The fingers of my left hand grazed across Destiny’s soft shoulder, instinctively. I hadn’t even noticed I’d thrown my free arm around the back of the booth we both sat at.
“That comes naturally for you, doesn’t it?” she questioned, glancing up at me.
I lifted an eyebrow. “Touching you? Yes, it does.” I nodded.
“No, charming the socks off women.”
I frowned, not liking the tone she’d used, accusingly.
“Not just any woman. Only the ones who are worth it.” I winked at her and went to say something else when the waiter, taking our orders, interrupted.
“I’ll have the mixed green salad with the chilean sea bass,” Destiny stated, handing the waiter her menu with her free hand. Her right, was still placed firmly in my hold. I noticed she hadn’t tried to move it again, either.
I ordered the rack of lamb and the salad as well before turning my attention back on Destiny.
“No wine for you?” she questioned, looking at my empty wine glass.
“I don’t drink during the season.”
She lifted both brows in surprise. “Since when? The number of articles I’ve read on you—” Her statement faltered on her lips at the sight of my grin.
“You’ve been researching me.”
She began shaking her head.
“Don’t lie, Destiny.” I leaned down, whispering in her ear, “Lying can get you into very deep trouble.” I pulled back, satisfied, only when I saw her body shiver.
“I-I wasn’t researching you, I mean, I was but not just you,” she spat out quickly. “The whole team. I know Maynard comes from just outside of Chicago and grew up with his mom and stepdad, I know Riggs’ mother left him and his father when he was just a baby. I know three members of your offensive line have gotten DUIs in their careers. I know—”
“You planning on running down the entire team’s lives to me?”
Her mouth clamped shut at my jibe. She shook her head before saying, “I’m just proving to you thatyou’renot the only person I took the time to read about. I like to study and get to know my clients is all I’m saying.” She lifted and lowered her shoulder on a shrug, and tried to pull her hand back once the food arrived at our table.
“I can’t eat with your hand over mine.”
I looked over at her left hand. “You have a hand free.”
“I’m right-handed and you need to cut your lamb.” Her head jutted in the direction of my plate.
I sighed. “So I do.” Reluctantly, I pulled my hand from over hers. I instantly regretted my decision when the warmth her hand on my thigh provided, left with its removal.
“So, you’re a football fan, Destiny? I never got a chance to ask you that with all of the dodging you were doing the last few weeks.”
“I wasn’t—” She stopped at the raise of my eyebrow. “Never mind,” she huffed. “To answer your question, yes. I am a football fan. And yes, before you even ask, I am a diehard Cougars fan. My father would roll over in his gr—” She paused, as if stunned by something. Her eyelids lowered, her long lashes sweeping against the tops of her cheeks.
“When did he pass?”
She looked up at me, swallowing. “Over ten years now.” She swallowed and took a sip of her wine before turning back to eat.
“You’re not driving home, are you?” I phrased it as a question, but after seeing her take even a sip of wine, I knew I wasn’t letting her get behind the wheel to drive anywhere.
“I took a Lyft here. I planned on catching one home.”
I nodded.
“So you grew up watching football. Is that why you became a cheerleader?”
“Oh my God!” She rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. “I still can’t believe Leslie showed you that picture.”
