His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Ah, fuck.” The pain on his handsome face stole the breath from me.
“It’s fine,” I said, hoping to erase his worried expression. “To be honest, I’m tired. I have so much on my plate that I can’t breathe sometimes. But getting fired is no one’s fault but my own.”
His gaze zeroed in on my arm. “I seriously want to hunt that douchebag down and punch his lights out.”
“Why are you so nice to me?”
“Maybe I like you more than I care to admit,” he said, moving hair off my face.
I wasn’t brave enough to respond. He was cracking through the brick wall I had around my heart, and that scared me to no end. I couldn’t afford to fall for someone like Lucas Allen. But damn it, he was making it so easy to want to.
11
Lucas
We stood outside the casino entrance while life buzzed around us. People came and went, horns blew, and valets jangled keys. But I was so entranced with the beautiful goddess before me that I barely noticed any of it. Or maybe I was waiting for her response to my declaration that I liked her more than I’d wanted to admit. But it was out there now.
I expected her to slap me or run. Instead, she pressed her hands on my chest and batted her long lashes at me.
My heart sputtered. I felt dizzy around her as if she’d put a spell on me. I was ready to sweep her off her feet, hug her tightly, kiss her gently, and whisper sweet nothings to her. But she was the one sweeping me off my feet. She was the one drawing out a side of me I’d buried long ago.
“Can you take me home, please?” she asked in a breathy tone.
I stuck out my elbow. “Your chariot awaits, my queen.”
She scrunched her nose, looking cute and sexy. “Queen? Not Midnight?”
“You don’t like Midnight.”
She captured her bottom lip between her teeth and hooked her arm in mine. “I lied. So if I’m your queen, are you my king?”
I was silently giving myself high fives that this was going better than I’d anticipated it would. From no strings to a small opening that could lead to more. This was a huge win.
“Only if you want me to be.” I escorted her down to the crosswalk at the end of the valet area as a warm breeze blew.
“Do you give good back rubs?”
“I’ve been known to.”
“Mm,” she said, then her demeanor changed on a dime as she stiffened. “Where’s Ryker?”
“He took an Uber home. Something with his girl, Haven.”
She clutched on to me tighter. “Are you lying just to get me alone?”
“What if I am?”
The question died when an SUV stopped at the red light exiting the casino, and the passenger called out to Mazzie.
She went ramrod straight, as did I.
Josh glared daggers at me. “This isn’t over, wide receiver.”
Despite my urge to lash out, I held my tongue. A fight would include both Josh and the driver. I liked to think I could take them both, but I didn’t want to test the waters. Besides, Coach would have my ass on a platter if I got into a fight. He still might if he found out I’d been at a casino. More importantly, I wouldn’t put Mazzie in harm’s way.
Mazzie was shaking by the time the SUV sped off. “I hate him.”
“Midnight, I got you.”
