Tempted (A Player Brother Romance Book) (A Standalone Novel) (Player Brothers Book 1) (2 page)

I was glad that we did.

The transition already felt better with her here.

I thought about my old friend Aiden Player, and
wondered briefly what he had been up to. I found it amusing that someone who I
barely crossed paths with had become a close friend, but someone who I spent
every spare moment with had fallen completely out of my life.

Aiden had been a scrawny kid, but full of life and
energy. We had been polar opposites for the most part. Where I was an only
child he came from a huge family. I had always joked that he looked like a
toothbrush, with his thin build and shock of blond hair that stuck out over his
forehead and into his eyes.

Two peas in a pod is what my mother called us.

I thought through a mental list of what I would need
to do over the next few days to prepare. I needed to brush up on California Law
even more because I wanted to be prepared. Luckily I had brought my text books
with me, despite my peers telling me to sell them back and pocket the little
bit of cash that I would get. I treasured my textbooks and the knowledge they
contained, stating that there wasn’t dollar amount that could replace them.
Besides, I had said, give me a book over a website any day.

I would be starting next Monday, so I had plenty of
time.

I relaxed on the futon the next day while Kelsey was
out. I couldn’t help but wonder what the background of the man I would be
competing against. Probably some over blown rich kid who got the opportunity
through family connections, much like the arrogant frat boys that graced the
halls of my college, strutting around as if they owned the buildings. Depending
on which last name they had some of them did.

"Blair!" I heard my roommate’s voice from
the living room, having just returned from a series of auditions.

"I'm in here," I called staying put on my
comfortable futon.

Kelsey stuck her head through the door.

"Some friends of mine are going out to dinner,”
she said. "You should come. I'll show you around the city."

"I don’t know," I said. "It sounds like
fun, but—"

"You need a night out,” she said with a grin.
"You won't have much time when you become a big hot shot lawyer."

She was right…

“Fine, but not too late because I need to stay on some
type of normal sleeping schedule so I’m prepared for work.”

“Sweet!” she shouted.

She helped me pick out a more casual outfit, a blue
sundress with strappy heels. I checked my reflection as she stood behind me
looking me over. I could go professional any day, but I always felt awkward
wearing casual trendy clothes.

I let Kelsey inform me in situations such as these.

"Why don't you let me do your make up!" she
said.

"We don't have to do all of that,” I said.
"It's just dinner with friends."

"Maybe, maybe not,” she said as she took me by
the shoulders and steered me to the living room.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked.

"Sit down and I'll be right back,” she said
ignoring my question.

She disappeared and returned with her large plastic
make up case. It looked like a tackle box with various cubbies and fold out
compartments. Each one contained a small pallet of color.

Kelsey pulled out a small plastic bag of makeup
brushes. She stood back and looked at my face as if it were a blank canvas,
picked up a brush, loaded it with color and stroked the bristles across my
cheekbones. A dab here and a blending fingertip there. Twenty minutes later,
she laid down her brush and a smile spread across her face from ear to ear.

"You look gorgeous!"

I rolled my eyes. "Do I need to look
gorgeous?" I asked.

She glanced at her watch. "We should go,” she
said. "Like I said, some friends of mine from school are meeting up with
us. There is this adorable little
Shabu
Shabu
restaurant just across from the sign."

"I've never been to the sign,” I said.

"There's a lot you haven't seen," she said.
"You’re going to love living here, I swear,” she gushed.

I watched her casual enthusiasm. Maybe I did need a
night out. My job hadn't even started yet and I was already tightly wound.

Okay fine, I said to myself.

I'm going to have fun tonight.

I'm going to have fun tonight.

I'm going to have fun tonight.

I smoothed my dress and stood, grabbing my purse and
following Kelsey out the door.

When we arrived at the restaurant, I soon figured out
Kelsey's true motive for dolling me up. Her friends had already arrived and had
gathered around one of the large round tables. Three girls about our age and
two guys, one with brown dreadlocks and another with shoulder length surfer
locks, blond and cocky. All three of the women looked like models, long flowing
sun kissed hair and tan skin.

I felt very out of place amongst her actor friends.

"Everyone I'd like you to meet my roommate,
Blair." Kelsey ushered me to the side of the booth with the cute surfer
looking guy.

"Hi everyone," I said.

"Are you the lawyer?" the girl with the nose
ring asked, extending her hand to greet me. "I'm Angie."

"Yes," I answered. "I guess I’m."

"Righteous," said the guy next to me.

"Blair, this is Blake,” Kelsey said giving me a
side glance.

I rolled my eyes in response.

He wasn’t my type.

No one was.

I ended up spending most of the night having polite
conversation while simultaneously trying to angle my body so Blake would not
succeed at putting his arm around me. Kelsey's friends were pleasant and
friendly but I still felt out of place being the only one there not involved in
the arts scene.

"So what brought you to California?" Angie
asked over appetizers.

"Well I'm originally from Iowa,” I explained.
"But I went to school in Florida both college and then finished with law
school. I fell in love with the sunshine and the balmy beaches. Then when this
job opportunity came along, I thought why not? I already knew I'd love the
weather, and I didn't want to go back to Iowa."

"Who could blame you,” she said, giggling.

"Exactly," I said. "I didn't really fit
in back home, if you know what I mean."

"I think we all escaped our oppressive small town
background,” the girl with the tattoo on her shoulder said with a smile.

