15
JILLIE
“Give me a tour?” I ask Leo. He smiles and takes my hand to lead me back into the house.
When we get into the kitchen, there stands Ella and her minions. I frown.
“Are you still here?” I ask.
She gives me the evils. If looks could kill… “I was getting my purse. We’re on our way out.”
I don’t comment, just watch Ella, Sondra, Gianna, and Tawny—whom I’ve never spoken to before but hates me anyway—as they leave.
Leo looks down at me. “I’m sorry she did that to you. I should have known she was up to something.”
I shrug. “Not your fault, but I think you handled it pretty good. You dumped her on her ass.” I snicker.
It’s his turn to shrug. “I didn’t want her hanging on me. We’d already talked about that. She took it too far this time.” He reaches out and holds his hand to my cheek. “I won’t let her hurt you like that.”
Just his touch starts getting me riled up. Seeing the affection in his eyes, feeling it with his words, has my heart fluttering in my chest.
“Leo, what do you say we skip the tour and you show me your bedroom?” I suggest.
His brows raise. “Um, Jillie…”
I shake my head. “Show me.”
When he doesn’t move, I give him a little shove. Finally, he starts moving. We walk through a beautiful family room which I’ll definitely gawk at later, up two stairs, and down a long hallway. He points to the last door on the right. On his door is a big football cutout with his name and a bunch of tiny footballs.
“What are the tiny footballs for?” I ask.
“That’s how many touchdowns I’ve scored since sixth grade.”
“Are you serious?” My eyes bug out. “How many are on here?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know. Maybe fifty?” He guesses it and makes it sound like it’s no big deal.It’s a big deal!He’s awesome.
“Wow… you’re really,reallygood. I mean, I’ve seen you play so I know you are, but this… this tells a bigger story,” I say, touching the image reverently.
He shuffles his feet. “It’s not a big deal.”
I turn to him and peer up at him from beneath my eyelashes—not the sexy way we women tend to do, but in a serious get-your-head-out-of-your-ass way. “This is ahugedeal.”
He’s blushing. I want to pinch his cheeks for how cute he is right now… but I have much better plans in mind.
I open the door and it’s the typical guy room—only cleaner.
“Did you clean up for the party?”
He nods. “Yeah. Why?”
“I don’t know,” I tell him, looking around his space, learning about all that is Leo Beckett. “I was expecting dirty socks and underwear.”
He chuckles. “If you’d been here last night, you’d have not been disappointed.”
I laugh. “Trust me, I’m not now. I live with a Marine. I know what stinky dirty socks are all about.” I don’t realize what I’ve said until I’ve said it. To me, he’s still here. I can feel him in everything I do.
“I bet. I’ve got sneakers, your old man wore combat boots. Talk about some stinkers,” he teases.
