Page 18 of Enticing

“No. Now go pick up the pies.” I shove him away, and the asshole laughs before I turn back to Addie. “That’s just my little brother. He’s harmless.”

“What the hell is in the water in this town that it breeds giants?” she asks before her blush deepens, almost as if she doesn’t realize she said it out loud.

I lean against the chair in front of me and across from her and can’t help the stupid smile I know I’ve got when her eyes trail over my chest. “That’s what happens when your entire family are athletes. They breed ’em big.”

She closes her sticker-covered MacBook and slips it into the bag at her side. “Does he play for the Revolution too?”

“Nah. He’s in Chicago. We’re hoping he can get traded here at some point. But Chicago had an earlier pick the year he entered the draft, so we knew we wouldn’t get him.” I look around Sweet Temptations for the girls but come up empty. “No Lennox and Izzy today?”

Her smile is soft and unguarded for a change before her wall slips back in place. “No. Mrs. Murkey takes Lennox a few hours a week while Izzy is in school so I can get some work done.”

Addie pushes out of the chair and slides a brown leather bag across her chest, clearly done with this conversation, even if I’m not ready to be. “Did you hear back about your car?” I scramble to keep her talking. “I could give you a ride home if you want one.”

Long blonde curls tumble out of her haphazard bun as she shakes her head, not angry but definitely frustrated. “I’m sure it’s hard to believe after yesterday, but I really don’t need a white knight riding to my rescue.”

Soft words back up my original thought.

This woman is frustrated with herself, not me.

That leaves room...ThatI can deal with.

“Guess it’s a good thing I don’t have a horse or a sword then. Seriously though, can they fix your car?” I’m not sure why I’m so invested in her answer, but there’s absolutely no fucking doubt in my mind that it’s got something to do with the insane way I’m pulled to her.

“Your brother is waiting for you.” She looks past me to Hendrix.

“He can wait.” I adjust my stance to block her view of the counter and hopefully all three family members I know are standing there, nosy as fuck. “Better yet, he can get a ride home with the guys he’s talking to. They’re family, and we’re all going to the same place this afternoon.”

She looks sad as she plays with her bag. “Oh yeah? Big plans?”

“My family is doing Thanksgiving today because my Uncle Callen and my dad have a game tomorrow.”

Her teeth drag over her pouty lower lip, and I swear to all that’s holy my dick instantly goes rock hard. Fuck me.

“Uncle?” she asks, confused.

“Let’s just say my family is big, and crazy, and we like to tease Callen that he was an oopsie baby,” I laugh.

Her flush deepens as she wraps her hands around the leather strap crossing her chest. “That sounds nice, Leo.”

“You could come, you know?”Shit. Why did I say that?

My family will never let me live it down if I bring a woman to a family dinner.

Funnyenough... I don’t think I give a single fuck if they care.

Not sure when that happened.

“Thanks for the offer, but I can’t.”

“Do you have Thanksgiving plans?” I ask her, unwilling to let her go just yet.

Her sad smile returns as she shakes her head. “Just me and the girls this year.” She pats my chest and inches by me, while I try to ignore what that simple touch just lit the fuck up inside me. “I’ll see you later, Leo. Happy Thanksgiving.”

“Happy Thanksgiving, Addie,” I whisper as she walks out.

The night before Thanksgiving was the biggest party night of the year when we were in college. Hell—it was the biggest party night when we were in high school too. Our parents typically go to the big Beneventi holiday party at Sam and Amelia Beneventi’s each year, and we’d all get drunk anywhere we could sneak off to. Now that we’re all legally able to drink, you’d think we’d end up at a bar. Especially since our buddy Maddox owns the hottest bar in town.

But do we?

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