Game of Hearts

By Elle Fielding

Gabby Striker has secretly been in love with her best friend Aaron Van-Ray for years. But when he asks for her help in winning back his ex-girlfriend, Gabby knows it's time to let go of her feelings and move on. However, as Gabby accompanies Aaron on a trip to a hot, tropical island to carry out his elaborate plan, pretending to be his lover, she finds it harder than ever to resist her attraction to him. With Aaron sending her mixed signals and her emotions in turmoil, Gabby must decide whether to risk everything and confess her love, or risk losing Aaron and any chance at happiness.

Game of Hearts is a steamy and emotionally charged tale of friendship, love, and second chances set against the backdrop of a tropical paradise.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Elle Fielding
• Release date: Feb 18, 2024
• ISBN: 9780648627739

Elle Fielding

Elle Fielding is a true-blue Aussie who's as passionate about romance as Melbourne is about its four-seasons-in-one-day weather. Her love affair with romance novels started in her teens, fuelled by a steady diet of Dolly Fiction, Love Stories, Loveswept, and those irresistible Harlequin Mills & Boon tales. With a diary full of her own unrequited crushes, Elle figured it was high time to start creating some love stories of her own. Elle's first crack at writing romance was, let's just say, a learning curve. But she's been honing her skills, swapping out personal misadventures for the sweeping world of fiction. She's now living the dream, writing her own romance novels and loving every minute of it. When she's not busy writing or getting lost in a good book (or audiobook), Elle's living her own fairy tale on the Mornington Peninsula with her very own Mr. Perfect. For Elle, life's all about capturing those happily-ever-afters, both in her stories and beyond the pages.

Book preview

Chapter 1: A Crazy Idea

GABBY

I love my best friend, Aaron Van-Ray, to a fault, but sometimes I want to shake some sense into him. Take tonight, for instance. Ever since we plopped our butts onto the booth seat at the Croaky Seagull, he hasn't stopped talking about a woman who is not worth his time and her new relationship with his work nemesis.

I can't believe she left me for that absolute dickhead. I mean, what does she see in him? He's so smarmy. So fake. How can she not see through it?

Aaron often makes these sorts of comments about his long-time work rival, August. Competing over who can win the affections of a selected target is a sick and twisted game and downright despicable. But their employers actively encourage Aaron and August to compete. From what I've been told tonight, Aaron has lost the latest round of their game to August. Usually, I would tell my best friend he deserves the worst for partaking in such foolish games. However, something is different this time.

Most women walk in and out of Aaron's life in the blink of an eye, but Jenna-Lee Jeffries walked in a few months ago, and she's the first woman I've seen him reluctant to let go of. Aaron's rugged good looks have never failed to catch the attention of women. Above his left eyebrow, there's a scar, a reminder of the time he got into a fight defending me in high school. With his neatly trimmed light brown hair styled in a short back and sides with longer locks on top, his muscular build, and piercing brown eyes with green flecks, Aaron could have any woman he wanted. But he's always been a player, never staying with one woman for too long.

What I want to tell him is, you're better off without her. You need someone who loves and appreciates you, like I do. Instead, I take a sip of my wine. I've never told him how I feel. Aaron has broken so many hearts over the years that there is probably a group of his ex-girlfriends who meet weekly in town to bond over their pain and throw darts at a cut-out of his face. Okay, I don't know that for sure, but I'm ninety percent certain there is.

My point is, I might be stupidly in love with my best friend, but I don't want to join that club. If he was the sort of man who didn't run from women the moment they showed their feelings, it would be different. But Aaron is who he is, and while he's obsessed with dodging feelings, it's not worth the risk. Aaron and I have been friends for a long time, and the thought of losing the one constant in my life—the person who has been there for my every success, every failure, every break-up—has always stopped me from telling him how I feel.

I have to get her back, Gabby. I'd do anything.

Women don't matter to you. That's what you always tell me.

Aaron doesn't include me in that statement because, fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how I look at it, the man doesn't see me that way.

He shakes his head. Jenna-Lee's different.

How?

I think I'm in love with her.

His words land like an unexpected punch. The air rushes out of my lungs, and I struggle to breathe, feeling a sharp ache in my stomach from the blow.

You have to help me, Gabby, he pleads.

He's asking me to grasp the impossible, to come to terms with the insane. And here I sit, gaping at my best friend like a fish out of water.

Tell me what to do, he pleads.

The desperation in his voice tears at my heart, exposing the raw and bleeding wound of my unrequited love. For years, I've secretly dreamed that someday he would stop his mission of exiting every relationship before falling in love. I've hoped he would realise there is someone he's not afraid to fall in love with, someone he can see himself with for the rest of his life. But now that he's confessed his feelings for someone else, I'm shattered. Bereft and lost. I always thought it would be the two of us, him and me, someday. Now, that fantasy has been ripped away. He's flipped my world on its head.

