seat. Do me a favor and use it this time.” He pauses. “If you don’t I’ll be back and, darling, you’ll hate me then.” He steps back.

A cold chill crawls up my body, replacing the warmth that enveloped me moments before. Who is this man? Where is he going? All these questions rush through my mind, but I’m tongue-tied and can’t utter a single word before he disappears in the distance.

About Evie

Evie Knight writes wickedly sexy contemporary romances with irresistible bad boys, sassy heroines, a bit of conflict, humor and a dash of spice. When she’s not hard at work writing, she spends her time blogging, reading, listening to music, or looking for a muse.

She lives in sunny Southern California.

Evie loves hearing from her readers. Feel free to stalk her here: