Chapter 5 Savannah
FIVE
SAVANNAH
“This place can’t be real,” I mutter as the limo Addie arranged for us pulls up in front of Camden Snow’s house.
Mansion is more like it.
I’ve been to some nice places with the girls over the years, but this is something else. While the Warrens’ house is large, it’s cozy, more like an oversized cabin set on a sprawling piece of land overlooking a lake.
This? I blink and take it in again, a smile finding my lips. This is the house of a fucking playboy.
The black gate and stone walls do nothing to hide the large whitewashed brick house on the other side.
The long driveway is lined with every kind of luxury car imaginable.
Men in black and white jog around the vehicles, taking keys and moving cars.
The outside of the home is lit up with a cool purplish-gray light.
Every tree on the property has its own spotlight as well.
And in the daylight, when the harbor behind it can be seen? Hell, I can’t imagine how beautiful it is. Properties like this don’t exist. Or at least they rarely come onto the market.
“He lives here alone?” Sutton asks, scanning the place the way I did.
Neither of us has been here before. This may be the first holiday party Addie and Josie have been invited to, but they’ve known Camden most of their lives.
“Yup. He’s a perpetual bachelor,” Josie explains. “I don’t think I’ve ever known him to have a girlfriend.”
Addie shakes her head. “Not everyone needs to get married. Some people love their careers and are content doing what they want.”
I shrug. I don’t disagree with Addie’s sentiment at all, but I don’t for a second believe that’s what she wants out of life.
She may not have ever had a boyfriend—not that I’m aware of, at least—but I don’t think it’s because she doesn’t want one.
It has more to do with her profession, I think.
She’s a freaking badass professional hockey goalie.
Not many men can date a woman so tough and established and not feel threatened by her success.
And next season, she’ll hang up her skates and step into her new role of coach in the NHL.
I doubt that will make it any easier. The only men confident enough are the players themselves, but the rule follower would never.
“You’re correct. Not everyone has to date, but Savannah does,” Josie points out.
While getting ready this afternoon, we told Addie and Sutton about our idea for the new series of articles.
I was a little worried that Sutton would be offended.
Instead, she’s thrilled at the prospect of proving me wrong.
She thinks that the right man won’t be scared off by the ridiculous tactics I intend to use.
Hell, she’s convinced that the wrong ones won’t even dump me.
Says it’s because my boobs are so amazing.
She’s out of her mind. No one’s boobs are that amazing. Not even these babies.
Tonight, they’re barely hidden beneath the scandalous dress Sienna personally picked out for me.
It’s one of her own designs. A short crushed-velvet dress in a deep emerald green.
The sleeves are long, and the neckline plunges so low my belly button is nearly visible.
I paired it with golden heels I found in the Jolie closet.
The outfit is worth more than half a year’s salary, so I intend to enjoy the hell out of it.
“Okay,” Addie says, her face scrunched up, “but no dating any of my family members.”
I roll my eyes. “You just removed half the names from the roster.”
She giggles. “No coaching staff either.”
“Of course not. They’re all married. Happily. I’ve never seen a group of men so smitten with their wives.”
Addie breaks into a warm smile. “They’re all obsessed, though I’d say Uncle Aiden is the most unhinged about it.”
“Who wouldn’t be obsessed with Lennox?” Josie points out.
And yeah, she’s right. Lennox is gorgeous and the life of any party.
“And you can’t date Bray,” Josie says.
I pout. “You’re ruining all my fun.”
She scowls. “Please. I’m not ruining any fun on that front. Brayden is the least fun guy on the team. All serious and focused. He probably won’t even see your boobs tonight, and they’re in everyone’s face.”
I give my chest a little shimmy. “They’re even sparkly.”
Addie giggles. “You are a shimmering goddess.”
“Okay, so no brothers, married uncles, or anyone whose last name is Langfield. Does that leave anyone I can test out my dating prowess on tonight?”
The door to the limo opens, and the driver holds out a hand. He helps Addie out first, and we all follow. As we head toward the house, Addie lists the men who’ll be in attendance.
“There’s our center, Bobby Dean.” She nods at a man in a navy velvet suit that shows off his ridiculously large thighs and is cut at his ankle.
He’s got dark brown hair, and with cheekbones like that?
Damn, he could be a model. When he sees us, his face lights up and he gives one of his signature smirks.
The kind that could incinerate a girl’s panties.
Not this girl, though, since I’m not wearing any.
“He’s twenty-seven and single, and honestly, I really like him,” she adds.
I scrutinize her for a moment, noting the way she stares at him like she’s seeing him for the first time.
Her light brown hair is pulled back in a messy updo, curled wisps framing her face.
With the gold dress that hugs all her curves and red lipstick, she’s a fucking knockout.
Tonight, every player is gonna wish she wasn’t set to be their newest coach.
