“A round of shots for the boy,” Taylor shouts over to the waitress, who’s dressed in a skimpy plaid skirt and a black vest.

Usually, I’d find myself whispering sweet nothings into her ear. I’m not ashamed to admit that I like the attention of a woman with big tits and a fine ass, both of which the waitress has.

But for some reason, I’m not keen on pursuing her tonight.

Knowing a woman like Tess exists nulls my desire to even talk to another women. What’s the point? Tess is the epitome of femininity but with a fierceness that can only match my own.

She is my match. And, a fucking gorgeous one at that.

I shoot Taylor a menacing glare. “Seriously, man? What the fuck are you doing?” I lean over the table and yell at him.

“I figured you’d like something to take the sting out of your last loss,” Taylor fakes a frown. “Tess is at it again.”

“Fuck you,” I say, flipping my middle finger up at him.

“No, I think you’re looking to fuck her,” he say.

Dominic pats me on the back, like a fucking big brother, and chimes in. “We’ve all been there, man,” he says. “Caught up in a woman.” He shakes his head and takes a sip of his whisky.

“What do you mean?” I turn to him.

“I think you know what I mean,” he cocks his eyebrow up, like he knows something I don’t.

“Apparently I don’t know what you mean…” I jab back looking to the other guys for help, hoping they can clue me on whatever the fuck he is alluding to.

This is supposed to be a guy’s weekend. No holds-barred, let loose type of getaway to Aspen. But it’s turning into a pity party with me as their crowned bitch.

“Here you go boys,” the waitress places the tray of tequila shots on the table. “Hopefully this’ll make you feel better, lover,” she stares at me and flicks her tongue across her teeth.

“I’m sure it’ll do something like that,” I scoot my ass closer to the table and pick up the glass, holding it up to her. “Cheers.”

“Cheers,” she says, then winks and twists away, heading back to some rowdy customers.

You’d be surprised how crowded Aspen gets at night. Even in an exclusive lounge like Access—where we each paid $10k each to get in—it’s still buzzing with people.

But Aspen doesn’t house just any people. Every New York City executive, Hollywood director and wandering socialite gathers here, making this a prime location for yours truly. I am elite, and my boys only add to my status.

I’m sure Tara’s introduced you to them already, baby. But if you haven’t, I should let you know—we’re all fucking badasses. We are the puppet-masters of New York City. Each of our hands orchestrating a part of it, from banks to gyms to even criminal organizations.

I might not have been born and raised there, like the rest of them, but I’ve made a similar impact. Check anyone’s apartment or house—from Manhattan to the Hamptons—and you’ll find me there. Everyone knows my name and if they don’t, then they’re not worth knowing. That sounds cold, I know, but it’s the truth.

“Malcolm, when did you know that Sonia was the one?” I ask him, casually as I think about who else is in New York.

Tess.

“Oh, the fucking moment I met her. I just knew. I don’t know what it was but when I laid my eyes on her, it was instant. The sex didn’t hurt either,” he laughs and gulps down his tequila shot.

“And you, Colt?” I twist back to him.

“That’s when you know she’s the right one. When she can spar with you and challenge you to be a better version of yourself. Yeah, there is a better version if you can believe it,” Colt chimes in.

“God, you guys sound so fucking cheesy,” Taylor interjects.

“Dude, don’t even start with us. You know you and Ashley are seconds away from living happily-ever-after,” Colt jabs back.

Taylor rolls his eyes and downs his tequila. “Fuck you,” he says and grimaces when the tequila singes his throat.

He shimmies his shoulders, letting the agave warm and relax his muscles. Then he swings his head in my direction.

“Why are you asking that Austin? Who has you fucking enamored?” he asks.

I swallow a large gulp of my drink and put my elbows on my knees, gearing myself up to tell them the truth. And to admit it to myself.

“It’s Tess,” I confess.

They all collectively drop their jaws in awe.

“Are you fucking serious?” Taylor shouts, not holding back his reaction in the slightest.

“Woah dude,” Dominic adds.

“Wow,” Colt and Malcolm say at the same time.

“Fuck. I didn’t think it was that big of a deal,” I say in defense, running my hands over my face.

