Page 37 of Run the Play
Knox:Don’t talk like that to my wife.
Corie:I’m sweating like a whore in church. It’s a mix of the heat and the stress of the higher-ups not knowing.
Reid:Mrs. Beckett!
Baker:Mr. Beckett, the Mrs. is cooler than you are.
Sloane:What he said.
Laughing, I slide my phone back into my pocket. After standing from the table, I toss our trash into a nearby can and offer Rowan my hand. “Time to put your game face on, girlfriend.”
“We’re going to do this?”
“No turning back now.”
She nods, stands from her seat, takes my hand, allowing me to lace our fingers together, and we set off to find our friends.
Chapter Ten
Rowan
Landry’s hand is tightly wrapped around mine as he leads us across the field to where our group is standing and talking. I can feel all eyes on us, but I don’t turn to look. I keep my gaze straight ahead.
Landry slows his gait and, with his hand still wrapped around mine, pulls me to his chest and wraps his other arm around me. To the onlooker, it’s an intimate embrace, but for me, it’s him calming me down.
“We’ve got this, Roe, I promise. Once this is over, we’ll talk more about limits, but I’m going to touch you like you’re mine. That’s the only way people are going to believe us. Is that okay with you? Is there anything that’s… triggering?” he asks.
His voice is soft, and the sincerity in his tone brings tears to my eyes, but I blink them away. “I don’t know,” I whisper into his neck, but I know he can hear me. “There’s been no one since Chaz.”
“Okay. Then we’ll have to learn together. I never want to hurt you or make you feel uncomfortable. I know your trust has beenbroken, so you need to talk to me. No matter how big or small, if it makes you uncomfortable, I need to be aware of it. We’re in this together.”
“Why are you doing this? This isn’t your fight, Landry.”
“Of course it is. You’re one of us, and this is what family does. I know that’s new for you as well, but the trust will come with time. Just remember to talk to me. No matter what.”
“I can do that,” I tell him, and he nods. A slow, dare I say, sexy smile tugs at his lips.
“Good. Now, is this okay? Holding you? Holding your hand?”
“Yes.”
“What about kissing?”
“You want to kiss me?” I lift my head, tilting it back so I can look up at him.
“Baby, I can guarantee you every man in this stadium right now wants to kiss you. Well, not Knox, all he can see is my sister, but yeah, the others, you can bet your ass they’ve thought about it.”
“But do you want to kiss me? Will that be okay with you?” I don’t know why I’m focusing on this, and I guess I’m still floored he’s even offered to do this for me. Chaz was never big on public displays unless it was a situation that benefited him. Once we moved to Los Angeles, all affection stopped. I’m an idiot for staying as long as I did.
Keeping our hands locked together, he lifts the other and palms my cheek. “Yeah, Roe, I want to kiss you.” He leans in and licks his lips.
Closing my eyes, I wait for his lips to connect to mine, but they never do. Instead, I feel them press against my forehead.
“Not like this,” he murmurs.
Before I can ask him what that means, he’s pulling away, and with our hands still laced together, we continue walking towhere our friends are standing in a circle, I’m sure watching us with interest.
“Hey, you two.” Corie smiles brightly.
