Page 66 of The Sweetest Risk

Two Weeks Later

“Here’s to making it to the playoffs, y’all!” Jageilski says as the entire team raises their shot glasses in the air. He is already so far gone that he found my cowboy hat in my closet and decided to put it on for the evening. He thinks he is a real Texan now, even though he is the most Canadian out of all of us Canadians on the team. “Oh and to Lawson hosting us tonight. Cheers!”

“Cheers,” I say before I take a shot of tequila. That’s the third shot I’ve had tonight. I want to celebrate with my teammates, but they have also been a distraction for me. I can’t stop thinking about my girl. She is like an addiction. I crave her more andmore after each time I am with her. She said she was on her way about thirty minutes ago. I know it doesn’t take that long to drive over to my house from her apartment. My stomach is in knots not having her in my arms, but I know we have to be on our best behavior tonight since Bradley is here.

I feel arms wrap around my waist. What is Brooke doing? This is a little much if we are trying to keep things a secret still. Maybe she decided that the charade of us not being together is over. Thank God because I can’t wait to kiss her anytime I want to.

When I look down at my waist, I don’t recognize the arms hugging me tightly. I pull them off me and turn around.

It’s Alison.

“Alison.” I force myself to smile. I don’t want to be a dick but I told her that whatever was going on between us, which was basically booty calls, was over the night she showed up unannounced while Brooke was taking care of me.

I guess I wasn’t clear enough.

“I haven’t heard from you in a while, Tristan.”

“I’ve been really busy. You know, playoffs are right around the corner and I need to stay focused on my game. I don’t have time for any extra curricular activity at the moment.” I repeat the same thing I told her that night. Little does she know that the person I would love to spend all of my spare time with hasn’t shown up yet.

I am getting nervous now. There is supposed to be a pretty bad storm tonight and although Brooke doesn’t live far from me, there are stupid drivers out there who seriously don’t know how to drive in the rain.

“Well, you’ve worked really hard. And you’ve made it to the playoffs. How about we go upstairs so you can blow off some steam and relax.” She steps toward me and places her hand on my chest. My body has absolutely no reaction.

“As nice as that offer is, Alison, I am actually not single anymore. I’m seeing someone right now.” I didn’t break any rules. I never mentioned Brooke’s name, even though I want to shout it from the fucking rooftops.

Her hand finally leaves my chest and she looks disappointed. “I thought you didn’t do relationships.”

Somehow, over the loud music playing, I hear my front door close and my dogs run over with their tails wagging enthusiastically. The nervous knots in my stomach start unraveling as I take in the woman walking into my house. Brooke slowly walks through the foyer in a kelly green dress and black heels, and of course she is wearing a green knotted headband. She has a bottle of my favorite whiskey in her hand and she starts scanning the room.

There’s my girl.

I look back down at Alison and say, “Well, I guess a guy can change. If you’ll excuse me, Alison, there is a guest I must go see and welcome into my house.”

I roll up my sleeves and adjust my watch as I walk over to the woman who has become my daylight. Every single aspect of Brooke lights up my life and now that I have been exposed to both the sassy and sweet sides of her, I want to tell the world that she is mine.

I nod and say obligatory “heys” to the other guests until I finally reach her. She gives me a coy look and does a cute little spin in her pretty green dress. I am down bad for this woman.

I glance over at Bradley, who is canoodling with his bride-to-be, to ensure we are in the clear. Brooke holds out the bottle of amber liquid. “Congratulations, Hot Shot. You made it. Are you happy? Oh and did you notice that I wore a green dress to support you all.” My favorite smile spreads across her face.

My stomach flips and my craving for her completely takes over my body. I lean in to whisper, “Thank you for the whiskey.Now, be a good girl and meet me upstairs, Cupcake. I’ll be there in a minute.”

I take the bottle of whiskey from her hand and back away from her. Her breathing quickens and her cheeks become pinker than they already were. Her equally pink lips part and her pupils are dilated. “Okay,” she finally whispers. She also looks over at Bradley to ensure he didn’t see her walk in. Once she realizes that she’s in the clear, she makes her way upstairs. Her green dress is dangerously swaying back and forth against the back of her thighs.

I quickly put the whiskey in my liquor cabinet and make my way upstairs.

When I enter my room, Brooke is looking out my window down at my backyard, which is full of party guests. I shut the door behind me and lock it. I come up behind her and wrap my arms around her waist. She rests her head on my chest and places her hands on my forearms, locking them into their position. I bury my face in her neck and start giving her a trail of kisses. The faint smell of coconut is invigorating and my tongue touches her hot skin.

She laughs. “Do you like your present, Hot Shot?”

I pull her away from my window, turn her around, and back her into a wall. I graze my fingers along her jawline and then her bottom lip. Her hands grasp my shirt against my lower back and she pulls my body closer to hers so that every available surface of our bodies are touching each other.

“If my present is you, then yes.”

I place one hand on her lower back and hug her tight and my other hand takes hold of her chin. She raises herself on her tiptoes and her mouth catches mine and her hands reach up onto my shoulders. I can feel goosebumps cover Brooke’s body as my hand leaves her jaw and traces down her side before squeezing her ass. She whimpers against my mouth and hungrilygoes back in for more. Her hands are now clutching onto my hair, forcing my mouth to never leave hers. Fine by me.

Thunder claps and it starts to pour outside. My house lights flicker and I hear faint gasps and small screams coming from downstairs.

Brooke finally breaks our kiss and the words coming out of her mouth buzz all over my skin as she whispers against my lips, “Should we head back downstairs?” Her lips return to mine sending an electric current down the rest of my body. “Your guests may need their host if the power goes out.” I feel the heat of her body peel slowly away from mine.

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