I want to tell him he's making a mistake, that he doesn't belong with her, but the look of anguish on his face keeps me silent. My heart twists painfully in my chest, torn between my loyalty to him and the pain settling in my ribcage. The thought of him being with anyone else makes breathing painful and fills me with a stabbing sensation in my gut.

But as much as he's shattered my heart, I hate that he's hurting, and I can't help but want to take away his pain. So, despite the ache in my chest, I brainstorm.

I take another sip of my wine and place it back on the table, trying to think of something suitable to say. When it comes to practical experience in winning women back, well, I have none. But I'm willing to try giving him advice. I'd do anything to make him happy, even if it means setting aside my own feelings.

I don't know, Aaron. In the movies, they use jealousy when they want to win someone back.

Jealousy?

Yeah, you know, that horrible green emotion that makes you want something someone else has, I say, attempting a joke.

The emotion currently tightly gripping me, squeezing my insides, making every breath painful.

He doesn't smile. I know what jealousy is, Gabby. How do I make her jealous?

Pretend to be with someone else. Show her you've moved on and don't want her anymore.

Does that ever actually work?

I don't know. I've never tried it. It works in the movies, though.

He looks at me thoughtfully. Jenna-Lee never liked you.

I know.

He makes a face. She thought you were in love with me.

I swallow hard and look away, making a sound that resembles a strangled scoff.

It didn't matter how many times I told her you weren't. She never believed me. She hated it whenever I spent time with you.

She was insecure.

He shakes his head. No, she was jealous.

When his eyes brighten and a small smile tugs at his lips, my stomach sinks. No, Aaron.

Yes! It's perfect. She'll hate it if she thinks we're together.

It's crazy! Desperation creeps into my voice.

It's genius.

Someone else would be a better choice.

I can't do it. I can't 'pretend' to be in love with my best friend. What if I fake it a little too well? What if he realises the truth, and that ruins everything?

He taps his fingers on the side of his glass. It would never work with anyone else. She'll never believe it.

Forget it. It's a stupid idea.

Come on, Gabby.

No. I won't be a part of this stupid game you play with August.

I love her.

His eyes plead with me. God, he really believes it. How many times can one conversation shatter my heart? Every time he says those words, my heart takes a beating.

His dark gaze holds mine. I'd do it for you, Gab.

I know he would. He's done crazy things for me, and he's never asked for a thing in return. Until now. So, how can I refuse him? It was my idea, after all. My very stupid idea. If I say no, he'll want to know why. What valid reason could I give him? I never thought you'd fall in love with a woman, but if you did, I hoped that woman would be me? No.

My eyes wander to his now-empty bourbon glass. We've both had an awful lot to drink tonight. Maybe if I ply him with enough alcohol, he won't remember any of this conversation.

Please, Gab, he begs.

Okay.

The look of relief on his face twists the knife in my gut. Thank you. I love you.

Just not the way he loves Jenna-Lee. Standing up, I offer a small smile, one that hopefully doesn't betray the way my heart is bleeding and breaking. Aaron has always been rather ignorant of my feelings for him. Jenna-Lee, however, clearly has not been.

I'm going to order more shots, I say.

He points at me. Great idea. We need to celebrate our plan.

Right.

Here's hoping alcohol will work a miracle and erase this entire evening from his mind. Unfortunately, I know I won't be lucky enough to forget everything he said. With one conversation, he's ruined every secret fantasy and hope I've pretended not to have.

As I watch the bartender pour the shots I ordered, my mind races, contemplating a plan to make Aaron's scheme succeed while safeguarding my own heart from potential devastation. I know I have to help him, but I'm unsure if I can handle pretending to be in love with him without devastating consequences.

***

Hours later, I help Aaron up the stairs to his apartment, struggling one step at a time. I curse the elevators for being out of order, but perhaps it's my penance. Guilt for getting my best friend rip-roaring drunk has been nudging me since I ordered the first round of shots.

Keys? I ask him when we finally reach our destination.

Pocket, he mumbles.

I reach into his jeans pocket and fumble around, trying to grab them. If I didn't already know he's drunk, his lack of jokes about me trying to grope him would give him away.

Finally, I fish the keys out, unlock the door, and we stumble through it with his arm around me. When we reach his king-size bed, Aaron falls onto it, pulling me with him.

I land on top of him with a thud. His eyelids, which had been drooping from fatigue and the effects of alcohol, now flutter open. I push against him, trying to get up, but his arms are still heavy around me, trapping me against him. My body instinctively moulds itself to his hard male body. His eyes lock with mine, making my breath hitch. The familiar and tantalizing scent of his cologne wraps around me, and my breathing grows shallow as desire heats my face and body. My lips are only centimetres away from his. We're practically breathing the same air.

