Page 19 of Rookie Move

Of course.

Desmond:So. Are you okay?

Rylie:Yeah. I’m fine.

Desmond:Good.

Desmond:Want to have dinner?

She bit back her laugh.

Rylie:You know that’s not a good idea.

Desmond:You didn’t say no again.

Rylie:Get back to work. And stop texting me. I’m right here.

Desmond:So I should ask you out in front of Baz?

Rylie:No asking me out.

Desmond:You know you want to.

He would grin down at his phone when he was typing out his messages and then quirk his brow at her every time he looked up to catch her gaze. It was stupidly adorable.

“Why are you all smiley?” Baz asked Desmond. “Who are you texting? New girl? You need to get out there. Forget about what’s-her-name.”

“I’m not texting anyone. Just thinking about lunch,” Desmond said, and this time he didn’t look up at her.

“We should go to C&B tonight. Get you back out there,” Baz said.

“I’m fine,” Desmond said, and Rylie wanted to know more.

“You’re better off without her, man.”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Desmond all but bit out. It was Rylie’s turn to quirk a brow but for an entirely different reason than when Desmond had done it.

She knew the background—well, at least what she’d found online—again, work-related research. He’d had the same girlfriend for years and they’d been engaged, and then it ended before he came to San Francisco.

He’d clearly been messed up about it that night they’d met. She’d thought he was just having a few drinks to unwind and have some fun, but now she wondered. Was he still hung up on this woman?

And why did it matter, since their night was over, and she wasn’t going to hook up with him again? No matter how skilled he was with his tongue or how he’d made her feel like she was the only woman in the world.

Not happening.

“Tonight’s the night,”Finn said, dropping down next to Desmond in the locker room.

It was their home opener and Desmond was itching to get on that ice and show the fans that this team was ready to go all the way. He bounced his knee and took a long pull on his sports drink.

They’d won all but one of their preseason games and he was gelling more with Finn and the forward line they were typically paired with every game.

“About damn time,” Baz said from the other side of Desmond. “I’m ready to get this season officially started.”

“We all are,” Desmond said. The final roster had been whittled down after the last preseason game three nights ago. They looked strong, and knock on wood, they were all injury-free. That was always key.

“Guys, listen up,” Bugsy said, and Desmond turned his attention to the center of the room.

“First game of the season. We look strong. We look cohesive. We’re going to beat Calgary tonight, right?” Bugsy said. The room chorused with agreement.

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