Ariana smiled and understood Nicole’s meaning. “Are you waiting to see if I’m worth the trouble before you tell me about your family?”
Nicole scoffed and looked over at Ariana. “You wouldn’t be sitting here if I didn’t think you were worth it, Ari.”
Ariana grinned. “I was teasing, Nic. I’m at a bit of a disadvantage here.”
“What do you mean?”
“We’re not sure what this is and I don’t want to assume, so…” Ariana raised one shoulder.
“Ari,” Nicole said, looking into her eyes. “As you said, we have a connection and right now it is pulling us towards each other in a way I don’t think either of us wants to resist. I hopeyou like it here because this is where we’ll have to see each other. I’ll ask you again. Are you sure?”
Ariana’s answer was a tender kiss on Nicole’s soft lips. “I like your apartment, your roof, your doorman, your basketball knowledge, and being here with you. I’m all in, Nicole.”
“You are becoming an irresistible, seductive, sexy secret.”
“Sealed with a kiss.” Ariana pecked Nicole on the lips then turned back to the computer screen. “Okay, let me show you my latest move.”
Nicole chuckled as she pulled up Ariana’s last basketball game.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Nicole looked up from her computer screen and gazed into her parents’ backyard. She’d flown in that morning from Las Vegas and now sat at their kitchen island making notes about the upcoming game. They had always been supportive and knew her visits would also include work.
She’d chosen this particular spot to work from because she liked the view into the backyard as well as her parents' antics. Her dad piddled around the backyard with landscaping and her mom loved to volley suggestions his way while reading a book on the porch. Sometimes her dad would look at her mom and simply shake his head which made them both laugh. Neither of them walked by the other without a wink or a little touch. They said I love you with their actions as well as their words. Nicole hoped to have that someday with the right woman.
She smiled and chuckled to herself.The right woman.Maybe she’d ask Ariana what she thought that would look like.
Nicole took a deep breath as thoughts of Ariana meandered through her head. She wasn’t necessarily surprised when Ariana’s lips met hers on the roof two days ago, but whatfollowed was one of the best afternoons and evenings she’d spent in—well, she couldn’t remember when.
The sex had been amazing. Where there was sometimes awkwardness after being with someone new for the first time, she hadn’t felt any of that with Ariana. Their connection was undeniable, but what were they going to do with it? How could this be anything more than a casual fling?
Yet, nothing about this felt casual. This was downright dangerous for Nicole’s career. Which made her question why she was letting this happen. Nicole was always in control, aware of her surroundings, and how her daily life could affect her career. It had always been that way.
But now… Ariana had invaded her thoughts and, if Nicole wasn’t careful, her heart.
“Hey, honey,” Lori Neal said, walking in from the backyard. “I imagine you have a basketball game you’d like to watch this evening.”
Nicole tried to hide the smile on her face. She’d been planning to watch Ariana’s game using work as an excuse. “I do, but I can always pull up the replay later.”
Her mom shook her head. “I looked and New York is playing.” She glanced at the clock on the wall. “With the time difference the game will be starting soon.”
Nicole glanced at her phone where she’d sent a “good luck” text to Ariana not long ago. A smile played at the corners of her mouth as she imagined Ariana getting ready to play. She’d made slipping the note Nicole left her at Stuart’s bar in her sock a regular part of her pregame routine.
“My granddaughter informed me I should watch this game with you because her new favorite player is on the team. You can tell me all about her. Her words, not mine.”
Nicole laughed. Her ten-year-old niece had been playing basketball since she was six and loved the game almost as much as Nicole did. “Who is Livi’s new favorite player?”
“Let me think… Oh, Ariana is her first name.”
“Villa,” Archie Neal said, walking in from the backyard. “She’s the best point guard in the league.”
Nicole’s mouth gaped open in surprise. “Uh, o-okay,” she stammered.
“Do you know her?” Lori asked.
“Of course she does,” Archie said, looking at Nicole. “I heard you talking about how good she is when you called her last game.”
“I do know her,” Nicole said. “When did she become Livi’s favorite player?”
