Page 21 of The Right Player
I grabbed the back of my neck. “Let’s just say I’ve been burned in the past by some girls who were only interested in the fact that I play football and what that can do for them. So, I’m playing my cards safe.”
Gerald was quiet for a long moment, and when I turned to look at him again, he was shaking his head with a shit-eating grin on his face. “You really are a softie, aren’t ya, Kumaka?”
I shoved him, and he laughed, using the momentum to propel him off the bench. “Alright. I’m going to get in some stretching before I head out.”
“Give me a sec and I’ll join,” I said, fishing my phone from my gym bag. I thumbed through until I found Belle’s number, biting my lip as I pressed the call button.
“Hello?”
“Hey, beautiful,” I greeted. “Happy Sunday.”
There was the distinct sound of music on the other end, but it was buffed out quickly, and then a breathy reply. “Happy Sunday to you.” She paused. “You called me.”
“I did. Is that not okay?”
“I guess I just expected a text more so than a call.”
“You sound winded.”
“I’m in the middle of a yoga flow.”
I hummed my approval, which earned me a snort of a laugh.
“Perv.”
“Texting is too informal,” I said, ignoring the fact that I was definitely picturing her bent over and twisted up like a pretzel. “Besides, I wanted to hear the delight in your voice when I asked you to go out with me later this week.”
She chuckled. “And you were so sure you’d get that reaction, huh?”
“After how smooth I was at dinner? The perfectly cooked food, the elegant ambience…” I scoffed. “How could you not be chomping at the bit to see me again.”
Belle laughed, and I savored the sound, soaking it up like a ray of sunshine. When I glanced at Gerald, he was watching me with a knowing grin, and I flicked him off when he made a lewd gesture with big doe eyes, his lashes batting over and over.
“So, you want to see me again?”
“I do,” I said confidently.
“Why don’t you come by the office tomorrow and I can show you where I want to start with the condo?”
“I can do that,” I said confidently. “But I want to see you outside of work, too.”
There was a pause on the other end, and I closed my eyes, imagining that sexy, confident smile Belle wore so easily.
Okay, and maybe her ass in yoga pants, too.
“What did you have in mind?”
I smiled. “Would you say you’re a competitive person, Ms. Monroe?”
Belle scoffed. “I think you already know the answer to that.”
“Good. I’ll come into the office tomorrow and get your address while I’m there. Save Wednesday night for me. I’ll pick you up at seven.”
“I like when you’re bossy.”
I rolled my lips together, shaking my head because I could see the devilish look in her eyes even when she was out of sight. “See you tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow,” she echoed.
Then, I hung up the phone and finished out the rest of our training session with a doofus smile firmly in place.Belle“Just a minute!” I called when I heard the knock at my door. I already knew it was Makoa, since I’d buzzed him up from the downstairs lobby, but my stomach still did a little flip when the knock came.
And I instantly kicked myself for having that reaction.
I was too damn excited to see this guy. I mean, usually, I’d be so lackadaisical about the whole situation that I’d have Makoa driven mad by this point. But as it was, he was the one driving me insane.
Him making me wait was not something I was used to.
And for some reason, it really, really turned me on.
I checked my makeup one last time, dabbing at the corner of my mouth where a little gloss had gone rogue. Makoa had told me to dress casual, but I didn’t really do casual. My wardrobe mostly consisted of tailored pant and skirt suits, chic business fashion, and designer high heels. When I wasn’t in the office, I lived in athleisure or bohemian-style dresses. I wasn’t even sure I owned a pair of jeans or a t-shirt — I always went to Gemma when I needed to borrow that style.
Tonight, I’d landed on a soft, baby blue romper with a deep V cut. It was loose and flowy, which was casual to me, and paired with my favorite wedges, the outfit accented my long legs and narrow waist. I’d just dyed my hair an even darker red over the weekend, landing me in the auburn family, and I wore it in large barrel waves that spiraled over my shoulders. It was so big and teased that it was practically begging to have a hand tangled in it.
I hoped by the end of the night, it would.
