Page 54 of Quarterback Sneak

In another life, he’d have offered to get the couple a town car but he had no money, no assets, and no car. The lease on the boat had expired and although Howler had offered to keep paying for it, he’d refused. Reality sure was a bitch. Forget the negative and focus on the positive. Sometimes life was about living in the moment. Straightening his spine, he shifted on his good leg and offered his hand to Ivy. “Shall we?”

“You can’t dance with your leg.” She tilted her head, the loosened strands of her dark hair brushing her breasts.

“I can manage a slow dance. Any excuse to hold you close is okay with me.” He slid his arm around her back, the other resting on her narrow waist, accented by the white dress that hugged every curve.

A soft flush darkened her cheeks but she didn’t try to escape. “Keep talking like that and you might get lucky tonight.”

“I’m already lucky tonight.” His palm settled on the swell of her butt, the warmth seeped into his skin. She laid her cheek on his chest, and he rested his chin on the top of her head, the subtle scent of her shampoo heightening his awareness of how right it felt to be with her. The slow hum of the music, coupled with the dim lights, created an intimate mood despite the crowd surrounding them. This is what it was like to be normal. Just two people swaying to the music. “I get to hold you in my arms.” A privilege he wanted to have forever.

“You get to kiss me too.” Ivy tilted her head, mouth slightly parted.

He granted her request. Her lips were soft and supple, molding to his for an endless moment. The pressures of life faded into the background, the sway of her body, the warmth of her kiss, was all-encompassing. Someone bumped into them and he lifted his head. He tilted her chin with their combined hands. “Have I told you how stunning you look?”

“Not tonight.” Detangling her fingers, she slid her arms around his neck, hips swaying to the music.

The scent of her perfume teased his nose, and he pressed her bottom closer to his growing need. “Have I told you how sexy you are?”

“Not tonight.” She bit her lip, eyes sheened with heat, pupils dark and deep, drawing him further under her spell.

Damn, he loved her and he’d tell her that once they had some real privacy. “Have I told you how much I want to get you alone?”

“So you can have your way with me?”

“You guessed right.” He pressed her closer to him, reveling in the catch of her breath. “And the prize for answering all three questions correctly, is an intimate night in with your emcee. Me. In my bed.”

“That’s why you wanted me to stay at your house, to seduce me?” She gazed up at him, eyes bright. Lust sparked and he experienced a similar need. No undercurrents of strain showed in her expression and the emotional withdrawal he’d sensed from her of late had disappeared.

“Hell yeah.” He was anxious to have her to himself. Tomorrow was Sunday, her day off, and he planned on spending most of the day with her in bed, one last hurrah in the house before the new owner took over.

The lights flickered once more and the music cut out for an instant before it started up again. “If the storm keeps up, it looks like we’ll be leaving sooner rather than later.”

“Would anyone notice if we left? I…oh shit, never mind. I forgot we’re now designated drivers by proxy.” Why had he reminded her of the earlier drama? Her eyes clouded over and she pulled back.

“Yeah, it’s unfortunate. I’m going to run to the restroom.”

She walked away, hips swaying under the white dress.

Sam twisted a bit too quickly and something inside his knee popped. His good leg cramped up from overuse and he grabbed onto the back of the nearest chair. Brow furrowed, he tested his weight on the injured appendage. Nothing. The deep throb he’d experienced since the hike had lessened every day, a promising sign, one he was leery to celebrate too soon. A commotion from the front drew his attention to the couple exiting the establishment. Aaron thrust himself out the door and from the look on his face, he wasn’t happy. Beth trailed him outside, pointing her finger and gesturing. She was saying something, but the wind caught her words. The storm had picked up and more lightning flashed in the distance.

“It looks like the party’s over.” The man sitting at the adjacent table, one of Ivy’s cooks, stood and threw money on the table. “Aaron’s up to his old tricks, only this time Beth caught him kissing the cocktail server. As usual, they’re fighting. Tell Ivy I said good night.”

Fuck. Ignoring the pain in his leg, he grabbed his cane. He had to stop Beth from leaving except the place was packed full of people whose tongues had been loosened by the alcohol. Many greeted him by name, a few he recognized as paparazzi. Just fantastic. His intimate moment with Ivy on the dancefloor was surely caught on camera and would be plastered across the tabloids by morning.

He pushed his way through the crowd, temper rising with each step. People stared, some blatant, others less obvious. Since the news about Jake signing with the team and the subsequent fallout of his own injury, he’d gotten used to seeing the pity. Just because he was used to it, didn’t mean he liked it. He made it to the door, the strength of the wind making it difficult to push open.

Outside, rain pelted him, plastering his hair to his scalp. Street lights swayed and debris whirled about his feet. He looked up and down the street and his stomach dropped. No sign of Beth or her fiancé.

Shit. He was too late.

Chapter Twenty-One

Ivy shut the stall door and sat on the toilet seat. She’d used the restroom as an excuse to escape the disaster playing out in the bar. Dancing with Sam was magic and she could spend forever in his arms. They’d decided to stay at his place since it was closer to the bar, and she’d been thrilled to see it for the first time. Except Aaron’s behavior ruined the spark of romance and being designated driver would put a damper on the entire fantasy.

Retrieving her phone from her purse, she saw a new email alert. She opened the email app and a smile tugged at her mouth. It was from Alice. She skimmed the body and the last sentence wiped out every bit of her earlier joy. No, this couldn’t be happening. Fingers clenching the phone case, she stood and exited the stall, slamming the door with a satisfying smack. This night was just getting better and better.

Betrayal hit hard and her stomach churned. How could he do this to her?

Stepping back into the bar, she searched out Sam. He had some explaining to do. A quick scan came up empty of Sam or Beth. She asked one of the party goers if they knew their whereabouts and was told they left.

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