Page 4 of Make the Play

And no, thehimI’m referring to is not my brother. Knox Beckett has been my crush since I first laid eyes on him when I was eighteen years old. He had just been drafted to the Rampage, and my brother decided he was taking the new quarterback, or QB, as he called it, under his wing. Landry claimed they were destined to be best friends since, one, they played together in college—Landry’s two years older than Knox—and two, the quarterback and the wide receiver have to be best friends. It’s football law.

Landry Reynolds’s philosophy, ladies and gentlemen.

“Those five are fine as hell,” Sloane replies. “I wouldn’t say no to any of them. Well, I would tell Knox no, because he’s yours, but the other four… come to momma,” she says, taking a sip of her drink.

“I think it’s time to cut you off,” I tell her, barely holding in my laughter. I’ve missed my best friend. “And yuck, not my brother.” I pretend to gag. Landry is a great-looking guy. Even as his sister, I can admit that, but I do not want to think about my best friend and my brother. Hell, I don’t want to think about my brother with anyone. I shiver at the thought.

I’m aware that makes me a hypocrite because Knox is Landry’s best friend, but I’m telling you, I would not kick that man out of my bed.

“He’s purty,” Sloane says with a cackle.

I sigh. “He is. They all are.”

“So, you’re back. You finally going to make your move?”

“What?” I whip my head around to look at her. “No, I’m not going to make my move. I have no move. This is Knox Beckett we’re talking about. The number one-ranked quarterback in the professional league. There are no moves. That man can snap his fingers and have any woman he wants.”

“So, snap your fingers.” Sloane shrugs.

“Okay.” I hold my hand in the air and snap my fingers. “See, nothing happened.”

“You working on your magic, Corie girl?” a deep voice asks from behind me.

I know that voice. My eyes widen, which makes Sloane laugh. “Nope,” I say, not bothering to turn to look at him.

Knox steps up beside me and places his hand on the small of my back, just as he did earlier, and I have to fight the urge to melt into his touch. “You need something?” he asks. His lips are close to my ear, and I can feel his hot breath fan across my cheek.

“Oh, she needs something all right.” Sloane smirks.

“All set,” I tell him. I hate to do it, but I step away from his touch and move to sit on the empty lounge chair. Sloane and I have just been standing here chatting and catching up, but with Knox this close, I’m going to need to sit before I do something crazy, like lean into him. I can only imagine how well that would go over with Landry.

“Why are you ladies over here all by yourselves?” Knox asks, taking a sip from the bottle of lemonade in his hand.

“Just catching up.” I smile at him, hoping that it doesn’t show that my heart is racing like a wind turbine because he’s over here talking to us.

Sure, I’ve talked to him on several occasions, but it’s just Sloane and me in this little corner of the yard, by the pool. All the guys are over by the fire pit. He had to seek us out, and that information makes my little heart kick into overdrive.

“Are you checking up on us, Knox Beckett?” Sloane teases.

I’m glaring at her because that sounded flirty, but she keeps her eyes on him. I’m certain if I stare hard enough, she’ll be able to feel it.

“Nah, Landry wants to play Name That Tune. I told him I’d come over and see if you two wanted to join us.” His eyes shift to me, and I feel my face heat.

“Oh, you know my girl never loses that one,” Sloane says.

“Yeah? You like music?” Knox asks me.

I nod. “It’s kind of my thing.”

“Really, well, that’s interesting. It’s kind of my thing, too.” He winks, and it’s embarrassing what the simple move does to my body.

Sweaty palms.

Racing pulse.

Wet bikini bottoms, and I have not been in the pool.

“We’re so in,” Sloane says. She turns on her heel and skips off toward the fire.

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