The Player's Club: Finn

Finn had ridden twenty-story roller coasters that threw him around less than the emotional tilt-a-whirl he was currently experiencing with one Diana Song.

At the moment, with her full, pillow-soft lips pressing against his, her leanly curved body molding to him with only a thin silk robe as a barrier … well, he wasn’t complaining.

He had been furious at her, ready to yell at her until she saw reason, when he got to her door. The thought of her betrayal and her cold-blooded handling of his friend Lincoln was still enough to keep him at least a little sane. But there was something about her—though he had no clue what it was exactly—that had him addicted to her like something chemical, illegal, totally uncontrollable.

Add to that the fact that she was now kissing him as if her life depended on it and it pretty much wiped away everything else he’d been feeling, except for the confusion and pure, primal heat.

Diana was probably still gunning for him, for Lincoln and the Club, and it looked like she only shot to kill. So why, when she’d reached for him, did his body so enthusiastically answer the call?

And how the hell could he be so hot for a woman who was his worst enemy?

People think CATHY YARDLEY was crazy to trade sunny Southern California for the rainy Pacific Northwest. Fortunately, she firmly believes that writing isn’t a job for sane people. Now happily writing in the wilds of Seattle, she loves hearing from readers. To do so, e-mail her at [email protected].

Dear Reader,

I have to say … Finn is my favorite.

There is just something so fun about a “wardrobe challenged” billionaire with a wicked sense of humor who wants to live like he’s dying. Life’s a game, and he’s the ultimate Player.

Of course, now he’s up against Diana “The Hammer” Song, his father’s determined legal counsel. She doesn’t believe in games, but she does play to win.

This book concludes the PLAYER’S CLUB trilogy, finally revealing the origins of the secret society and bringing us full circle. This series has been a complete blast to write, and I hope it’s been just as fun to read!

Enjoy!

Cathy Yardley

www.millsandboon.co.uk

To Kathryn Lye, Annelise Robey, and

Christina Hogerbe, for acting as midwives to this trilogy. You guys made this possible.

Thanks for being there for me.

FINN MACALISTER LEANED BACK and took in paradise.

The sky was an impossible blue, the water a silky turquoise rushing back to a stretch of white sand, dotted with jade-green palm trees. He’d been to Oahu several times, but it was as if he’d never seen it before in his life.

“Paddle!” Benji, the twenty-two-year-old next to him, yelled like a drill sergeant. “Paddle your ass off, damn it!”

Without thinking, Finn cut into the water with his hands and … well, paddled his ass off.

The wave was bearing down on him like a freight train. Making it worse, it was a ten-foot-tall freight train, roaring at him, eager to pummel him against the hidden coral reefs somewhere down in that beautiful water he’d been waxing rhapsodic about. He paddled and cursed and finally managed to get his ass, and his board, over the ridge as Benji signaled his intent … and headed right for the danger zone.

Benji was paddling like a champion swimmer, attacking the wave like an ant attacking a tank. He got on, starting the ride, hitting it like a champ. Finn found himself holding his breath as he watched Benji go … watched him hit the sweet spot like something out of The Endless Summer as he shot the curl, the translucent sheet of water closing behind him as he shot forward like a bullet out of a Colt 45. And he caught a glimpse of the broad, absolutely foolish smile that plastered the kid’s face. He let out a primal scream of joy.

Finn let out a breath. There you go, kid.

“Welcome to the Player’s Club,” Finn said to no one in particular. Then he glanced back at the next wave. It was rising like a monster.

His heart kicked up a little, and a small smile sneaked onto his face.

He’d surfed plenty of times. He wasn’t a pro or anything, but he wasn’t a rank amateur. And sure, Finn had told Lincoln he was only going to be there to make sure nothing happened to their latest pledge, Benji. Of course, Benji was a semipro surfer, base jumper and all-around badass. Pretty good for a kid.

But Finn wasn’t doing what he was doing because he was jealous, or even because he wanted to show he could still do everything he could do before he’d turned thirty.

He felt his nerves tingle, his body almost shiver with the excitement of anticipation. The delicious, almost narcotic feeling of thrill danced along his skin.

This, he thought. This is what I need.

And he signaled, moving on the wave.

He thought he heard some yelling in the distance. The lifeguards he’d hired specifically were probably plenty pissed at him. Benji seemed to be cheering him, though, and that was encouraging, especially as he almost bobbled getting onto the surfboard.