“Now that was bitchy.”
She blinked and gave a startled laugh. “You know, it was.”
“So, if I offered you money to take care of the problem, you would…?”
“Slap you silly.”
“I figured.” Yet he planned to look into the situation regardless. “What are you going to do?”
“Deal with it. I manage my money wisely. Always have. This is just another obstacle to overcome.”
She had a sparkle in her hazel eyes, a brightness that came from working hard and doing her best.
“Is Simon worried?” he asked, concerned about the boy.
“No. I don’t share these kinds of problems with him. I’m not sure why I shared it with you, if you want the truth.”
He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it. “I always want the truth, even when I act like I might not want to hear it.” He let her tug her hand away. “Becca, do I scare you?”
“Yes.”
“See? I didn’t want the truth, but I did.”
She laughed. “That’s not confusing.”
“I know. I’m a conundrum wrapped in a riddle around a puzzle.”
“Have you been talking to Nora?” she asked with suspicion.
He grinned. “She called me earlier asking for Deacon’s email address. How did you know?”
“Conundrumsounds like one of her words.”
He laughed. “It is. I get ten points for using it. Witness,” he said, pointing at her.
She shook her head. “Well, Mr. Riddle, how does me admitting you scare me make you feel?”
“Good.”
She scowled.
“Because you scare the crap out of me, too.”
“Me?” Her eyes widened.
“Honey, the moment I saw you, I was hooked. I don’t do deep relationships. Watching my parents spend blissful years together while my brother married a demon from hell, it was confusing. And tough to deal with. Deacon wanted the same things I do—love, a family, a future. And Rhonda shit all over it. Other men, debt, tabloids… He took it hard, and I guess I did too.
“My girlfriends have always taken a backseat to football. I admit it. But I don’t have football blocking for me now. There’s you. And I like you. A lot.” He was falling for her, hard. “I don’t see anyone else when I’m out. I don’t think about other women. I just think about you.”
“Well.” She swallowed. “You, um…”
“Yeah. But that’s me. How do you feel about me?” He hadn’t meant to push her, but it had grown more difficult to keep his feelings inside. After all he’d told Simon, he couldn’t do less and pretend he cared little for Becca Bragg. Not when he wanted her by his side, always.
“I told you about Neal, how hard it was to let him go.”
“You did.”
“I’ve dated since, obviously. But nothing’s ever felt real. Nothing solid. Then this new obnoxious, showy football player comes to town.”
