Page 112 of Tempting the Player
“But boyfriend has a better ring to it, so I think I’ll call you that. Hi, boyfriend.”
His lips pull into a real, honest to God smile. “Hi, girlfriend.”
I close my eyes as he drops another kiss to my lips. My insides buzz with happiness.
“I get it now,” I confess.
“Get what?”
“Why, at the end of the night, couples always sneak off together like they can’t wait another minute to be alone.”
“Is that your way of saying you missed me?”
“Yeah. I guess it is.”
“I missed you too.” His teeth graze along my collarbone.
I roll my head back as he trails kisses all over my neck and down to my chest.
“Hey, girlfriend?” His deep voice rumbles next to my ear.
“Yeah?”
He lifts my champagne to his lips and takes a sip before passing it to me. “Would you mind taking this dress off now, so I don’t rip your birthday gift? I need to be inside you.”
Something I am more than happy to accommodate.
37
JANE
The following weekend,Daisy, Violet, Dahlia and I all find ourselves free on a Friday night. The hockey and basketball teams have away games, Felix is out with the football guys, and Hendrick went to watch Flynn play baseball. One sporting season ended and baby Holland jumped right into another.
“The house smells like a locker room,” I tell them. The girls laugh as I wave my hands around dramatically. They’ve been firing questions at me about living with Hendrick and his brothers. “And bacon. I swear Knox fries a pound of bacon every day. He puts it in everything, even green beans.”
“You must not mind the smell too much,” Vi says pointedly. “Because you two never stay here.”
“No, I don’t mind at all. It’s different, and obviously I miss being here with you guys, but it’s fun to experience a big family dynamic like that. It’s loud and messy, but so full of life. And I really love seeing how they all interact. One minute they’re annoyed and yelling at each other, and the next they’re laughing like nothing happened. You should see Hendrick with Flynn. He’s such a good big brother. It makes my ovaries swoon. Me, the girl who doesn’t want kids until I’m at least thirty.” I sigh.
The girls are quiet as they stare at me with matching expressions like they’re fighting back laughter.
“What?”
“You have it so bad.” Daisy tosses a throw pillow at me. We erupt into giggles, but then Violet silences us with a gasp. “Oh, oh, oh. It’s my favorite part.”
A hush falls over the room as we turn to stare at the TV. We’re watchingPride and Prejudicefor the millionth time. The Keira Knightley version. The four of us all have our favorite moments. I love the ball at the beginning where Elizabeth and Darcy meet for the first time, Daisy loves the moment when Darcy helps Elizabeth off the carriage, Dahlia enjoys the end where Darcy crosses the field, and Vi loves the scene we’re watching now where Darcy confesses his love to Elizabeth in the rain and she tells him he’s the last man she would ever marry.
When it’s over, we fall right back into conversation.
“He has it bad for you, too,” Dahlia says.
“You think?” I ask. He’s said as much, not in those exact words, but there’s something about my friends’ opinions that make it feel more real.
“Definitely.” Daisy nods. “The way—”
A knock at the front door interrupts her. We all share a confused look.
“Who could that be?” Vi asks. She looks to Dahlia, then grins. “Ten bucks says it’s a tipsy Felix.”
