Page 18 of The Keeper

“It’s been known to happen.”

“Of course,” I chuckled. “It all makes sense now. The over-confident flirting. The random women throwing themselves at you. I was right about you being a professional athlete.” I looked up at him through my lashes and grinned.

“I’m assuming you work for one of these American football teams.” He spread his arms over the back of the couch. “What do you do there?”

“You figured that out all on your own?” My sarcasm has zero filter. His eyebrow quirked up and he pinned an intense stare on me. I liked this stare. It looked like he wanted to ravage me. I crossed my legs and continued, “I’m the media relations director for the New York Legends.”

“So you spend a lot of time putting up with guys like me.”

“I excel at it.”

“I don’t doubt that.” He angled toward me and reclined on his elbow. “Okay, city princess, let me see if I have you figured out yet.”

“You think I’m that easy to read?”

He stroked his lip for a second. “You spend all your days around alpha males who happen to be professional athletes. And you love it.” He smirked. “You’re ambitious and well-educated. I suspect you went to Harvard or Princeton. You have a cozy flat in Manhattan. You’re just as comfortable at one of these cocktail parties in your designer outfit as you are at a pub. How am I doing so far?”

I smiled. “That’s yet to be determined.”

“Ah. Okay, shall I continue?”

“Yes, please.”

Apparently those two little words affected him. His pupils dilated and he inhaled a long breath. I made a mental note.

“You definitely break way too many hearts without realizing it. And,” his voice lowered, “you want me to kiss you again. How did I do?”

I opened my mouth say something, anything, but nothing came out. Getting him out of my system a couple nights ago was easy since I operated under the impression I’d never see him again. This? This would be a challenge.

“Not bad.”

“And the part about me kissing you again?” He looked down for a beat then looked back at me with a grin. “My lap is still available if you need it.”

A vivid mental image of sitting in his lap crept into every corner of my mind. I’m not going to lie. Straddling him right now would be amazing. I suddenly wanted to feel his hands on me. Kiss his grin and tear his shirt open and…

I exhaled.

Instead, I replied, “I’m going to have to deny your request.”

“A flat out denial?” He let out a low whistle. “Harsh.”

“Nah. I’m sure there are plenty of things you’d deny me if given the chance.”

“Doubt it,” he muttered. “So if this event wasn’t the annoying situation that brought you here, what is?”

Even though my lips continued to tingle from our brief, searing kiss, I chose to remain guarded. Flirting with him was one thing. Divulging more than he needed to know was another.

“I don’t think it would interest you.”

“Try me.”

“When’s your next soccer game?” I smirked, knowing he’d probably correct me again.

“You’re deflecting. Answer my question.”

“Maybe I don’t want to answer it,” I shot back.

“I think you do.”

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