Page 36 of The Keeper

“Hmm.” He nodded, sliding his hands in his pockets.

“Cade actually grew up around here,” he said. “Me too. My family lives a couple towns over. We played together in youth football. There’s a pitch not too far from here.”

He moved to one of the couches and lifted the sheet. This one wasn’t gold or amber or any hue of that color, thank goodness. It was navy blue. A smile flirted with his lips as he removed the rest of the sheet and sat.

“Join me,” he requested, patting the cushion.

“A break already? At this rate, we’ll never finish the tour.”

“Why the rush?” A lazy smile curled his mouth. “Sit with me.”

He rested his head on the back of the couch and rubbed his hand on the cushion. Why was everything he did so damn seductive?

“Five minutes and then we either continue this tour or we leave.” My weak attempt at putting boundaries up fell flat. We both knew I wanted to sit with him.

“Sir, yes, sir.” He mock saluted me. “Now come here so I can talk to you.”

I gave in because of course I’d give in. Plus, I liked his huffy little order. I sat on the far end of the sofa to guarantee some space between us. Sitting in his lap had been a challenge. This breathing room was necessary.

He looked amused. “You’re so far away. Afraid I’ll bite or something?”

It was the way he said or something that hit several of my hot buttons.

“I don’t need to be on you for us to talk.”

“How about,” he licked his lips, “if I promise to be a gentleman. A real one this time. No funny business. Will you sit closer then?”

I noticed his cherry-picked phrasing. A real one this time.

This time.

Like there would be other times in the future. He rolled his head to face me and folded his hands in his lap as if to say See? Real gentleman right here.

I answered by sliding closer. Close enough for whatever it was he wanted to talk about but far enough so our legs and arms didn’t touch. Satisfied, he rolled his head back and grinned.

Of course being this close fractured my already fragile control. And then there was his scent and the way his jeans hugged his muscular thighs. I blinked, turning my attention elsewhere. Too bad there wasn’t anything else worth looking at in here.

“So, um,” I stammered, “you’ve known Cade for a long time?”

“Since we were twelve. Like I said, we played youth football together for ages. Then we both signed with Royal City when we were eighteen. Pretty much grew up together.”

“Wow. And you’d play around here?”

His head rolled toward me again. “Quite a bit.” He smiled. “Maybe we met way back then without even realizing it.”

“I think I’d remember you.”

His smile grew wider. “I know I’d remember you. Pity. Would have been fun meeting little Victoria.”

“Was little Xavier just as cocky and insufferably snobbish as grown Xavier?”

His throaty laugh filled the room, bringing some semblance of life back into it. “Yeah, he was. I learned everything I know from him.”

My turn to laugh. “Oh my God. You sound so proud.”

“You seem to like him.” His heated stare made my cheeks flush, which then caused his breathing to stagger. So much cause and effect in our little game. I sure hope he didn’t think I missed it when he splayed his hands out on his thighs. Or angled his shoulder ever so slightly toward me.

“Maybe,” I conceded.

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