She chuckles. “I haven’t been since our names were written on two pieces of paper.”
“You can tell the sheriff to take a hike.”
“I think he got the clue that I’m sleeping with a possessive billionaire.”
“Possessive billionaireboyfriend,” I correct her.
“Ooh, boyfriend,” she counters and fails to hide her laugh; therefore, I tickle her side.
Why is this conversation flowing so easily? We’re playful yet serious, and my body is relaxed.
“I don’t want to hide you,” I say.
Her long finger taps my mouth. “You told your mother about me.”
I blow her finger away. “Don’t make a big deal about it.” I roll my eyes and grin because it’s completely the opposite.
“Yes, sir.”
I come up to sitting so we’re eye to eye, our bodies tight together with the sheet still wrapped around her. “I don’t want to hide you,” I repeat.
Her smile fades, but she seems content as her head gently tips to the side. “You know what that means.”
“Yeah, I do,” I confirm.
“When do we tell him?”
“Next time I’m in town. I have to head back to the city later, and I think Ford requires a bit more of a thought-out process.”
“Okay.”
We hold one another, with our eyes set and our smiles mirroring one another.
“Good, now let me take you the way a boyfriend should.” I slap her ass and tilt my body up.
“You act like it’s your first time doing that.” She flashes her eyes at me.
I groan from how she has the ability to tease me.
Yet again, I flip us so she is caged underneath me. “You’re right. But you’re the first one that matters,” I tell her sincerely. Because I care for her, I see more than just now with her, but it’s too cloudy to define what our future holds. Her eyes pierce mine with recognition and affection. “I want you, and I will give you more. I can’t make promises, but I can’t let you go just yet. You get that, right?”
Her hand comes up to touch my cheek in that way that always instantly gives me warmth and lights something in my chest. “I know.”
It’s a few long seconds of staring, with the glimmer of fondness apparent in our eyes.
“Now let’s figure out a way to untangle you from this sheet, it’s in the way.”
She squeals in delight as my hands begin to roam, while we both ignore the fact that maybe we should think this through more.
22
DECLAN
Pacing my living room, I look out onto the lake on this sunny summer day. My cell phone is to one ear while I listen to my assistant list what is on the agenda for the week ahead, mostly media opportunities as we begin to gear up for the new season.
“I need you to make sure the team dinner is moved here to Lake Spark. I want both veterans and current players to meet here in the area. We need to set the team up for a new mindset and focus. The coaching staff should be there too, all team staff really. Oh, and make sure I meet with the head coach and general manager in the next week; it’s time to set out what I expect and warn him of what happens if he doesn’t deliver.”
Glancing over my shoulder, I see Violet sitting on the sofa, leaning over to buckle the clasp of her shoe around her ankle. Violet notices that I’m watching and flashes me a sexy smirk.
