Forever Blake (Once Upon a Player Book 3) by Elena Matthews (free books to read .TXT) 📗

the next two months she’s with us. So, I would be eternally grateful if you could take her under your wing.”

I nod immediately, honored that he would ask me and not the other partners. “Of course, Edwin. Anything for you—you know that. You’ve told me so much about her that it’ll be nice to finally meet her.”

His eyes drift past me, lighting up in a way I’ve never seen before. “Well, you can meet her now.” He stands just as a knock sounds at his door.

“Hi. Is this a good time?”

Since I have my back to the door, I can only hear her. Immediately, my ears prick up at the sound of her voice.

Hmm, she sounds familiar.

She sounds like Ever…but to be fair, every girl sounds like Ever to me now, especially since she is all I can think about.

Obsessed much?

“Of course it is, sweetheart. You’ve actually come at the perfect time. Come on in and meet Blake. He’ll be taking good care of you.”

I hear the sound of heels treading on the carpeted floor before they halt to a stop.

Standing from my seat, I fasten the button on my jacket and plaster a smile on my face. Turning to face her, I greet her, “Reagan, it’s really nice to meet you. I—”

I blink in surprise and confusion when instead of being welcomed by Edwin’s daughter, Ever is standing in front of me.

Ever? Why is Ever here?

As soon as the realization hits me, my entire body turns to stone, and my heart freezes to pure ice.

Oh shit.

Ever is Reagan…which means Reagan is Edwin’s daughter…which means…

Fuck.

I slept with my boss’s daughter.

No. Wait.

I slept with my boss’s twenty-two-year-old daughter.

Jesus, fuck.

A million things go through my head all at once, but I know I can’t dwell on a single one since I have to pretend this is the first time I’m meeting Edwin’s daughter. So, I plaster my game-slash-lawyer face on and smooth my features out as I hold my hand out to her.

Ever’s eyes are wide as she takes me in, frozen in shock. Instead of the jeans and shirt she wore at Happy Hours on Friday, she’s dressed smartly in a white summer dress and a pair of killer heels, her hair falling in pretty curls at her sides. She’s even more perfect than I remembered.

Chancing a glance at Edwin, I say, “Wow, I was taken aback at how much your daughter looks like Louise,” I say, talking about Edwin’s ex-wife.

Then, I finally focus my attention on Ever…who I’ve just found out isn’t even called Ever.

I mean, what the hell?

She glances down at my awaiting hand before reluctantly shaking it. I pretend the electric current shooting up my arm at her bare touch doesn’t affect me.

“And I thank my lucky stars she got her mother’s looks and not mine.” He chuckles a belly-shaking laugh.

I laugh, but it’s anything but genuine.

“Reagan,” I enunciate, wanting her to know I’m pissed but covering it well from Edwin with the confident grin on my face. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Likewise, Blake,” are her only words as our hands disconnect, and I’m left feeling a chill in the wake of her touch.

“Your father told me you recently graduated from Stanford University.”

She nods and smiles through the anxiety I can see shadowing her pretty face. Lucky for her, she can just chalk that up to first-day nerves, not the fact that she fucked her dad’s newest junior partner less than forty-eight hours ago.

“Yeah, I came first in my class.”

“That’s really impressive. What made you decide to do an internship here in Dallas?” I ask, just making small talk while my insides stew with my internal turmoil of what an utter screwup this is.

Christ, I slept with my boss’s fucking daughter.

Shit. Fuck. Shit.

“Well, Dallas is my home, so this was the perfect opportunity to spend the summer here before I head to Harvard for law school in the fall.”

“You know,” Edwin begins, his smile that of a proud father, “she had her pick of internships all over the country yet chose to intern here.”

Her cheeks flush at her dad fussing over her. She’s obviously uncomfortable with the attention. It probably doesn’t help that we’re waiting for this moment to be over. Pretending we don’t know each other when, in reality, I can still taste her pussy on my tongue.

“Stop embarrassing her, Ed. I can’t imagine it being easy to come work for your dad.”

“I know; I know.” He chuckles. He looks over at Ever…or Reagan—whatever her name is. “And that’s why Blake will be overseeing your internship, so you won’t have to deal with your overbearing father.”

She smiles, but I notice it doesn’t reach her eyes, like it did this past weekend. In fact, with how frigid her body seems, I think she’s seconds away from wishing for the ground to swallow her whole. She glances my way, and just as she opens her mouth to speak, she startles at the sound of the intercom buzzing.

“Excuse me for a moment,” Edwin says as he steps over to his desk. He presses a button for the speakerphone. “Yes, Meredith?”

“I have Tim Robinson on line one for you. He said it was urgent.”

“I’ll speak to him, but just give me one moment.”

He turns to Reagan. “Let me answer this call, and then I’ll take you down to Human Resources in a few minutes to get you settled.”

“Edwin, I’m happy to escort her down there,” I offer, gulping down the last of my coffee.

To Edwin, I’m being a good junior partner, but honestly, I just want an excuse to get a moment alone with Ever-slash-Reagan.

“Are you sure?”

I nod, walking over to the trash can to deposit my coffee cup. “Absolutely. You know as well as I do that Tim will take up more than ten minutes of your time.”

“Thank you, Blake.” He focuses his attention on his daughter. “Have a great first day, sweetheart.”

“Thanks, Dad.” She presses her lips together, attempting a smile but all she manages is a frown.

I