Page 16 of Tempting the Player
“Just getting in a quick run. You?”
“Same,” I say cheerily.
His gaze drops from my eyes and lowers, but he catches himself quickly.
“Cool.” He puts his ear bud back in and starts to step around me.
I take off after him and fall into step on his right. “We’re having a party tomorrow night.”
He says nothing, but gives a brief nod to acknowledge he heard me.
“You should come.” Man, he’s fast. My legs are long enough to keep up with his, but he’s quick.
“To a party at your house?” He keeps moving, but glances over at me. He pauses and I run ahead of him. I stop, but then realize he’s just coming up on the other side of me.
“Yep. Tomorrow night.”
He finds that quick pace again. We’ve already run farther than I planned.
“So, will you come?”
“My brother has a basketball game.”
Oh, well, crap. I hadn’t accounted for him having plans. Also, I’m starting to get a cramp.
“How many brothers do you have?”
“Three,” he says. “No, four. Brogan isn’t related by blood, but he’s like a brother.”
“He and Archer do seem like they’re attached at the hip. My roommate Dahlia is dating one of their teammates, Felix Walters, so I’ve run into them quite a bit at parties. Such a crazy coincidence that you’re their brother.”
He grunts his agreement. This is not going great. He hasn’t even chanced another look at my chest.
“Well, what about after the game? The party probably won’t really get going until ten or so.”
We’re approaching an intersection and I’m looking forward to a short reprieve to catch my breath, except the light changes just as we get there, and Hendrick starts across. Why do people do this for fun? Every breath feels like fire.
“Do you run often?” he asks as I pant for air.
“Oh yeah, totally.” I move behind him while we pass a group of people walking in the opposite direction.
“Right,” he says, and then slows his pace a little.
“So will you come after your brother’s game?” I ask again.
“Sorry. Parties aren’t really my scene anymore.”
“Oh, come on.” I push at his very hard shoulder. “It’s going to be so much fun. We’re getting a ton of beer and liquor, even some champagne. And we’ve basically invited the entire campus. All the hockey, basketball, and football players will be there thanks to my roommates, and my buddy Eric and his band are going to play. It’s going to be the best party of the year.”
“Your house can’t hold the entire campus.”
“I know.” I smile broadly. “It’s going to be crammed full of drunk people. Drinking and dancing, pushing and shoving, people making out in the corners. God, I love college.”
His brows tug together. “You should be careful.”
I snort a laugh that’s not very attractive, thinking he’s kidding. He’s not. “Your brother is right. You’re not very fun.”
“No, I’m not.” His jaw tightens and a little muscle flexes in his cheek.
