“Good. Be ready by six. We’re going on a date. Pack a bag.”
Her brows lifted, but she didn’t argue.
“Yes?”
She smiled. “Yes.”
“Good girl.”
Her breath hitched, and I kissed her again, one last time before heading out.
I glanced at Derek, the look on my face a clear warning. He met my eyes for a beat, then scurried away like a frightened little mouse.Good.
That night, I showed up at her place early.
Which was saying something, considering I’d left practice late, rushed through a post-game film review, and still managed to get across the city in record time.
I parked outside her building and waited by the door, shifting from foot to foot like a damn teenager on prom night.The streetlight above me flickered, casting amber light over the sidewalk.
Then the door opened, and I forgot how to breathe.
“Fuck.” Need saturated my voice. “You look…damn, Rylin.”
She was wearing a summer dress that hugged her like a second skin until it flared around mid-thigh. Pale blue, soft-looking, with a V-neck that showed off just enough cleavage to make me sweat, and a hemline that ended high enough to keep me guessing about what she was wearing—or not wearing—underneath. Her legs were bare, her skin glowing, and her dark, honey-colored hair was softly curled over her shoulders.
The fabric was a little worn, but it had clearly been cared for, so no one would notice unless they were inches from her. But she smiled nervously and fingered the hem of her dress, unsure. “Is this okay? I wasn’t sure. I don’t have anything really fancy.”
I took two steps forward and cupped her face in my hands. “You look incredible. Fucking edible.”
Her cheeks flushed, and she bit her lip. The smile that bloomed next was what I lived for—genuine and happy. The one who told me I was demolishing her walls.
“Oh! I forgot my purse.” She turned on her heel and vanished back inside.
I followed, taking one step inside the apartment.
It was a small studio with a couch and small end tables, a tiny kitchen, and a nook with a bed and cubbies that sectioned off what I was sure was her space from the rest of the place. Most of the apartment was cozy, but clean.
There were touches of her everywhere.
She rounded the cubbies with her purse and stopped short when she saw me looking around. Her eyes were wide, swimming with mortification.
“Um...I know it’s not much. It’s pretty much the size of your closet. The maintenance guy was supposed to paint, but…”
“Baby, I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth. You think I always lived in a penthouse?” I stalked over to her and dropped my arm onto her shoulders, steering her toward the door. “The place Raiden and I shared in college would make this place look like a penthouse. It was falling apart. The ceiling leaked, the air-conditioning units frequently went on the fritz, and Raiden swore we had a ghost living in the crawl space.”
Her shoulders relaxed, and she giggled.
“This is cozy.”
Her eyes twinkled, but she gave me a look that said she thought I was ridiculous. I just laughed and guided her out to the car.
When we reached the restaurant, the hostess lit up like a Christmas tree when she saw me but didn’t say a word. Which was why I liked this place. Low-key. No bullshit. The owners were very strict with their employees when it came to interactions with famous people.
We were seated in a corner booth, intimate and out of the way. Rylin was across from me, and I watched the way her fingers moved as her hand brushed the edge of her menu. The nervous flick of her gaze. The pretty pink stain on her cheeks.
“So.” I leaned in. “I have to admit, I’m a little rusty.”
“Rusty?”
