Page 50 of Against The Rules

“I don’t,” she says, and my heart hurts to hear it. “I don’t think less of you at all. I think they don’t understand that they’re hurting your feelings. At least, I hope they don’t.”

I pause, narrowing my eyes, waiting for her to address the elephant between us.

She clears her throat. “As for the wedding… we were drunk. But that doesn’t mean… What I’m trying to say is that I do like you. I like… kissing you.”

“So be my girlfriend.”

“Nobody pays their girlfriend.” Her arms cross over her chest, and I try not to notice what it does to her boobs.

And fail.

“We’ve already established you’re not just my girlfriend. Plenty of husbands help their wives financially. Plenty of spouses help their spouses,” I correct myself, trying not to sound like a misogynist prick.

She sighs, and it’s a heavy sound. “It’s not that easy anymore, and you know it.”

I’m not giving up.

I’ve never been a fucking quitter, or I wouldn’t have made it to play pro ball, even if it is with one of the worst teams in the league. I have all season to prove myself to recruiters for better teams, and I know I can do it.

I’ll prove myself to this woman, too, because I’ll be damned if I let her slip through my fingers.

I like her too much.

“I like you,” I tell her, surprising us both. A laugh I can only describe as giddy comes out. I swallow, trying to be more serious. “I… care about you. I want to help you with your business, like we agreed on. I also… want you to be my girlfriend.”

“It won’t ever be normal between us.”

“What do you mean?”

“I can’t go out with you. I can’t be seen with you. We can’t hang out in public.”

“Because of cheer?”

“Right. What happens if you get traded? What happens to me then?”

A slow, slightly evil smiles curves one corner of my mouth. “It sounds like you’ve thought about this already.”

A frustrated huff blows her cheeks out, and she’s so damn cute I resist laughing, because I know her well enough now to know that would piss her off worse. I don’t want to piss her off, even if she is adorable right now.

“That’s not an answer.”

“Why do I have to have all the answers?” I shrug. “I’ve never had a girlfriend. I figured we could take it one day at a time. Do you want me? Do you like being with me?”

A long exhalation, then her attention is back on me. “I do.”

“You don’t have to make it sound like it’s the worst thing in the world.” I grab her hand, walking with her back to the house, where I very much plan on finishing our grand tour with a long stop in my bed.

“Of course it’s not,” she says, and that sweet humor is back in her words. “It’s just… this isn’t going to be an easy road.”

“Peaches, if I wanted easy, I wouldn’t have done any of the things I’ve accomplished in my life.” My sincerity catches me off guard. “Life’s a lot more fun with a challenge. But I have feeling this… us? This is going to be the easy part.”

“It’s just everything else,” she says slowly.

I catch her up in my arms, planting another huge kiss on her lips. God, I could do that all day. All fucking day.

“Then let’s just worry about us right now.” I smooth a hand down the thick curve of her muscled ass. “And the fact that you came over to my house… without wearing underwear.”

“You told me not to!” She laughs, and I continue tugging her back down the path.

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