“Oh, and there’s Maksim Loob, our defenseman. ”
“Magnum,” Josie mutters, holding her hands out in front of her and dragging them farther apart. “We all can surmise how he got that nickname.”
Sutton snorts. “Oh my god. You’re awful.”
I lick my lips, studying the Russian as he slaps Bobby’s hand and the two of them hug in greeting. His light brown hair is pulled back in a messy bun, low on his head. The scar across his cheek, and even the chipped tooth, make him look ruggedly handsome.
“There’s my personal favorite.” Sutton points to a man unfolding himself from the driver’s seat of a white Corvette. “Royal Bombardier.”
“He’s a winger,” Addie explains. “From Canada.”
“Those Canadians sure know how to make a man,” Sutton whispers. She’s practically drooling as she watches the tall man with dirty blond hair that curls at the ends.
With an easy swagger, he approaches the other guys and greets them. But when he spots Sutton, his eyes go wide and his face lights up. He surveys our group, and when he sees Josie, his captain’s little sister, he makes a beeline for her.
“Josie,” he says emphasizing the first two letters of her name for reasons unknown to me. “You look gorgeous.” Though he’s speaking to her, his attention keeps drifting to Sutton, who can’t seem to make eye contact and whose cheeks are flaming red.
Yup. She’s half in love already. Damn. I wish I was half as interested in a man after a week as she is after twenty seconds.
“Royal, this is Sutton,” Josie says. “And you know Addie.”
He slips his hands into his pockets and grins. “Hello, Almost Coach.”
“And this is Savannah. She works with me at Jolie.”
His blue eyes light up with what looks like mischief. “JJ has banned us from reading the magazine, so naturally, we take turns reading it out loud before games to annoy the shit out of him.”
Addie coughs out a laugh. “Probably not the best way to get your goalie in the right headspace.”
JJ’s mom is Catherine Bouvier, my boss, so I can understand why he wouldn’t want his teammates reading her magazine, which is often filled with advice on sex. Especially her own editorial articles. She’s very open about her adventurous sex life with her husband and sometimes others.
Like I said, she’s my hero.
“We don’t read Cat’s articles. We wouldn’t do that to him. But Calliope’s are a must-read.”
Josie eyes me, but I shake my head. No one knows I’m Calliope, and we’re going to keep it that way.
“She’s my favorite,” Sutton says. They’re the first words out of her mouth, and already, she’s flirting.
Head tilted, he hitches a thumb over his shoulder. “Why don’t we get a drink, and you can tell me which articles you like best? See what we have in common.”
With her lip caught between her teeth, she nods shyly. “Sure.”
He holds out an arm and she takes it easily. Then they’re gone.
Josie huffs and stomps toward the house. “She better not start talking baby names before we get inside.”
Coughing out a laugh, I follow her. My laughter dies, though, when I step inside. The sound of our heels dull on the black carpet that’s been laid out to protect the gorgeous light wood floors.
The back of the house is all windows with a view of the dazzling harbor and the pink and orange sky above it as the sun sets over the water.
“Okay, I could maybe put up with a man for life if this house came with him,” I mutter.
Josie snorts. “And you haven’t even seen the man yet.”
“I’ve seen pictures.”
After we were invited to the party, I looked him up, and yeah, Camden Snow is a hot older man. Forty-six, I think, with a full head of dirty blond hair. Bright blue eyes. A cocky smile and a different woman beside him in every photo.
“Pictures don’t do him justice,” Josie promises.
Addie rolls her eyes. “Your father would kill you.”
Our friend lets out a raspy laugh. “Please, I’m far more into the women he’s hired for tonight. Look at them!”
Sienna warned me that these parties were over-the-top, but I definitely didn’t picture women walking around in little more than silk bows like they’re Christmas presents meant to be unwrapped.
They’re adorned in red, green, silver, and gold silk.
And every one of them is gorgeous. Of course, none of them have large breasts like mine.
The thick bands of ribbon would never cover a chest like this, and every woman drifting around with trays of drinks in her hands is no bigger than a size two.
I love my body, but damn do I feel extra curvaceous around them.
Camden Snow obviously has a type, and it is tall, slim, and naked.
“Champagne?” one of them asks as she approaches with a silver tray.
“Thank you.” I pluck a champagne flute with a smile. “Love the outfit.”
She grins. “Certainly doesn’t leave anything to the imagination, does it? Make sure you check out the show downstairs in a bit.”
Head tilted, I frown. “Show?”
“It’s a surprise,” a deep male voice says from behind me.
I huff, annoyed at the interruption. I hate when men think it’s their right to hold all the cards. Like they can tell women what they can and can’t do. “And who are you to keep secrets?”
“That,” Josie says as I turn toward the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen, “is Camden Snow.”