Page 102 of Love Lessons
“Oh, you’re cute, but I think you’re looking at this all wrong.” I dance, too, but I dance us toward the door.
“Ian!” She laughs. “We can’t just dance out of here.”
“Like hell, we can’t. Your tutor is still trying to teach you his ways, contessa. We can do whatever we want.”
She gives my chest a little shove. “You aren’t allowed to leave here without your suit jacket! I spent a lot of time and attention picking out just the right shade of dove-gray to complement your eyes.”
“Oh, well, if it complements my eyes. Why didn’t you say so?”
I lead her back toward the table, where my folks are having coffee. “Don’t you two look nice together,” my mother says. “Would you like coffee? I want to hear more about Vera’s job.”
“Later,” I say, grabbing my jacket off the chair. “We’re going back to the city. I have a team meeting tomorrow morning.”
“Ian, it’s rude to leave before—”
“No, it’s not,” I argue. “Jackie and Carson couldn’t be happier. It’s a beautiful wedding, and I did my bit. But I haven’t seen my girl in a few days, and my life is about to get very busy. So, if you’ll excuse us…”
My father stands up and offers Vera his hand. “Lovely to meet you. Perhaps Jillian and I can come into the city sometime soon for a game. We’ll have lunch beforehand. I can’t wait to see this house that Ian has bought.”
“Now that’s a plan,” I say, clapping my dad on the shoulder. “You’ll love the house. And it was Vera who found that lawyer to fix up the whatzit corporation, by the way. Be grateful.”
“Oh I am,” Dad says, winking at Vera. “I hope you took her out to a nice meal to show your gratitude.”
“Something like that.” I give Vera a hot look, and she blushes. “Later, folks.”
She says goodbye to my parents, and then I walk my girl outside.
* * *
“This is a sweet ride,”I remark as we snuggle up together on a leather seat at the very back of Neil’s slick car. “Although, I wouldn’t have guessed Neil had a stretch limo. He likes to fly under the radar.”
“This is his mother’s. They only borrow it for big parties. And, well…” Vera’s eyes sparkle. “It has sentimental value, apparently. Some shenanigans happened in this car.”
“Did they, now?” I hug her a little closer. And then I kiss her neck. Several times. Neck kisses are Vera’s kryptonite. She can’t keep her hands off me when I’m smoochin’ her throat.
“Ian,” she breathes.
“Yes?” I shift her into my lap, running a finger across the bustline of her killer dress.
“I need something,” she whispers, kissing my jaw.
“Do you, now?” I chuckle.
“Yes. I need you to tell me why you’ve been so upset this summer.”
“Oh baby, no. Make out first, talk later.” I kiss her shoulder and squeeze her tit.
She slides off my lap and crosses her arms. “Not so fast, big guy. I actually worry about you, whether you want me to or not.”
“Aw.” I steal a quick kiss. “I’ve been getting that from a lot of people. But you don’t have to worry anymore, because I’m dealin’ with it. I hurt a guy last season, and it messed with me.”
“Was it in a fight?” Her eyes are worried. “I worry about that, too.”
“You shouldn’t.” I wrap an arm around her again, because I can’t not touch her. “I’m probably going to fight less often going forward. Learned the hard way that it can screw with your head. This fight was different, though. It was like a perfect storm—all my issues making me crazy, and his collarbone in the wrong spot at the wrong time. I’ve been carrying a lot of guilt, and that was confusing.”
“Maybe there’s someone you could talk to,” she says softly. “Would you ever consider it?”
“I’m a step ahead of you, contessa. The team’s head shrinker and I spent some time together—with a few more dates to come in our very near future. Sports doctors are pretty great. They know how to talk to a hard head like me.”
