Page 57 of Keeper
“Nutty, Booker! Always so forgetful,” Poppy sings, rolling her wine glass between her hands and eyeing Sidney speculatively. “You guys see a lot of each other then?”
Sidney leans her head on my shoulder and it makes me fidgety. “Booker likes to take me to his charity events and football functions. It’s nice to have areal friendalong for those obligations that can otherwise be rather dull.”
Poppy sneers, “How lovely that you guys are so close that you can save him like that.”
“Poppy—” I begin to explain, but Sidney cuts me off.
“How long have you two been together?” She points between Andrew and Poppy.
“It’s new,” Andrew answers in his dumb Scottish lilt, snaking a possessive arm around Poppy’s waist. “But it seems promising. I get tae watch her gym sesh nearly every day, so there’s no much of her I dinnae ken.” He growls and playfully nips at Poppy’s shoulder.
It makes Poppy giggle.
I hate him. I want him gone.
“You think ogling at her like a peeping Tom as she runs on a treadmill equates to knowing her?” My voice is deep and authoritative as my posture straightens.
“Booker—” Poppy snaps, but Andrew holds a hand up to her.
“Shhh,” he says to Poppy. “I got this.”
“Don’t tell her to be quiet,” I growl through clenched teeth.
“Dinnae worry aboot her, mate!” he exclaims, moving away from the table to come at me.
I step forward just as Camden barrels in between us and throws his arm around my shoulder. “Booker! We need you for a family photo!” His voice is jovial, but I’m still seeing fucking red.
Andrew huffs out a laugh as I am all but dragged away by my brother.
“OW!”ANDREW WHINES ASI pull him into the tunnel out of the bright stadium lights. “Fuck me, ye got a lethal grip. Remind me tae have ye show me yer arm regimen at the gym next week.”
“Andrew!” I snap. “You need to cool your tits, all right. What were you going to do there? Get in a fight with Booker?”
He smiles and shakes his head. “I wasnae going tae fight him. I just have tae alpha dog him a bit.”
“What are you going on about?”
“It’s simple. He’s been a beta with ye yer entire lives. He wants ye, but he’s too bloody soft tae dae anything aboot it. He needs something tae catapult him tae alpha dog status. Trust me, I ken how tae get a lad tae pee on yer leg.”
I close my eyes and exhale heavily, pinching the bridge of my nose. “This cannot turn into a fist fight. These are good people. They don’t deserve this kind of drama or the silly games I’m playing.” My voice cracks at the end and tears fill my eyes. “I’m fucking spent over all of this.”
Andrew’s brown eyes morph from charged to soft as he steps closer to me, rubbing his hands up and down my arms in slow, soothing strokes. “Poppet, stop feeling so guilty. Ye told me this wis all Belle’s idea tae begin with. I’m sorry I went a little over the top. I guess I’m still a bit cross over what ye told me he did with that vile Sidney cunt by yer old fort.”
I groan. “But you were right. I can’t hold a grudge against him for something he did seven years ago!”
His face turns grave. “No, but ye can stop acting like the second choice lass because yer no. I’m no kidding. Yer no just beautiful. Yer special. Yer interesting. Ye inspire loyalty. And ye have killer glutes.” He winks. “Sidney is all surface. Her arse is probably artificially plumped. Booker doesnae want her.”
“He brought her!” I exclaim, thrusting my hand toward the pitch.
“That doesnae mean anything. Look, ye brought me and I’m certain yer no trying to shag me tonight.” He looks off to the side, but I can’t bring myself to turn toward what he’s watching. The happy family of Harrises taking photos together is simply too much. This entire night is too much.
With a sneaky sort of smile, Andrew leans into me and whispers, “Dae ye trust me?”
“What?” I ask as his hands slide up to my face. “What are you doing?”
“Trust me and, for the love of God, dinnae fight me on this or those Harris Brothers will put my baws in a blender,” he murmurs and then presses his mouth against mine.
I gasp in surprise, but my body relaxes when he begins reassuringly stroking my cheeks while he kisses me. Quite honestly, it feels nice. Affection. Warmth. It makes me feel wanted again after a week of insecurely trying to get Booker to want me. Andrew doesn’t open his mouth to ravage me. He simply turns his head and moves his lips against mine like a sweet embrace.
