Page 54 of The Keeper

“That might be the worst toast I’ve heard,” Victoria giggled. “And it includes the drunken mess of a toast my cousin delivered at his sister’s wedding.”

“I’m just being my authentic self.” Cade looked solemn then doubled over in laughter. “That’s such bollocks.” He slung his arm over his date, Emma’s, shoulders. She couldn’t be any older than twenty-five, which for Cade, was very much on brand. She batted her lashes and laughed at everything he said. He liked them to be, at a minimum, ten years younger.

“When will your overgrown man-child friend realize he looks like he’s out with his little sister, and not a date?” Victoria’s warm breath tickled my ear with her question.

My only response was to drag my hand higher up on her thigh and squeeze harder.

She leaned closer and whispered, “I know what you’re doing, you mildly hot menace.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Mmhmm.”

“Should I stop?”

“I haven’t decided yet.”

I grinned, sliding my fingers under the hem of her dress.

“If you two plan to shag at the table, can you at least wait until after dessert? The sticky toffee pudding here is supposed to be top notch.”

Folding my hands on the table with great reluctance, I scowled at my friend. Gallagher knew what buttons to push to rile me up and as much as I wanted to rake him over the coals, I didn’t want to ruin this night with Victoria.

“Cat got your tongue, Maddox?” Cade goaded me on.

“Knock it off you two,” Bennet warned. “I’m not babysitting you lot tonight.”

Hannah and Victoria shared a glance across the table. I wondered what, if anything, they’d discussed after disappearing in the elevator. Kissing her in front of everyone was an impulse. I regret nothing and would do it again right now.

No, you won’t, you knobhead. Repeat after me, BE A GENTLEMAN.

Cade shrugged and turned his attention back to his date, who continued giggling at everything he said. Bennet resumed his conversation with Hannah, which left me to focus on the only person I wanted to talk to anyway. Victoria sipped on her wine, doing a slow once over with her eyes, drinking in every inch of me. Before I had the chance to put my hand back where it belonged on her thigh, she held it.

“No more mildly hot menace?” I questioned.

“Not right now.” She turned my palm up, running her nail along my skin, then the pad of her finger. The sensation was light, fleeting, and the most powerful thing I’ve ever felt.

“You have nice hands,” she said with a cheeky smile, “that don’t miss.”

When she looked up at me through her lashes it took a mountain of restraint for me not to lay her across this table and claim all of her in front of the entire restaurant. Especially looking the way she does right now, like a fuckable treat wrapped in a blue dress that’s tight in all the right places. Sky-high heels. Auburn hair in loose waves. Pouty lips drenched in a dark red shine.

“They’ve missed on occasion,” I confessed. “Ask anyone who watched the final a few years ago. I still get yelled at on the street.”

“Fans are so fickle.” She chuckled. “We lost a playoff game my third year with the Legends. It was on a missed field goal. Our kicker hit the upright. It made the fun doink noise and everything. To this day, fans bring it up. Especially on social media.”

I frowned. “I feel bad for the bloke who missed.”

“Yeah, well, he’s kicked quite a few winning field goals since then so don’t feel too bad for him.”

“All’s forgiven then,” I grinned. “I’m curious. How did you make the leap from Dartmouth to American football? I would have assumed you’d be running a boardroom at a bank somewhere.”

“Victoria,” Hannah leaned in, grabbing her attention before she could answer. “Sorry to interrupt. The fundraiser next weekend is all set. I just got an email from the event coordinator. Did you want some of the proceeds to go to your sister’s charity? I’m sorry to have to ask now but they’re finalizing everything and need an answer by six today. And with the time difference and everything…”

“That would be lovely, thanks,” Victoria responded with a fond smile. “Is Noah behind this?”

“He is.” She grinned. “I’ll let them know.”

Noah? Who the fuck is Noah? Ex-boyfriend? Lover? Friend with benefits?

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