“Don’t listen to her. You’re fucking hot.”
That night freshman year hits me like a ton of bricks, and yeah, he can like me all he wants.
From over there.
Because no matter how stunning Dawson is, that’s not happening.
He’d chew me up, spit me out, and then walk away like he didn’t ruin me for the male species.
I have dated men like him, and I won’t ever make that mistake again.
No matter how pretty the wrapping is, I know what’s underneath.
I saw firsthand how he treats women.
I bring my gaze to his approaching father and shake Jayden’s outstretched hand. “Mr. Sinclair, it’s great to see you again.”
“Ambrosia,” he says on a sigh, his eyes crinkling at the sides as he smiles. Gosh, I bet mytíawould eat up Dawson and then eat up his dad. Then probably Louis.
Such a scary thought.
“I’ve told you before, call me Jayden.” I give him a tight smile, hating that I feel so keyed up. It has nothing to do with the fact that I can still feel Dawson’s gaze on me and everything to do with my nerves about sitting down with the Sinclair powerhouses.
I want them to be my next episode. I mean, come on—rivals on the ice turned lovers? That’s fucking gold right there. They are at the top of my list, and before I came to this meeting, a former Assassins great, Jordie Thomas, emailed me back, confirming that he and his wife would love to sit down with me.
I am friends with his daughter, Ella Mae. I use the termfriendloosely since it’s not like we’re hanging out, but we do support each other’s businesses. We chitchat, but I don’t go out or do anything with her. I’m too much of a homebody for that. But Ella? She’s a wild one. She has an awesome hockey-themed coffee shop that I go to daily, and when I started including her coffees in my promos on Instagram, she asked to be a sponsor. So, maybe we’re not friends, but we are business comrades.
Anyway, her dad has been very open about his alcoholism, and he says the reason he’s stayed sober and excelled is because of his wife, Kacey. That her love and support is hiswhy.
That God gave her to him to save him.
I mean…swoon.
And now we all wonder why I don’t have a boyfriend.
Boys don’t come close to the men I know.
“And I’ve told you to call me Ro.”
Jayden beams, his smile kind. “You’re right. I apologize, Ro.”
“As do I, Jayden.”
We share a smile, and he winks as Baylor leans into him. “We can meet in one of the meeting rooms since we tend to fight over whose office to use.”
Jayden gives her a side-eye. “Because you know my office is better.”
“No. I have the best views and the best chairs.”
“I have snacks and a couch.”
They face off, and I grin. “So I see the rivalry is still very strong between you two.”
That has them both beaming back at me. Jayden cuddles her to his side, and Baylor fits perfectly into him. Before he can say anything, though, another voice joins us. “It’s their foreplay.”
Jesus, why is his voice so sexy?
And why do I feel each of his words so deep in my gut that my thighs press together of their own accord?
