Page 68 of The Red-Hot Stakes

We walked over so he could introduce me to the boys. They all stared at me, wide-eyed and full of wonder.

The oldest said, “I’ve never seen a girl in a dress play football before.”

“Wanna see me throw one?”

He nodded eagerly, tossing it to me, then he stepped away. But only a few steps.

I shook my head. “You’d better back up more than that.” I waved him out until he was a good distance away then launched a decent spiral right to his chest. I turned to find Liam staring intently at me. “What? Never seen a girl in a dress throw a football before?”

“You keep surprising me, Red.” He trailed a hand down my bare arm, leaving goosebumps in its wake. “Sorry, boys. But we gotta go.” He offered to throw one more amidst their protests, then we left, stopping to say goodbye to his parents and sister.

Back in the car, he didn’t start the engine right away, and I turned just as he reached over to crush my mouth to his, cupping the back of my head and gripping my shoulder with his other hand.

“The things you do to me, Gina.” He swallowed, letting go and sitting back against his seat. “I sure wish we didn’t have to go to this dinner.”

The fierce kiss left me breathless, shock and delight coursing through me. Who knew throwing a football could be such a turn on?

The drive was a quiet one. We pulled into the parking lot of Maria’s, the restaurant owned by Derek’s friend, Bin. Derek and Avery were already at a table. I sat down, Liam striding right by to go to the restroom.

“Hey, guys,” I said, opening the menu.

They both smiled, and Derek asked, “Liam said you had a stop to make before coming here. What’d you end up doing?”

“Oh. He took me to a get-together at his parents’.” I focused on the menu, then realized several moments had passed and Derek hadn’t responded. I glanced up, his shocked expression identical to the one I’d seen all night as I’d been introduced at the party. I sighed. “Evidently, it’s a big deal.”

“It’s so much more than that, G. Liam introduced a girl to his parents before his football career ended, and that’s the last one he brought home.” He paused, his gaze heavy. “This is huge.”

I shifted in my seat, uncomfortable with such a big responsibility being shoved on me. “Oh.”

Avery was quick to pick up on my feelings, giving me an out. “How’d it go?”

I lifted a shoulder. “Fine. His parents are really nice, and I got to meet his older sister, Rayna. She’s a sweetie.” The pressure inside me threatened to choke the air out of my lungs, but I forced myself to breathe.

Liam sat next to me. “Then she won over the nephews by intercepting a pass, dressed like that.”

Derek’s eyebrows shot up. “You play football?”

Mouth twitching, Liam said, “Well, she kind of ruined the effect by asking where the goal was.”

Everyone chuckled, laughing even harder when I glared.

Liam slung an arm behind my chair. “I think Aiden almost fell over when she threw him a perfect spiral.”

Avery reached across the table, fist extended, and I bumped mine into hers.

Derek just shook his head. “And you made it to dinner on time? I would’ve had Avery on her back—”

Avery shoved her elbow into Derek’s side, hard enough to cut him off. “That’s enough of that, Captain.”

“Yes, Cupcake.” The heated look he shot her was anything but obedient.

Liam’s lips tickled my ear. “You’ll just have to make it up to me later.”

I turned to him, desire coursing through me. “We’ll see about that.”

“Yeah, we will.”

When the server came for our orders, I got a mai tai, wanting alcohol after Derek’s revelation about the enormity of Liam bringing me home. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. Somehow it was bigger than calling his apartment home, bigger even than saying I love you.

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