We had a pleasant night despite Blake's over attentive
nature. I couldn’t help but feel slightly out of place. The food was good
though, better than good.

After we had glutted ourselves on seafood and rice
wine, Kelsey and I excused ourselves to the restroom to freshen up.

"So what do you think of Blake?" she asked.

"Oh Kelsey," I said. "You’re wasting
your time trying to set me up. I should have known the way you trussed me up
like a painted lady. Besides, he's a bit pushy."

"But that surfer body," she said fluffing
her hair. "I mean, come on."

"Yeah. He is cute, but..,” I said as I turned to
face her. "I appreciate what you’re doing. I really do, but I have to
focus. This job is a huge opportunity for me. I don't really want to put energy
into dating right now."

"Have you thought about what to do if you don't
get the full time position?" Kelsey asked.

"Honestly no,” I said. "I’m going into this
with a winning mindset."

"I just don't want you to lose sight of what's
really important,” she said blotting her lips on a small piece of tissue paper.

"Finding my dream job isn't what's really
important?" I said. "Then what is?"

She laughed. "You know what I mean. You have to
remember to have a good time. That's what life is about."

"I'll vicariously enjoy your good time,” I said.
"Hey, I have an idea. Since Blake and I aren't really hitting it off, why
don't you take my seat next to him when we go
back.
"

"Do you really mean it?" she said.

"Hell yes."

"Fair enough," she shrugged. "Does that
mean I can go out with him?"

"Be my guest," I said with a smile.

He was cute after all, I just couldn’t get my head
around the thought of dating.

Not right now.

When we returned to the table Kelsey and I swapped
seats and she plunked down next to Blake with a bold grin on her face.

"What do you guys say we get out of here and take
a walk down by the beach,” she said as if nothing was amiss.

"Um... sure,” he stammered, taken aback by the
sudden shift.

He looked at Kelsey with a hint of a question in his
eyes but then shrugged and put his arm around her. I smiled and lifted my glass
slightly in Kelsey's direction.

"That sounds like fun," Angie echoed while the
others nodded in agreement.

"Actually, Kelsey," I said. "I'll have
to call it an early night, but you guys go ahead and have fun."

"You sure?" she asked leaning into the crook
of Blake's arm.

"Yeah," I said with a grin. "I still
have a lot of prep work to do. It was nice to meet you all."

"Nice to meet you too," came a smattering of
voices.

When I got back to the apartment I quickly changed
into my night gown and robe and pulled out some of my books over California Law
history. I found that reading over land mark cases made me feel inspired and
excited.

Two days from now I would be walking into the first
day of my life's journey.

Though the nervousness still danced around the edges,
I felt confident in my focus and drive.

By the time Monday rolled around, I awoke feeling as
if I couldn’t make heads or tails of my emotional state. I knew that I had
worked a long time for this day and it was time to get my game face on.

I had decided to wear a black pant suit and a maroon
blouse. I had the collar pulled out over the jacket, accented by a few subtle
pieces of gold jewelry. My hair I had twisted into a tasteful bun.

Overall, I thought I looked very professional, but my
reflection had done little to bolster my confidence.

Kelsey had done a lot to calm my nerves in the week
that we had spent together. Between her auditions she had helped me put
together a wardrobe that looked like that of a high profile lawyer. Dress the
part, she had said. Dress like the job you want, not the job you have.

I replayed these words in my head as I arrived at the
building. The elevator carried me to the law office where I would spend at
least the next three months, hopefully longer.

As the doors slid open revealing the opulent lobby, my
stomach twisted in circles. I knew that no matter what happened I would always
remember today, either as a wonderful memory or as one that I would always
regret.

The posh atmosphere welcomed me, calming my nerves
just a bit, with the cream colored carpet and matching plush leather couches
surrounding a large glass coffee table. A large window over looked the city,
which I could clearly see the bustling activity on the tiny ribbons of the
roads below.

The woman behind the desk also wore a cream colored
suit which suited her dark complexion. She could have been a model out of a
magazine. Her suit matched the surrounding decor.

"Good morning," she said with a warm smile.
"May I help you?"

"My name is Blair Michaels. I’m supposed to meet
with John Mahoney."

"Oh yes," She stood and extended her hand.
"I'm Willa Martin, the administrative assistant for Mahoney and
Klein."

"It's nice to meet you,” I said.

When I shook her hand I felt as if her tiny hand might
be crushed by mine. She had such a delicate frame.

"Can I get you some coffee or a water?" she
offered.

"No thank you," I answered.

"Please have a seat," she said, gesturing to
the waiting area. "Mr. Mahoney will be with you shortly."

After a moment, a tall imposing man stepped into the
waiting room, extending his hand to me. I hopped up and gave his hand a kind
shake.

He was well dressed with a firm look in his eye and an
easy smile. I could see instantly how he had become
so
successful as a lawyer as he exuded charisma and confidence. He had a small
feathering of gray just at his temples and his eyes crinkled when he smiled.

"Please step back to my office. I'll go ahead and
show you where you will be working before the other candidate arrives," he
said. "Can I get you anything? Any kind of refreshment while we
wait?"

"No thank you," I said trying my best to
keep my tone polite.

We stepped into his office, which contained a large
desk on one side and an even larger conference table on the other side. His
office looked more like a suite.