Page 37 of Offsides Attraction

“You know, Maggie is pretty good at this stuff. She might be able to help.” The only magical area where Mediocre Maggie excelled at was in healing. With a concentrated touch of her hand, she could ease bruises and heal cuts and burns. Applying Thistlestone honey made any deep cut disappear within a day, leaving no visible marks behind.

He lifted her chin to meet his eyes. He’d changed into his glasses. Penny preferred his Clark Kent look with his joggers and glasses over his Superman look in his body hugging uniform with all its padding and protective gear. “You’re really okay with your sister having her hands on me?” His bright eyes pierced her.

No! Her visceral response shocked her, but she could be an adult about this. “If it helped, I could be,” she said, shrugging nonchalantly.

The corner of his mouth ticked up at the movement. “You, Penny Buchanan, are a terrible actor, but luckily an excellent kisser. Stick with your strengths,” he said as his lips brushed hers.

I can do that, she thought as her hands roamed his solid chest and back. There wasn’t a soft spot on him, and Penny appreciated every glorious inch and the hard work he’d endured to achieve such perfection.

He eased back as his hand slipped into his pocket, before turning his head and breaking their kiss. “You’re looking at your phone?”

“Lucas texted to say Cal just left, and I set an alarm for ten minutes. That should get you safely out of here before he gets back.”

“You don’t want him to know about us?”

“I’d prefer to keep the peace. He’s barely able to handle the idea of Lucas and Maggie. If he knows about this,”—his hand wagged between the two of them—“his head would explode.”

“And what is this?” She wanted to know how he labeled them.

“Good. This is very, very good.” His lips brushed the corners of hers, intent on picking up where they’d let off, but Penny leaned away. Her heart wanted an answer. He sighed heavily and leaned his forehead against hers. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know? You know obscure odd facts and can fix a car. You know the percentage of people hurt in ladder accidents, but you don’t know how you feel about me?”

He raked his hand through his hair. “I know you’re special. I know I like the way I feel when I’m around you, even when you’re irritating the shit out of me, like you are now. Does that help?”

“Such sweet words.” Penny slipped her arms into her coat.

He reached for her, and his fingers wrapped around hers. “Don’t leave mad. This is unfamiliar territory for me.”

“You’re thirty years old. How can this be new?” She wasn’t giving him a free pass on this one. No matter how awkward he felt with other people, he needed to be open with her.

“I went to an all-boys private elementary and middle school. When I started high school, football was my focus. Same thing in college. I didn’t date. I’ve taken women out, sure, but nothing’s ever developed from it. My life has been football interspersed with the family business. Dating and women haven’t been high on the list. Until you.” Penny felt a rush of excitement as her breath caught and her fingers tingled. She felt a glimmer of his emotions, but they weren’t positive.

“Tell me about the family business.”

“I’d rather not. I can think of better things to do with,”—he looked at his phone on the counter—“six minutes left.” She sensed dark colors and dissonance between what he wanted and what his future held. He’s obviously not running a candy business in the future. Maybe an auto dealership, or five? Bash came from wealth, and he wore it easily.

“I can, too.” Her palm flattened on his chest, eager to sense more, but she lost it. Blank. The negative energy around him dissipated, leaving her with nothing. She sighed. “What do you like about the family business?” she asked, needing to sense more.

“Not much other than it’s in New York.”

“You love it there, don’t you?”

“Best city on the planet.”

“I can’t imagine ever leaving Cascade City. Everyone I love is here.” And my power comes from here. “And I love working with Elspeth and books. What does your family make?” she asked, hoping to trick him into giving her an answer.

“Headaches, which you’re also giving me. We’ve got four minutes left, and I’d like to spend them kissing you.”

“What happened to the man who needed conversation?” she teased, as her fingers rubbed the short hairs at his nape.

“That man is leaving for a few days. He can call and text you, but he can’t touch you like he can now.” His hand wrapped around her waist and his fingers were warm as they brushed under her sweater. Penny couldn’t resist. She craved him as much as he craved her. Their lips teased and tasted, and Penny regretted wasting their time talking. The phone’s alarm rang, and Bash fumbled for it, not breaking their kiss.

Penny stepped back. “I should go.” She reached for her jacket and this time he didn’t stop her.

“I should tell Cal about us.” Her hand froze, and she looked at him. Bash looked adorably nervous. “I’m not sure what us is, and we don’t need to label it, but we shouldn’t need to sneak around. We like each other—”

“We do?” she teased.

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