Only Work, No Play Read online Cora Reilly (Tough Games #1)

Categories Genre: Romance, Sports Tags Authors: Series: Tough Games Series by Cora Reilly
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Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84401 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 338(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
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“Do you think this outfit is okay?” I asked. I had bought the dress shortly before I’d left the States. It was a cream-colored sheath dress with a narrow red belt accentuating my waist. I was a bit self-conscious about it because the dress clung to my curves more than my usual attire.

“You look great, Evie. Perhaps a bit too great.”

I rolled my eyes. “I want to look like a businesswoman, as if I can handle anything, even Xavier—The Beast—Stevens.”

“If anyone can handle him, then it’s you. He won’t know what hit him.”

“Thanks. I’ll try to keep the big guy on his toes.” That’s what I hoped, at least. I still wasn’t entirely sure about my set of tasks, but I hoped Xavier would brief me on the details of my work today.

“I could come with you,” Fiona said quickly.

I gave her a look. “If I show up with my twin sister as backup, Xavier will never take me seriously.”

“He won’t either way because women are only playthings to him. I don’t think he sees them as human beings.”

“You’re exaggerating.” Xavier had seemed manageable during our first encounter this morning. A bit cocky, but nothing I couldn’t handle. Perhaps he’d be more intolerable if I fit his type, but as it was he’d probably end up seeing me as one of the guys and not so much a female, like every other guy I’d crushed on.

“I’m not. With guy friends, he’s loyal and funny, from what Connor tells me, but with women…but you will realize it soon enough.” She fixed a strand of my hair that had gotten loose. “Call me if anything happens.”

“I’m going to sign my work contract, not take a dip in a piranha-infested river.”

“Just make sure you stay away from Xavier’s anaconda, that’s all I ask,” Fiona muttered.

“Fiona!” I hissed. “Now I won’t be able to look at him without turning bright red.”

Connor was nice enough to drive me to the law firm where I was supposed to meet Xavier. He gave me an encouraging smile when I got out of the car, which only made me more nervous. I waved at him as I headed toward the glass door leading into the sleek office building.

The receptionists pointed me toward an elevator at the end of the large lobby. The moment the elevator stopped on the right floor and I stepped out, a tall, dark-haired man strode toward me. He was dressed in an immaculate dark-blue three-piece suit and was in his early thirties. His face registered surprise upon seeing me. “You must be Miss Fitzgerald?”

I gave a nod and smiled.

“I’m Xavier’s lawyer, Marc Stevens.” He held out his hand for me to shake. His smile was pleasant but reserved. I wondered if the shared last name was coincidence, but upon closer look he shared a distant similarity to Xavier. Dark hair, same high cheekbones, but he wasn’t nearly as tall or broad, and had brown eyes. “Why don’t we head into my office so we can go over the details of your contract?”

“Won’t Xavier join us?”

“He will, but given the fact that his old assistant left and you haven’t started working for him yet, I doubt he’ll be on time.” He motioned for me to follow him.

His words surprised me. As Xavier’s lawyer, I wouldn’t have expected him to voice criticism like that. He was definitely family. Brother? Or maybe cousin? “Doesn’t he have a watch?”

“Several, and all of them cost more than a small car, but Xavier uses them for their decorating properties, not to read the time. That would be part of your job.”

Telling Xavier what time it was and to be on time. He really needed a babysitter.

“Why don’t you have a seat?” He motioned toward a massive oval table made from some kind of reddish wood. A stack of papers sat in front of one of the chairs. I sank down on the surprisingly comfortable chair and read the cover page of what seemed to be a long contract.

“Coffee?”

I nodded.

Mr. Stevens took a seat beside me. “Why don’t I read it aloud and you will voice your concerns or questions if they arise.”

“I assume you used the same contract for Xavier’s previous assistants, so even if I had concerns regarding certain parts of the contract, you would be reluctant to change them.”

He smiled. “That’s correct, but I think you’ll find that everything’s reasonable.”

Most of the contract was reasonable. The only passage that had me a bit worried was the part that stipulated I couldn’t stop working for him until I found him a new assistant or six months had passed. I had a feeling that part had been added recently due to Xavier’s difficulties keeping his assistants.

Mr. Stevens had read almost the entire contract to me when the door opened and Xavier stepped in. “Am I late?” he asked with a grin, knowing full well that he was.



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