Page 56 of On Merit Alone
“There’s not much you can misunderstand about a kiss,” I said. “And now that you said yours are good luck… well, I’m gonna need one of those.”
“Ira...” My name fell off her lips in a soft, stunned, cautious way. And damn did she look cute, all flustered and big-eyed.
She didn't look away from me. Didn’t back away, not even as I took another step forward, bringing us toe to toe. Dipping my head, I got in her line of sight. I could smell her this close up—clean like laundry and something else. Citrus? No, maybe sage again. Whatever it was, it brought me the rest of the way to her. Luring me, just as much as her slightly parted lips did.
Her surprised eyes bounced around my face for answers, but her body did not retreat. Only when I was close enough that our next move would determine what happened—close enough that if someone were to bump me or if we were to lose balance, we would crash into each other’s mouths—did she find her voice again. Confusion mixing in with the distinct sound of… excitement?
“Ira?” she asked again in a whisper.
Noise from somewhere down the hall caused the woman in front of me to jerk, so lost in whatever she was thinking as she stared at me that the sound of voices jolted her out of some sort of trance. I was still lost in the trance of her, though. Still lost in her face and her smiles and this damn smell that I was sure would drive me crazy. I was lost enough that as she jolted, rocking backward in sheer surprise, I caught her by the waist and pulled her closer to me, descending my mouth the rest of the way down.
Beside her ear, I whispered, “It was a joke, Six. When I kiss you, it’ll be for more than just good luck. It’s for keeps.”
Pulling away, I let my eyes wander down her stunned face in full appreciation of the effect I had on her. Then, in a movement I hadn’t quite planned, I reached up and twirled her hair. “See you around, Six.”
I walked away to the subtle sounds of my annoying friends shouting, “Let’s go, superstars! Quit making eyes in the tunnel!”
Chapter Seventeen
Merit
My eyes flickered upwardat movement above my screen. Tucked away in the back of our bus as we made our way back to the Nashville airport after a road win, I was enjoying my rare moment of downtime before I had to be “on” again.
Usually, I liked to be present in these times. Listening out for conversations around the bus, joining in at the outskirts of the celebration after a big win, or simply sitting and observing my team and the way they interacted with one another. Sometimes I wished I could be a part of it too but I knew I had a place on this bus and it was not in the midst of the togetherness. I was a mediator and a protector. If there was a problem, I would handle it. If we were lacking, I would steer us in the right direction. But to truly participate would be to fully belong. And I’m not sure I fully belonged anywhere.
Most of the time I was happy enough observing from the sidelines, soaking in what cheerfulness and joy I could from around me. But today I was tired. While we had won pretty decisively it had been another one of those exhausting games and we had an exhausting night of travel ahead of us. It was already dark outsidethe bus windows. The occasional streetlight or the whir of cars passing us was the only lively activity in the night. We were still too far from the airport to start packing up, and too deep into our drive to still be amped up from our win. So in a rare moment of true peace on trips like these, I’d slipped on my headphones and fired up some videos I’d been meaning to catch up on.
I was just watching as a floppy eared puppy bounded his way around the corner of his owner's living room with a toy the size of him in his mouth, when I noticed those eyes watching me.
And now they were joined by another’s.
“Um. Hi?” I said as I clicked my tablet closed. Pressing the large thing flat against my chest I inclined my chin to both the women. “What’s up guys?”
Both Emily and Charlie glanced at each other before turning their curious eyes to me.
“So, Cap…” Charlie started. Making her eyes go wide, I guess she thought I was supposed to know what that meant, because she didn’t elaborate further.
“Yes?” I asked.
“Well…” Emily offered, and again nothing else.
I blinked.
They blinked.
My nose wrinkled.
They mirrored me.
“What’s going on?” I finally asked.
Instantly, they popped up. Elbows going over the back of the seat they occupied in front of me. Charlie took the lead. “So what’s going on with you and King?”
The wrinkle in my nose just got deeper. I was halfway through my eye roll, moving to lean back in my seat, when Emily shot forward—her hand coming around my wrists in a soft hold. “No! Don’t blow us off please! We’resocurious, Mer.”
I scoffed, blinking at them with sheer incredulity. “What is wrong with you two?”
“Withus?” Emily snorted. “Come on, you can’t honestly believe anyone is buying this ‘friends’ farce. What’s wrong withyouis the more apt question?”
