Page 21 of Tempting the Player
I’m still staring at her when she steps up to the table, attention focused on the game. Though you wouldn’t know it. She moves her hips, dancing and quietly singing along with the music. If I didn’t know she was performing with a purpose, I’d never guess it. She’s electric.
My brother is putty in her hands when she goes around the table and pulls him into dancing with her.
“No distracting my teammate,” Brogan says, but she wins him over just as easily.
Then it’s just me playing. “I’m gonna take your turn,” I say to Jane.
“Sure, that’s fine,” she calls, and Archer and Brogan are too busy to understand what’s happening.
I sink both balls. All they do is pick up the cups and drink while they continue to dance. They don’t have a care in the world. I miss that feeling.
They sandwich her, Brogan behind her and Archer in front. My brother looks happy. I’m glad for that. Arch didn’t always have the easiest time fitting in after his hearing loss. Kids were assholes about it, and I know he felt self-conscious, no matter how much he tried not to show it. When I went off to college, he’d mostly adjusted. The hearing aids help, he learned to lip read and navigate social situations, and stopped worrying so much about what other people thought.
I think Brogan is to thank for a lot of that, too. He has this way of making life easier for him while never making Arch feel like he’s being coddled. Anyway, it’s nice to see this side of my brother. He’s out partying and having fun like any other guy his age. And his friends and teammates seem to have his back. It’s one small stress off my shoulders.
Jane is part of that. I’ve only seen her interact with him a little, but I know she’s another person that has made his life better, and I could never tell her how thankful I am.
She catches my gaze for a quick second, sending me a sultry smile before she resumes her distraction tactics.
The three of them are all smiles, flirting and having fun. I’m not even convinced she remembers the purpose of the plan anymore. The way she looks at my brother, and the wayhelooks back at her, has my pulse ticking faster.
I toss another ball at their remaining full cups. This one bounces off the rim and toward Archer’s back. He doesn’t even notice as the ball keeps on going past him.
“Are we still playing or are we dancing?” I grit out loud enough Jane and Brogan can hear me, trying (and failing) not to sound like a grumpy fuck.
“Chiiiill.” Brogan is the first to pull away. He nudges Archer and motions with his head toward the table to pull him back to the game.
Reluctantly, my brother returns his focus to playing beer pong. He assesses the table like he’s remembering where we were, then looks up. “You should see your face. You’re awfully worked up over a game, Henny.”
His lips pull into a smug grin, and I hate the way he can see through me right now. Family is like that, always reading past the bullshit the rest of the world brushes off. He knows why I’m anxious to get back to playing the game. I’m surprised he doesn’t go back to dancing with Jane to make his point.
“The other ball bounced behind you,” I say instead of acknowledging his last comment.
He nods and turns to find the ball.
Jane takes her place by my side. She’s still wearing that flirty smile except now it’s aimed at me. “How’d I do?”
Cheeks pink, hair a little messy, body relaxed, voice breathy. Fuck me, I cannot be digging this girl. Not now. Not ever. And not because she and Archer might be into each other. At least not just for that reason.
“Great,” I say in a tone that is far too tight and clipped to sound like I mean it. Her smile dims slightly.
I glance away from her and get my shit together, then force myself to look back at her. She’s staring straight ahead and not at the asshole next to her (me). Reaching out, I circle her delicate wrist with my fingers. Her warm skin sends heat coursing through me. “Sorry. You did great. But I only sunk two out of three. They’re still ahead.”
“Two more than I would have gotten.” She still moves slightly to the beat. “Want me to go back over there?”
Definitely not. I shake my head slowly. “Nah. I have a better idea.”
Her eyes light up. “You do?”
I lean over and whisper the plan in her ear, all the while trying not to think too hard about the way my body reacts to having her so close or the way I’ve started to associate that coconut and vanilla scent with her.
“Really?” she asks as she pulls back. “That’ll work?”
“Oh yeah. Trust me.”
“I do.” Her voice softens on the two words, and I add ignoring the way her trust makes my stomach twist to the list of things I’m stopping myself from feeling.
8