Aaron.

He releases me from his grip, and my moment of near insanity passes. I roll off him and onto the other side of the bed.

Stay, he mumbles. You must be tired.

The lack of sleep, and all those shots, are catching up with me. I don't feel like having to make my way back downstairs and catch a cab to my place, especially when I'm already in a bed that is so comfortable. Still, I should go. I'm just about to tell him I'm leaving when I realise he's already asleep. I get out of bed and pull the covers up and over him.

He stirs slightly. Jenna-Lee, he mumbles, his eyes still closed.

And that's my cue to leave.

Heart aching and stomach roiling, I walk out of his bedroom. With any luck, Aaron will forget he loves Jenna-Lee, and if he doesn't, he will hopefully at least forget my stupid suggestion from earlier this evening. Closing his front door behind me, I head for the taxi waiting for me.

I'm going to have to wait until tomorrow to find out if I'm lucky or not.

***

Taking an overdue break from my work at the Magpie Grove Neighbourhood House that I manage, I grab my cheese and tomato sandwich out of the fridge in the kitchenette and bite into it, savouring the flavour of the relish and basil I decided to add at the last minute.

Tasty? I jump at the familiar voice.

Turning, I notice Aaron has quietly entered the room. His usual heart-stopping grin spreads across his face as he takes a step closer. Dressed in dark denim jeans, boots, and a khaki shirt that accentuates the colour of his eyes, his slightly dishevelled hair adds to his irresistible charm. The softness in his gaze causes my stomach to flutter and soar simultaneously.

What are you doing here? I ask him a little breathlessly, giving him a kiss on the cheek.

I was in the neighbourhood. Thought I'd drop by.

Aaron, you're never just in the neighbourhood.

Bernadette said you guys have been quiet lately.

Eh, things aren't too bad, though Hannah hasn't had too many shifts since we hired her.

I feel a pang of concern for Hannah, the girl we recently brought on board to assist at the neighbourhood house. We were anticipating more community events and activities over the summer, but they haven't picked up as expected, so Hannah hasn't had much work to do.

Well, her luck is about to change.

Why? I ask him warily.

I want you to come to Heaven's Isle with me in a couple of weeks.

To your yearly work thingy?

Five days, six nights on Saxby's Island. Sun, white sand beaches, sunsets–

And work dinners, bonding exercises, and Cain and Edward Saxby.

He shrugs, flashing me his grin once again. So you take the good with the bad.

The Saxby Brothers are over the top and far too passionate about advertising. Plus, the way they set Aaron and August against each other while preaching about workplace cohesiveness has always bothered me. Over the years, I've attended quite a few of Aaron's work events with him, but he's never asked me to go on holiday with him. It's normally a partners-only holiday.

It's the perfect place to make Jenna-Lee jealous, he adds.

My heart sinks. He remembers my advice from last night. For a fleeting moment, I allowed myself to believe that he wanted me to join him for the pleasure of my company. But now, it's clear that I am merely a means to an end, a pawn in his game with August, all orchestrated to make Jenna-Lee jealous. The bitter taste of disappointment mingles with resignation, yet I can't even be angry with him for considering the idea, since it was my own stupid suggestion.

I can't just leave for a week. I have responsibilities here at the neighbourhood house, I tell him.

At that moment, Bernadette joins us in the small kitchenette at the back of the house.

Hannah can handle things here for that week, Bernadette tells me. If you want to go on holiday, now is the perfect time. You know things will pick up when school starts.

You discussed this with Bernadette? I ask Aaron, feeling more trapped by the second.

Yes, I thought it would be easier if we both knew what was going on, Aaron says, giving Bernadette another grateful look.

He looks at me, wholly relieved, as he slings an arm around my shoulders and pulls me close, making me feel and appreciate everything I'm destined never to have.

You and me in Heaven, Gab. What could be better?

Bernadette rolls her eyes. Very corny.

When Bernadette walks out, Aaron starts talking about how great our holiday is going to be.

I have to stop doing this—I have to stop torturing myself. He just doesn't feel that way about me. I've waited years for him to realise he doesn't want to keep all women at a distance and that he doesn't want to walk out the moment he feels something for a woman he's seeing. Now that he has finally realised that, however, he still doesn't want me. It's Jenna-Lee who has turned his whole world upside down. It's Jenna-Lee who he's let himself fall in love with.

I want Aaron in my life; I need him in my life, but the truth is finally starting to sink in. No matter how much I've hoped otherwise, Aaron and I will never be more than friends. I have to stop pining after him like some lovesick puppy.