“But she said she’d already forgotten she was here,” I remind her.
She snorts. “I’d bet a hundred dollars, she’s already on the phone with her brother, the biggest gossip of them all. By midnight, every member of the Saints will know one of the NHL guys is fucking her boss. By tomorrow morning, half of New Orleans will be whispering about me sexing a hockey player on my back porch.” She sighs, worry clear in her eyes as she meets my gaze. “Looks like our fake relationship just went public. And not in the classy, subtle way I had planned.”
Maybe I should be panicking, or at the very least, concerned.
But all I can think is…good.
I don’t care if we’re launching with a bang…literally. I’m just happy to have an excuse to spend time with Charlotte—naked, clothed, and everything in between.
“Guess we’d better make the heat convincing then,” I say, grinning.
She shakes her head. “I think we were plenty convincing on that front. The sane and responsible part might be harder after this, though.” She shifts off me, both of us wincing at the separation.
“I’m not worried. Nothing crazy about sex in your own backyard,” I say, passing her my shirt to help with clean up.
She eyes it with an arched brow. “Are you sure? There’s…a lot.”
“Totally sure,” I say. “I’ll drive home without a shirt on. You’re a mess.”
Her lips twitch. “And who made me that way?”
“Me,” I say without hesitation, the primal, caveman part of me stupidly proud of the way I filled her. “Can’t help it. You’re too sexy, woman.Notcoming my brains out with you isn’t an option.”
“Speaking of brains,” she says, wiping between her legs before she stands, letting her dress fall around her thighs. “We should meet up tomorrow and talk strategy when our brains are in better shape.”
I stand, zipping up before taking my wadded shirt from her hand. “Sounds good. When and where?”
“Audubon Park, around three? We can meet by the coffee truck on the east side and take a walk?”
“Sounds good.” I nod toward the house. “I’ll stay until you’re locked in, then I should jet. Pretty sure I’m going to crash as soon as the adrenaline rush fades.”
She hums her agreement. “Me, too. It’s been a long night. Drive safe and…we’ll figure things out tomorrow, okay? Don’t worry.”
“I’m not. I promise,” I assure her again.
The moment she closes the door behind her, I turn, heading for the gate, already looking forward to tomorrow.
To walking in the park with Charlotte, and to whatever comes next.
My career still hangs by a thread. I’m still one incident away from losing everything. But for the first time since I punched that guy, I’m not just worried about consequences.
I’m excited about possibilities.
Even if they’re tangled up in a few too many lies for my liking.
But that’s all right.
We’ll play pretend…for now.
But if I have my way, we won’t be faking this for long.
Five
CHARLOTTE
I’m becoming a sex fiend.
That’s it. The only explanation as to why I’m exhausted, anxious about the gossip circulating so swiftly that my mother already texted me this morning, warning me to lock my garden gate for safety—a not-so-subtle confirmation that she’d heard what her only child was up to last night—and dreading my staff meeting on Monday, yet still…horny.
