Page 58 of Tempting the Player
He shifts closer and regards me seriously. Those hazel eyes meet mine with such sincerity that it makes my pulse race. “If you’re waiting for me to say I’m sorry that I took the job or that I deceived you, then you should know right now that I’m not. I’m sorry that you were hurt in the process, but the more time I’ve spent with you, the happier I am I took the job. And yeah, we have a connection. I’m not denying that. You’re beautiful and kind. You’re fun and charismatic. Following you around doesn’t feel like a job at all. But itismy job, Jane.” He reaches forward and lets his knuckles graze my cheek, then his thumb drags along my bottom lip.
I think I stop breathing until his hand falls away.
I reach for it and bring it onto my knee. His fingers splay out over my skin with those rough edges. I explore, running the pads of my fingers over the veins in his hands and then turn it over to check out the coarse palm I’m so fascinated with. His hands are strong and worn, and I love how they feel against my skin.
He lets me take my time like this is a perfectly normal encounter between two people who have already agreed that nothing can happen between them. Though to be fair, nothing about my life or any of my interactions with Hendrick feels normal anymore.
I set his hand back on my knee and bring the nail polish brush down over his middle finger, painting it lime green to match my toes.
“So now what?” I ask as I blow on it lightly. When I look up, his expression makes me shiver.
“Well, for tonight, I should go home and let you go to sleep,” he says gruffly.
“You just got here.”
“We have lots of time to get to know each other. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Okay.” My heart climbs up into my throat as his hand slips off my knee and he stands. It’s on the tip of my tongue to beg him to stay, ask him to reconsider our whole situation. I could get Grady back here to keep me safe, and then Hendrick wouldn’t have any reason not to act on this thing between us.
But without this job, would he even stay in Valley or would it be on to the next job? Suddenly keeping him here feels more important than kissing him. Even though I really,reallywant to kiss him.
“Text me if you need anything.” He smiles. “And answer your phone when I call.”
“Yes, sir.” I salute him with a playful smirk, then get up to walk him out.
I follow him down the stairs. He waves to Dahlia and Felix, who are still in the living room watching a movie, then crosses to the front door. He opens it and steps out before looking back at me. “Night, Jane.”
I watch him walk to his truck before shutting the door, then I press my back against it, let my head fall back with a thump, close my eyes, and groan.
“Everything okay?” Dahlia asks.
When I open my eyes, they’re both smiling at me, and the TV is paused. “Why does he have to be so damn hot?”
They laugh and I go over to the couch and take a seat next to Dahlia. She scoots away from Felix to wrap her arms around me.
“What am I gonna do?” I never did tell him about the email, but I feel like we came to an understanding tonight and it was nice to talk and get to know each other a little better.
“I don’t know, babe.”
“I’m so glad I have you.” I tilt my head and rest it on her shoulder.
“Always. You always have me.”
19
HENDRICK
“I’m really over the rain,”Jane says as she steps out of the music building. She pauses to open her umbrella before continuing toward her next class.
I’m about fifty yards away, standing under an overhang of a building across from her. “It’s supposed to clear up before your afternoon class.”
When she gets within about ten feet of me, I step out to meet her. She holds the umbrella out so it blocks some of the rain from landing on my hat and shoulders.
“Heading home now?” I ask.
“Actually, I was hoping we could grab lunch at University Hall.”
I glance over to catch her biting the corner of her lip with an almost nervous smile. “Sure.”
