Page 80 of Hart Breaker

“Where’s Lily?” she asks.

I glance at him just in time to see his smile droop, but just for a second. “She’s with Lindsey.”

“Does Aunt Lindsey know the pretty girl?” she asks, pointing to Riley, who’s walking toward us.

She’s wearing a dark brown hoodie that crosses low in the front so it’s virtually open. Underneath is a tight black tank top, with black leggings and little brown boots. Her jewelry is brass or gold. She has staple pieces—seven bangled bracelets on her wrist, along with at least one hair tie, sometimes two, and her long chain with a cross. She also wears hoop earrings—the size varies. Her sunglasses are either black or brown; today, they’re brown. I watch as she pulls them down to cover her eyes as she walks toward us, crossing her arms and rubbing her biceps.

“You cold?” I ask, wishing I had a jacket to take off and drape over her shoulders.

“Little bit,” she admits.

“And this is Riley Brooks. Riley, this is Max, Mila, and Saylor Steel,” Boone says as I move behind her and wrap her up.

“Nice to meet you all.” She laughs awkwardly.

“Guessing you’re Hart’s girl?” Max holds out his hand to her.

I’m not pissed, but I definitely feel a bit annoyed when she steps ahead, breaking our connection to shake his hand.

“Something you know before even Roman does.”

Mila smiles. “Aw, new love.”

“You ready for all that comes with dating a pro athlete?” Max asks.

“It’s actually not new,” I begin.

“She’s immune,” Boone steps in. “Her family owns part of the Knights.”

“Nice.” Max nods and looks at me. “Linda taking bets on which of you three will get married first? Who will give her that first grandbaby?”

“She makes it a competition, and it’ll be us.” I grip Riley’s hip.

She looks over her shoulder at me and doesn’t say anything.

“Too much?” I ask.

She shakes her head and looks back at them.

Mila laughs. “If he’s anything like this one”—she throws her thumb over her shoulder at Max—“you haven’t got a chance.”

“It was love at first filthy note passed in high school.” Max winks at her.

“For me, it was more the board shorts, baseball pants, and dimples,” Mila interjects and looks at Riley. “Football uniform?”

“It was …” She pauses.

This may be too much too soon for her, so I step in to help her out. “Riley announced me at the draft, and then said, ‘Welcome to the family.’ Obviously, I took that to heart. Had to be patient with this one, though.”

She pushes her glasses back onto her head, turns, and looks at me, eyes narrowed, and then she turns to them. “That’s the version we’ll tell the team so none of those fools gets it in their fool heads it’s a green flag to try to hook one of my girls. Reality?” She throws her thumb over her shoulder at me. “He didn’t even remember it was me who?—”

“In my defense,” I cut her off, “I was lucky to remember my name at that time.”

She shakes her head. “Short version: a few too many drinks after a bad day, I used the men’s room because the lady’s room lines were always too long.”

“Isn’t that the truth?” Mila agrees.

“I walked out, and there he was.” She looks at Saylor then back at Mila. “Skipping ahead, he didn’t recognize me after that. I gave my ex a second chance.”

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