Page 123 of False Play
“I’m here for a few more days. We should go have dinner. My treat,” Mr. Anderson said casually.
My God, this man was the textbook definition of a psychopath. The way he so easily went from a full-on villain to this was genuinely concerning.
Henry shook his head with a bitter laugh. “No, thanks.”
Mr. Anderson nodded, and as he walked toward the exit,he turned around and walked backward, shooting me a wink that sent shivers down my spine—and not the good kind.
As soon as the door closed, Henry was all over me. He cradled my cheeks between his calloused hands as he scanned my whole face with a concerned frown. “You okay?”
No. I desperately needed my inhaler, but I didn’t want to do it in front of Henry. I didn’t want to remind him how far from perfect I was.
I couldn’t answer right away. But after a few silent beats, I cleared my throat and managed to give him a simple smile. “Yeah.”
“Why didn’t you call me?”
“I was about to, he’d only been here for a few minutes.”
“Did he say anything to you?”
“No,” I blurted. “We were just talking about the season. You know how retired hockey players are. That’s the only small talk they can handle.” I forced a laugh.
Was lying to him a mistake? Most likely. But how exactly was I supposed to say, “Yeah, so, your dad threatened me to make me break up with you. But hey, welcome home and congrats on making the playoffs!”
It was Henry’s first night back, and I refused to let his father taint it. He’d already done enough damage. I would figure something out. I’d taken care of myself my whole life, and I could do it again.
This isn’t about just you anymore, my brain all but screamed.You have Henry to think about. A relationship to take into consideration. This doesn’t only affect you.
THIRTY-FIVE
HENRY
THE ONE.
“You’re goingto be the death of me,” I said, almost breathless, when Kennedy stepped out of her room in a sleeveless light-pink dress, with a slit high enough to make my pulse spike and my cock twitch against my tuxedo pants.
“Is it too much?” she asked, eyes flicking down to the slit, a hint of worry in her tone.
“I’m obsessed with your fucking legs,” I said without hesitation. “If it were up to me, I’d ask you to wear a mini dress so I can admire them all night long.” I chuckled then leaned in and pressed a kiss to her lips, doing my best to hold back a groan at the familiar taste of her strawberry lip gloss. My hand slid down to her exposed thigh, fingers gliding over soft skin as I slowly traced up and down. “You look so goddamn beautiful, baby.”
She looped her arms around my shoulders, her smile small and a little bashful. Her eyes darted away for half a second, like she was flustered. The sight pulled a genuine smile out of me. “Thanks.” She scrunched her nose in the way I lovedso much when her gaze settled on my bow tie. “I can’t believe you’re wearing a pink bow tie.”
I grinned. “And it matches your dress perfectly. Weird, right?”
Her eyes did a full, dramatic roll. “Yeah.Sooooweird,” she drawled. “It’s not like Itotallymissed Valentina holding up bow ties to my dress the day we picked them up.”
“I told her to be subtle.”
“Subtle is not Valentina García’s MO,” she deadpanned.
“It’s the thought that counts,” I quipped.
“Yeah,” she whispered. “Thank you for always thinking of everything.” Her eyes shone brightly.
I brushed her cheek with my thumb, giving her a pointed look. “What did I say about thanking me for the bare minimum?”
“For you,everythingis the bare minimum.”
I winked. “Glad you’re catching up.”
