Free The Girl With Diamonds (Midtown Brotherhood Book 2) by Savannah Blevins Page A

it is.”
    “Ferocia.” She stuttered now, or rambled. It was difficult to make sense when his lips curved up like that. “Do you remember her? You’re the one who freaked out about her seeing you at the game. Now we’re both on her radar, and you don’t care.”
    His face hardened. “I care.”
    “Then act like it.”
    Magnolia stood up to go find Cressida. She couldn’t let this go on. It would be too easy to give in to him. It would be irresponsible. She had to keep her eye on the prize. A chance at that L.A. job required her to keep a clean slate. She needed Ferocia’s interest in her to pass.
    Austin touched her hand. It was brief, but enough to make her pause. She glanced back at him, and his features were tight again. “There are ways to avoid Ferocia. That’s why I came tonight. I need to explain that we have to work together. You just have to trust me.”
    Magnolia shook her head. “Trust isn’t a word I place much faith in anymore.”
    He moved into her seat. This time he touched her hip. “Trust me, Magnolia. Relax and have fun tonight. We will worry about Ferocia tomorrow.”
    No. It sounded too familiar. A graduation party gone wrong. ‘Fun tonight and work tomorrow’ was what started this never-ending nightmare. She couldn’t go through that again. She stumbled backward, away from him and his offers. She’d figure out a way to get out of this on her own.
    He stood. “I’m winning.” There was desperation in his voice. That was new. “You know you don’t want to let me win.”
    How could he possibly know that? They’d barely talked. A two-minute interview and a rushed conversation before he dashed off at the game last weekend. How did he know how to push her buttons? The perfect combination to make her lose sight of that goal, to shift her focus back to him, back to things she shouldn’t want. She looked over her shoulder, meeting his stare head on. “You don’t want to play games with me.”
    He leaned in, his teeth involuntary tugging on his bottom lip. “But I do.” He brushed a strand of her hair away from her cheek. “I really do.”
    She turned around and handed him her glass of wine. She didn’t have to say the words. That spark between them flamed now. She held in the scream.
    She glanced at the platform and then back to him, considering her options. She could leave now, but this little cat and mouse game he wanted to play would only continue some other day. She couldn’t risk that. It needed to end tonight. Embarrassing her, toying with her emotions, and endangering her career came at a price. Austin Blakely would have to learn his lesson the hard way.
    “Fine. We’ll see who wins, and then it’ll be over. For good.” She stalked toward the stage, not bothering to look back. Cressida stood at the table next to the bowl of fruit that was to be their muse for the evening. Magnolia smiled her brilliant, evil, challenge winning smile.
    Game on.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Eight
     
     
    AUSTIN’S CHOICE
     
    Magnolia won. She won on so many levels. Creamy skin peeked from beneath the sheet as his heart sank to his toes. She was naked. Naked . Magnolia’s friend announced the change in plans like she would a change in the dinner schedule. There would be no painting a bowl of fruit tonight. They had a volunteer for a live model. The human form would be their muse. Magnolia’s form.
    Naked.
    Magnolia would be naked in front of him, and in front of all these people. No clothes at all.
    “I like her,” Leila said, her arms crossed over her chest. “She didn’t just call your bluff, she jumped off the fucking cliff.”
    Henrik nodded his agreement. “Score one for Georgia.” Then he looked at Austin. “Your move, big guy.”
    His move.
    What the hell was he supposed to do?
    Austin looked back at Magnolia. Her stare drilled into him. Her hands held the skimpy sheet over her bare chest. Her even barer shoulders were slightly visible through the long sheath