Page 61 of Force Play

It nearly does me in, but I call on Maryann’s words. This is my decision. Dom weighing in only adds more pressure that I don’t need. If I’m not going to let my best friend and father weigh in, I’m certainly not going to let him. So I tell him the only thing he needs to hear right now. “Nothing to worry about. All my annual tests came back okay.”

He doesn’t look convinced, so I cover my hands with his and lower my head so we are eye to eye. “I’m overwhelmed and my emotions got the best of me, but it’s good news.”

“Okay.” He releases a shaky exhale and then slowly lifts his hat from his head and pushes his shaggy, sweat soaked hair back, turning it around. Without the distraction of Maryann or my impending decision clouding things, I look at him, like really look . . . and holy shit.

If there was a moment I was going to break for this man, get down on my knees and beg for his dick like he keeps taunting me about, it would be now.

The holy grail of hotness is currently squatting in front of me in nothing but a pair of running shorts—the slutty kind with the little slit up the side that showcases his remarkably toned quads. The black ink of Aphrodite and her doves glistens in the sun. On its own the intricate ink is enough to make me dickdumb. It’s a potent mix with his backward hat, and covered in a sheen of sweat. Like the traitor she is, my pussy is cheering, pleading with me to make more reckless decisions.

“Did you find your coffee?”

Coffee. What’s coffee? The only thing I want is a tall drink of him.

He catches me looking and unleashes a wicked grin. Pleased, smug, lopsided—it’s catnip for my horny side. Shaking myself free from the dicktrancement, I sputter. “I did. I saved the rest for you. There’s still half of a pot.”

“Um . . . thanks. I’ll grab a cup to drink while I get ready. So listen . . . I have a thing this morning at a nonprofit. Want to come with? I can introduce you to some people. Cruz volunteers at Saving Paws a lot and I need to swing by before I head to the stadium later this morning.”

“Sure. I’ll never turn down wet kisses.” Later I’ll tell myself it was the backward hat and tanned muscles that made me agree so quickly, not the desire to spend more time with him.

“Oh, I know.”

“Gross.” Not gross.

“You didn’t think so last night.”

Nope, I definitely did not, but I’m not feeding his ego. Especially not when I just agreed to spend the morning with him. He’ll be absolutely insufferable.

Chapter 22

Dom

There’s two ways this thing can go. She’ll either be too distracted by the animals to notice my tiny, adorable manipulation and just soak up the experience. Or she’ll realize that I didn’t exactly give her the entire story about why we’re here and kick me square in the nuts.

Either way, it’ll be worth it. Probably. No, it will be, we both need the distraction after this morning. Her mouth told me everything is fine, but the state I found her in last night and again this morning makes me doubt how true that is. She might not be sick, but something is going on with her and I’m going to keep chipping away at those walls until she lets me in.

“Hey, Simone,” I greet the adoption director for Saving Paws when Indie and I step inside the lobby. Concrete floors with the shelter logo stamped in the center gleam under the overhead lights. Indie looks around the space, her smile wider than I’ve seen it recently. A reminder of why I’m risking life and limb by not telling her what brought us here today.

“You ready for this? Today’s the big day,” Simone says, standing from her desk and grabbing a folder.

Indie looks between us, her brow wrinkling as she tries to work out what’s happening.

“Simone, this is Indie Moreno. Indie, this is Simone. She’s the shelter director.”

“Nice to meet you.” She holds out her hand, glancing at me before smiling warmly at Simone.

“Shall we go grab Ronnie before we sign the paperwork? I’m sure she’ll be happy to see you.”

“Let’s do that. Indie, why don’t you tell Simone about the work you’re doing with some of the other nonprofits in the area?” I let my palm settle on her lower back as I guide her through the building, taking my time so she can keep up with her boot.

“What are we doing here?” she whispers.

“Right now, we’re making introductions.” Not a lie. I want Indie to focus on making a connection that can help make her dreams come true before I distract her with the real reason we’re here. Turning her smile on Simone, Indie launches into her pitch about how she wants to help nonprofits.

There’s a passion that I’ve only ever seen from her when she talks about her mom. Seeing my girl in action, I’m in awe of her. She’s poised and professional. Her ideas to help the shelter, even on the fly, are creative and well thought-out. It’s a new side of Indie and it only heightens the feelings I already have for her. I want to pull her closer and tell her how proud I am of her, but it will most likely make her run in the other direction.

“We should exchange information. The shelter could benefit from additional volunteers and the idea of co-hosting a volunteer fair sounds amazing,” Simone says, when we stop in front of a kennel with a boxer who immediately perks up at having visitors.

“Hey, Ronnie, girl,” I croon, stooping to her level. “It’s our big day.”

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