“I’m only bangingmygirl.” Cain stalks over to her, abandoning the roses on her desk. Once he’s towering over her,he reaches down and effortlessly lifts her to her feet, cinching her against his body with his giant hand splayed against her lower back.
He peppers kisses all over her face—a sweet gesture for such a terrifying man.
“Fine. I guess I’ll give him another shot,” he says in between kisses, and Rosie smiles, knowing she’s won.
Then he cuts a glance in my direction. “But that little misunderstanding better be over because I amnotholding my fist back next time.”
“Heard it loud and clear, bossman.” I salute him, my smile now matching Rosie’s.
Next to me, King sinks onto the couch, crossing his ankle over his opposite knee. He gives my gift a shake before setting the box down on his lap.
“You going to open my present?” I ask, pushing myself up onto the couch to sit beside him.
“Maybe I should. Technically, the box isn’t addressed to anyone, just the flowers were,” he teases, elbowing me in the side. Another scary biker dude who’s really just a giant teddy bear.
“I’ll make you a deal,” I drawl. “The box is yours, but whatever’s inside, you have to embrace wholeheartedly.”
His eyebrows shoot upward. “Meaning what, exactly?”
Now Rosie and Cain are both watching curiously, still wrapped in each other's arms.
“If it’s a food item, you get to eat it. If it’s something fancy, like a watch or jewelry, you get to keep it.Butif it’s lingerie or something similar,youhave to wear it.Andyou have to model it for all of us.”
“Fuck that.” King groans and immediately hands me the box.
Rosie barks a laugh, teasing King to take me up on my offer as I pull the red satin bow, unraveling the pretty presentation,and lift the top. Anticipation flares as I pull apart the tissue, revealing a Bears jersey and a black envelope with my name on it in shiny silver marker.
Lifting the jersey, I grin. Turning it around, I smile so wide my cheeks instantly hurt. Gareth’s name and number are on the back.
He wants me to wear his jersey.
Gently, I place it back in the box, then rip open the envelope. In a masculine scrawl is a note from Gareth.
Trouble,
I’d much rather you be wearing my actual jersey, but since I am required to wear it on the field, this will have to do. I’ll see you later.
-Your Golden Boy
Whether presumptuous or confident, GarethknowsI’ll be there. My heart rate skyrockets, a mixture of nerves and excitement. When I look up, I see my friends staring back at me, waiting for me to say—well—anything.
“How did he know to have it delivered here?” Cain asks after a minute, breaking the silence.
I purse my lips, wondering that same thing. “I’m not scheduled today, so that’s a good question. Maybe they tried to deliver to my house but I wasn’t there, so they called him and he gave them the bar's address?”
“I doubt it.” Rosie scoffs. “That man is in love with you, girl. He knew you’d be here. I bet he knows your life better than you do.”
He did tell my brother he’d make sure I was safe.
“Maybe,” I say more to myself than anyone else. I glance at my phone, noting the time.
The game’s starting soon.
King's eyebrow raises in a silent question, like he wants to press me for more information but knows it’s not his place. It’s not like we’re friends, we’re just friendly. He doesn’t need to know the full story about me and my Golden Boy.
Plus, it’s still being written.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
