Game of Love Read Online Free PDF Page A

waify Regina.
    “We lived around the corner from each other.” Ellie hoped she didn’t sound as swoony as she felt.
    “Ah, cool,” Mitch said. “So you know all the Remingtons?” He waved the bartender over. “Another round, please?”
    The Remingtons had their issues, like all families, but she’d never felt safer than when she was in Dex’s room at night, and being in Dex’s arms was not something she should be thinking about when she was three sheets to the wind.
    Ellie waved her hand at the bartender. “No, no, no. None for me, thanks.” She slid off the chair to her feet and waited for the room to stop spinning again. “I really should get going.” She looked toward the back of the bar, then the front. Damn, she couldn’t remember Dina’s address, and she was feeling very light-headed. She dug out her phone and texted Dina.
    What’s your addy again?
    “So soon?” Mitch asked. “Stick around. We’ll grab a bite to eat and you can tell us about what Dex was like as a teenager. Give us something to tease him about."
    Regina tapped her upper lip with her index finger. Ellie noticed a tattoo crawled across her shoulder. She squinted to get a better look.
    “Viper,” Regina said.
    Ellie started. “Sorry. I was…er…sorry.”
    “It’s okay.” Regina’s stare didn’t relay anything even close to okay .
    “Um, do you know where the ladies’ room is?” She needed to splash water on her face and get her head on straight before trying to hunt down Dina. She worried that Dina was too busy with the guy she took home to even look at the damn text.
    “Sure. I’ll show you where it is.” Dex laced his fingers with hers.
    Regina’s stare rendered Ellie mute as Dex led her through the bar and down a set of stairs. The stairs were steep, and she was glad for the stability of Dex’s hand.
    “Your girlfriend hates me,” Ellie said.
    “Girlfriend?” Dex stopped on the stair below her, and Ellie nearly toppled over him.
    “You have to stop doing that.” Her hands were on his chest again. He stood two steps below her, leaving them eye to eye, as they’d been in grade school when they’d first met. She remembered how sweet Dex had been. The other kids never spoke to her, and when she’d dropped her binder, they’d trudged right through the mess. But Dex had stopped to help. She’d wondered what he’d expect in return. She’d learned through the foster system that help was never free. But he hadn’t asked for anything, and day after day, Dex had waited for her when they got off the bus, and he’d silently walked with her toward her house. You’ve always been there for me .
    “Sorry.” He cocked the right side of his lips into a sexy, lopsided grin. A grin that still felt familiar even after all the years they’d been apart. “Regina’s not my girlfriend. She’s my employee, and a good friend.”
    Ellie arched a brow. “Coulda fooled me. Whatever she is, she hates me already.” She swayed on the stairs, and Dex put a hand on her waist to steady her. He was always steadying her. Especially tonight .
    “She doesn’t hate you. She’s just protective of me, that’s all.” He took her hand again. “Come on.” With one hand on her lower back, he guided her down the rest of the stairs to the ladies’ room. “She’ll grow to love you—like you—just as much as I do. Promise.”
    “Stop holding my hand. Your protector doesn’t like it.” Protector? Like Dex needed protecting. Who was she kidding? Hadn’t she proved that he needed to be protected from her when she’d left without saying goodbye? Twice. Ellie looked over her shoulder at Dex as she opened the door to the ladies’ room, stirring memories of when she’d left four years earlier. Sneaking out while he was still asleep. She swallowed the guilt that tried to strangle her as the door swung closed behind her.
    She went to the bathroom, washed her hands, then splashed cold water on her face and stared at herself in the