Page 72 of A Whole New Play

She nods. “I think it’s the safest option.”

I couldn’t disagree more.

But as I take in Valerie’s flushed cheeks and the way her eyes dart nervously around the kitchenette, looking anywhere but at me, the desire to argue fades away on a heavy exhale.

Valerie has a lot going on. If this is what she needs to agree to give this thing between us a shot, who am I to argue?

“Okay.”

Her eyes fly up to mine. Her lips part with surprise. “Okay?”

I nod and close the space between us.

“Okay, Val.” Her pupils dilate as I tilt her chin up and kiss her soundly. I draw back and smirk when I see her eyelids flutter open to reveal the passion swirling in her green irises. My next words are a lie. The only question is, how long until she’s ready to admit it? “Casual it is.”

22

VALERIE

“Where are we going?” I’m not short by any measure, but Carter’s strides are twice the length of mine. I’m doing an awkward walk-run shuffle to keep up as he pulls me through the busy streets of downtown Dallas.

The tall linebacker looks at me over his shoulder. His freshly washed hair blows in the wind, and boyish excitement makes his brown eyes shine. “You’ll see.”

I press my lips together to hold in my breathy sigh.

The sundress I packed for brunch this morning billows around me when a strong breeze whips between the tall buildings. I’d planned on meeting up with Megan, Jennifer, and a couple of my friends who came into town for my birthday. But that was before I brought Carter back to my hotel and had the best sex of my life.

Not even our hot and heavy night together in the Caribbean could compare to the ecstasy I experienced last night. I’d assumed that now that we knew each other, things would be a little more stilted and awkward between us, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Carter Jones is a god in bed. No surprise there. But what was a surprise was how determined he’d been to ensure I enjoyed myself. His lips never stopped kissing me and his hands had never stopped caressing me. When I’d tried to go down on him after he coaxed the second orgasm from me, he’d refused with a roguish grin and went in for a third.

A man as hot as Carter doesn’t need to be so selfless in bed. Women would sleep with him just for the bragging rights. But there’s no denying it—he’s the most skilled lover I’ve ever had. And for the time being… he’s mine.

Except you insisted things between you would be casual, meaning he can date other women and you can’t say anything about it.

I do my best to ignore the mood-killing thought, but it’s difficult.

I don’t know why I insisted we keep things casual. Lord knows that’s not what I want. But I’m not certain I want a relationship either… not even with someone as kind, funny, and good-looking as Carter.

The pieces of my life are slowly being put back into place, but I’ve got a long way to go before I should entertain bringing a romantic partner into the puzzle.

And yet, you slept with your boss.

Ugh.

Fine. I’ll admit it. I might have created a mess. But as I stare at Carter’s strong hands firmly wrapped around mine as he tugs me after him, I find it impossible to care.

We walk two blocks and come to a one-story building wedged between two high-rise, luxury apartment buildings. The bright green and yellow exterior paint sticks out like a sore thumb. It looks like a cantina I saw when I went to Cabo with Megan, back when we were twenty.

Carter leads me to a navy blue door and holds it open. I drop his hand and walk inside. I inhale the fresh scent of jasmine soap as Carter moves past me and approaches the host’s stand.

A quick look around reveals a single, long U-shaped bar dominates the room. The back wall is covered with liquor bottles and bright-rimmed margarita glasses. A pair of worn gray double doors to my left lead to the kitchen, while a narrow hall to the right leads to the restrooms according to the “Los Banos” sign overhead.

I’m about to tell Carter it may be a little early for a margarita when I look through the open patio doors. “Seriously, Carter?”

The handsome man finishes asking for a table on the patio before turning to me with a mischievous grin. “What?”

I motion towards the pair of sand volleyball courts. “Volleyball? You can’t tell me it’s a coincidence we’re here.”

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