Playing for Keeps: Harford Scarlet Series by Toria Lyons

mud-covered hands pushing under her layers of clothes.
    Now, as she sat in the club bar, the memory of that made her shiver. She licked her lips and, as if he’d felt it, Tom looked around, catching her widened eyes. ‘Behave,’ he mouthed at her.
    Sarah blushed. ‘What?’ She tried to look innocent.
    ‘Later.’ His blue eyes sizzled at her.
    Her body thrilled at his heated promise and she had to steady her breath.
    A handful of the other players noticed his attention wandering. They searched around to see who he was talking to, but to no avail; Sarah had already averted her gaze and was digging spuriously in her handbag. Only Alex had witnessed the whole exchange and she noticed him smiling into his light beer.
    Sarah had confided all in trustworthy Clare; there was no way that she could hide it from everyone and her friend was very good at distracting people so that they missed the terribly obvious. Clare actually enjoyed the skulduggery: it appealed to her quirky nature and it was a marvellous diversion from her heightening crush on Alex. Alex, who she no longer spoke to but who had a different girl all over him every single week, and who had managed to establish quite a reputation for himself in the intervening month. There was constant gossip about his antics, and puzzled whispers that even though Tom was apparently single, no girl had had any success with him. Now that Alex suspected or even knew what was going on between them, it wouldn’t take long for everyone else to find out.
    ‘Oh bollocks!’ Sarah cursed out loud as she realised the implications.
    ‘What’s up?’ Clare was standing next to her, texting a friend.
    ‘Alex just noticed Tom and I had a little … flirt, and now he’ll probably tell anyone who’ll listen.’
    ‘You really think so? Hang on, don’t worry. He’s off to the gents’ now; I’ll catch him and have a word.’ Clare chucked her phone into her bag and smoothly moved to intercept Alex’s path, slipping in front of him.
    ‘Alex, follow me.’ Clare commanded him under her breath as she passed. Without argument, Alex followed her through the double doors of the club, outside into the night and around the corner into the dark shadows.
    ‘Alex-mmpf!’
    He spun Clare around and pressed her up against the rough brick wall, an arm on either side. ‘Clare.’ He leant closer. ‘What can I do for you that can’t wait?’
    Clare fought the distraction of his body around her and gathered her thoughts. ‘Keep your mouth shut, please.’
    ‘What, like this?’ He planted a closed-lip kiss on her mouth. ‘So, why no tongues?’ he teased.
    Clare stared at him, unsure what to do. In the uncertain glow cast by the outside lights, she couldn’t see his face properly. ‘No, I meant about what you saw in there.’
    ‘What, about their assignation? And that they’re sleeping together? Not that I think they do that much actual sleeping.’ Alex laughed. ‘What’s it worth?’
    ‘What do you mean, what’s it worth? I’m just asking you to keep your mouth shut for the sake of their relationship. You’re his friend, aren’t you?’ Clare tried to move away, to duck under his arms.
    Alex stymied her escaping wriggles by planting one leg between hers. He laughed. ‘You know, this is doing something for me. What about a kiss to keep this titbit quiet?’
    ‘A kiss?’ echoed Clare. ‘Why?’
    ‘Humour me.’
    ‘Is that what you say to all the girls? No thanks, I don’t know what I’d catch.’ Clare tried to ignore the butterflies swarming in her stomach.
    ‘I can promise you I’m bug-free. One kiss – we’ll keep it between us and I’ll not mention about Tom and Sarah to another soul until it becomes public knowledge by another means.’
    Clare contemplated what she could see of him, the silhouette of his body towering over hers. It was very tempting, and she was curious about him. Taking Alex by surprise, her hands shot up and yanked his head down to hers. She