Page 66 of Rinkmates

“Now come on, be a good girl and let my driver take you. He needs the extra cash for his daughter’s birthday this month.”

Her demeanor softens. “How old is she?”

“Five.”

“Oh.” She averts her gaze, and I wonder what’s going through her mind now. Why does she look so sad when I bring up the topic of kids? “Fine. Call him.”

“That’s all it took? A kid’s birthday?”

She swallows. “It’s sweet that he’s saving.”

“Fine. Let’s get you downstairs. He’ll be waiting.”

“I can walk down myse—”

“Liora, please don’t make this harder. Consider yourself lucky I’m not wrapping you in a potato sack right now.”

She steps out, and I grin proudly, earning an amused headshake from Jayce.

The doorbell rings, confirming it’s my driver. I nod toward the door. “He’s here. Good luck tonight. I hope Grace is kind.”

“We all do,” Liora says, moving toward the door.

I clear my throat. “Baby, don’t I get a goodbye kiss?”

She frowns, and I grin. I’m not letting this chance to kiss her slip away—not with an audience here. Even if it’s just Derek and Shane, it’s enough to keep up appearances.

She struts toward me, rising on her toes to press her lips to mine. I might have pulled her up a bit too eagerly, my handssettling on her waist. Her lips are impossibly soft, and there’s a brief hesitation before she leans in further. The kiss is fleeting but charged, a jolt that takes me back to the intensity we shared just days ago. Her breath mingles with mine, a tantalizing blend of defiance and something more that makes my heart flutter. There’s no denying it anymore. I want her. So much it hurts.

Her fingers lightly graze my jaw, and just as I’m about to deepen the kiss, she bites at my lower lip. Um, yes. Wanting her hurts.

“Ouch, shit,” I whisper-shout, hoping no one else noticed.

She grips my jaw firmly, her voice low and fierce. “Stop playing mother hen, okay?”

“Never.”

With a final, fiery kiss that feels more like a punch than a caress, she turns and walks away.

“Maaan, you’re over the moon,” Derek says. “I couldn’t believe the rumors but now that I see it. I wonder where you two got to know each other?”

I shrug, trying to play it cool, but Jayce’s smirk tells me he sees right through it.

It’s not the first time someone has asked how I met her, but thankfully, Liora and I have our story straight. “We met at a sports gala my parents organized back home,” I say smoothly. “I walked up to her, we hit it off, and the rest is history.”

My lips still tingle from the kiss, and I can’t help but wonder if it’s really all just an act anymore. Even though we call each other names and claim we want this to end, there’s this undeniable tension between us. Maybe it’s because we’re both competitive—neither of us wants to lose in this stupid game we’re playing. But I’m not ready to confess anything yet. Maybe I just need to kiss someone else, let that steam off, and get that blonde firecracker out of my system and then I’ll be good.

“Will she come to the party later?”

I feel the eyes of the whole room on me as I answer gruffly, “Well, she lives here, so, yes. But let’s get something straight—she’s off limits, got it? No trying to chat her up or any shit like that. You know what? No talking to her in general.”

Jayce grins knowingly. “Afraid we’ll embarrass you in front of your lady, loverboy?”

“I just don’t need you idiots saying something dumb and pissing her off. It’s better for everyone if you steer clear.” I give them each a hard stare to drive the point home.

The last thing I need is the boys blabbing about locker-room antics to Liora.

Eager to change the subject, Shane pipes up, “So how about them Boston Bears?” The guys immediately jump on the new topic, arguing about play-off predictions.

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