Page 165 of Skate the Line

“Your truck?” I’m shocked. “You trust me enough to drive the second love of your life?”

The first being Ellie, of course.

I suspect some type of humorous response or a glint of amusement in his green eyes, but instead, I get the serious version of him. He walks away for a second and comes back to the kitchen with his keys in hand. “I trustyou.” He reaches across the island. “I thought I made that clear.”

He lifts his palm, revealing the keys. Before I can pull them toward me, he traps my hand there. A spark jolts me.

“Don’t wreck it,” he warns. “And you’ll have to wait for me after the game so we can leave together. I’ll have one of the guys pick me up while you take Ellie to school this morning.”

The heat from our hands touching rushes to my cheeks.

Rhodes observes me, and when he smirks, I know he knows.

Last night didn’t get him out of my system.

Not even in the slightest.

As soon as he lifts his hand, I back away with his keys pressed against my chest.

I can’t get away from him fast enough.

He looks disappointed but pleased at the same time.

I can’t help but say something.

“Stop looking at me like that,” I demand.

“Like what, Sunshine?” He glances at Ellie through the opening in the kitchen.

“Like you’re thinking about last night,” I say quietly.

Those green eyes darken, and I lose my confidence. “Of course I’m thinking of last night,” he admits. His palms lay flat on the counter, and he drops his head. “You’re going to have to be the reasonable one.”

My phone vibrates against the counter, but I can’t be bothered to look at it. “The reasonable one?”

He flicks his gaze to me, and my heart flips. “You’re going to have to tell me no when I come begging.” A swallow moves against his neck, his Adam's apple catching my attention. The veins on his arms start to bulge like he’s already having a hard time holding himself back.

It should scare me.

But it entices me.

His gaze lazily makes its way down my body, and butterflies fill my stomach. “Because trust me, Sunshine.” He pins me with a dark look. “I will come begging.”

My mouth parts, and he notices. He curses in Russian—something I recognize now—and turns to stalk toward Ellie.

This is messy.

I’m the one who has to keep it together?

How the hell am I supposed to do that?

I sigh and glance at my phone with dirty thoughts continuing to dance inside my head.

But as soon as I see an unfamiliar text, they disappear.

The grip on my phone grows heavy. I reread the message on the screen and grow nauseated.

Unknown: Is this Ally Edwards?

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