“I didn’t have a plan,” I said finally. “I just wanted to see you, and I thought it would be good for the media.”
“You could’ve just said you missed me,” he teased.
“And inflate your ego? I’ll pass.”
I bit my bottom lip as I eyed him up and down. His hair had grown longer since we first met, the dark strands curling at the edges. I found myself staring at those curls, imagining how they'd feel wrapped around my fingers, how his breath would hitch if I tugged just hard enough.
His brown eyes held a familiar softness, but something darker flickered when he caught my lingering stare. My gaze drifted down to his mouth and back up to find him watching me with an intensity that made my pulse jump. The space between us suddenly was too wide and too narrow all at once. I wanted to step closer to see if his skin was as warm as it looked, to find out what sound he'd make if I pressed my lips to that spot where his jaw met his neck.
He shifted, and I caught the way his gaze dropped to my mouth before snapping back up. My breath came a little quicker.
“Hungry?” he asked lowly.
“Starving.” The word came out breathier than I intended. I let my gaze drop to his mouth for a moment before meeting his eyes.
He smirked, but I caught the way his jaw ticked. “Good. I know a spot. And I scored tonight, so I'm off my training diet for the evening.”
His hand moved to rest in the space between us, inches from my thigh. I shifted in my seat, letting my knee brush against his as I angled toward him. My hand found the edge of the seat, fingertips grazing his knuckles on what could have been accident.
Oopsie.
The SUV pulled away from the curb and into the night, the stadium falling behind us in a blur of lights. The city was quieter out here, like it was letting us catch our breath.
“Where to?” Ben asked from the front seat.
Sawyer rattled off a couple of cross streets and pulled out his phone. “Just texted Rachel. Told her to call in the crazies.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You say that like it’s something to look forward to.”
His grin widened. “With you, everything is something to look forward to, Ellie baby.”
I didn’t answer, mostly because his hand was resting on my leg, just above my knee. His thumb brushed aimlessly in slow, small circles against my jeans.
And he called me Ellie baby.Again.
When the car took a sharp turn, I let myself sway into him, my shoulder pressing against his arm, my hair brushing his neck. I felt him go perfectly still beside me.
I cleared my throat, grasping at something,anythingelse to focus on. “Nice game, by the way.”
He glanced over. “Thanks. I gotta say, you look damn good in my jersey.”
I arched a brow. “Oh, this old thing? Just pulled it out of my closet this morning.”
“You’re lying.”
“You’re right. I bought it at the merch stand before the game.”
He chuckled, that low, sexy laugh I liked way too much. “Well then, I’m getting you more. You’ve got the blue now, but we still need to get you gold, white, dark blue…maybe even a throwback.”
“That many?” I teased. “Seems excessive.”
“Probably. Don’t care. Nothing but the best for my girl.”
Before I could answer, Ben spoke. “We’re here, ma’am.”
I turned toward the window and blinked in surprise. We were parked on a small side street in a historic part of the city. Brick sidewalk lined the streets with cute iron balconies and strings of lights. Nestled between two boutique shops was a small Italian restaurant, its windows glowing warm against the cool night.
“What is this place?” I asked.