“What? It’s not a big deal?” Taylor punches my shoulder. “This is the wrong fucking time to fall in love when the competition is so close. Let alone fall in love with your fucking competition. She’s the one beating you, by the way, did you forget about that already?”

The other guys look between Taylor and I, and they fall silent, sipping their drinks nonchalantly.

Smooth, guys. Really fucking smooth.

“Dude, you never know when love is going to bite you in ass. It’s an unexpected thing,” Colt says, standing up for me.

“Jesus, fuck me,” I sigh and fall back onto the booth.

And like fucking clock work, two women, one with a short bob and a dainty brunette, climb into our booth, eyeing us like they’ve won the jackpot.

I understand their intrigue, but seriously? Why the fuck now?

“Hey guys. What brings you out to Aspen tonight?” The blonde curls her tongue around the small red straw in her drink.

“Boys night,” I tip my drink up towards her. “And you?”

Maybe, she’ll be able to distract from making a bigger ass out of myself. I know the waitress didn’t do it for me, but this girl looks like she has the potential to steer me away.

We’ll see.

She takes my question as an invitation to sit next to me.

“Me too,” she bats her eyes and giggles, too enthusiastically. “Well, girls’ night.”

Ok, baby. It’s not that funny.

The brunette seats herself next to Taylor, who seems to enjoy the attention, though he refrains from brushing up against her. He might not admit it yet but he’s just as into Ashley as I am into Tess. He’s just too big of a fucking coward to admit it.

“What’s your name?” I ask, loosening the noose of awkward silence around my neck.

“Jane Doe,” she announces as her tongue does that twirl thing again.

I choke on my drink—did she just say Jane Doe? I eye her up and down, hoping she’s joking.

“Jane Doe?” I ask for clarification.

She bobs her head up and down, beaming with pride.

Oh, honey, that’s the most common name ever. Why would you be proud of that? They fucking name unclaimed corpses at that. She’s as common as a fucking dead person—morbid, I know.

“Gotcha,” I say, and just like that I’m bored.

“What’s yours?” She leans forward, trying to direct my eyes back to her.

“I’m Austin Randall,” I declare, with no emphasis in my tone what-so-ever.

“Oh…where have I heard that name before?” She looks around, like a lost bird looking for their mother. “Oh!” She shrieks.

And, there we go. Watch how this works, baby. I told you I wasn’t making this ‘girls fawn all over me’ shit up.

“You’re the Austin Randall. Of, like, the furniture empire?” She blinks her eyes, and I swear it mimics a fucking windshield wiper on high.

“That’s me,” I finish my drink.

Her hand lands on my knee, sliding slowly up my thigh. Scooting closer to me, she whispers in my ear. “That sounds fascinating. Tell me more.”

I look at her, sticking my neck back so my lips don’t accidentally touch her. Yeah, that’s how close she is to me.

“Maybe, another time.” I jerk my leg out of her hold and stand up from our booth. “Boys, I’m headed back. I’ll see you later.”

They all nod and lift their drinks up to acknowledge my exit. Except for Taylor. He’s attention is held by the busty brunette but I can tell his heart isn’t in it. He’s probably thinking about Ashley.

I walk out, leaving the women sulking on the couch behind me.

Before Tess, I would’ve entertained the blonde. She’s my type—easy, horny, and attractive. I really don’t have high standards, baby, just that they want me and consent to fucking. The redhead at the beginning of this book is Exhibit A.

But, now I do. Not only was Jane Doe the least creative name in the world, possibly more boring than a yawn itself, but she’s too easy.

After Tess, I’m craving something more. I want a challenge, a woman who can spar with me, and fuck…even beat me.

This is the first time in my life that someone has beat me. And it’s Tess.

That must be why I find her so attractive. Or, why I can’t stop thinking about her?

I’m amazed by her ability to one-up me and do it more than once.

That has to be it.

I can’t be falling for Tess, right? No, I’m falling for the idea of her and the strength she possesses. It’s new and so fucking erotic.

That’s has to be it, right?

I’m not going to be the next Dominic and Daphne, Malcolm and Sonia, or Colt and Serena. That’s not me. I’m not the romantic sucker here, not like them.

At least I wasn’t.