Page 32 of Face Me Off

“Why don’t you go to the games anymore?” he asks.

“Why would I go?”

“Because you love hockey.”

“Yeah, things change.” I pull my gaze away and glance out the passenger-side window. I’m sure he can figure out that he’s the reason behind my sudden disinterest, but I don’t care. I still love the game, but teams whose rosters included Ryan, not so much. Or at least I didn’t. Things have gotten somewhat blurry.

We remain quiet until we arrive in Santa Monica, and he pulls into a driveway. My mouth gapes when I take in the contemporary-styled beachfront home.

“Where are we?” I ask. We’re greeted by waves crashing into the shore as we step from the car.

“Easton’s place. I come here when I need to get away.” He juggles his keys in his hand and looks at the expansive house.

“Easton owns a house this nice?” I ask, consternation seeping into my tone.

Ryan shrugs. “His parents’ vacation home, actually.”

“His parents?” Alarm bells ring in my head, along with an onslaught of questions. What if we get caught? Is he setting me up to fail? Is this really a good idea? “How do you know they’re not going to show up?”

“I don’t.”

My eyes widened. “What do you mean you don’t know? What if they’re here?”

He laughs. “Relax, worrywart. They go to Aspen during the fall.”

I punch his arm, which causes him to laugh harder. “Asshole.”

“Come on, Toots.” Ryan wraps his arms around my shoulders and pulls me toward him.

I snuggle into him. Why do I like being in his arms so much? “Good God, quit calling me Toots.”

“You love it, and you know it.”

“You’re incorrigible.”

He leans down and whispers in my ear, “And you’re sexy as hell in these little cut-off jean shorts.”

His hand dips and brushes along my ass, squeezing ever so slightly. No matter how strong I want to be, nothing stops the smile from overtaking my face. There’s something about his boldness that stokes the flame inside me. But I can’t let him see how much he affects me.

I pull away and feign irritation. “You’re impossible,” I mutter, but a laugh betrays my pretense.

One corner of his mouth lifts as he leads me toward the house. Once inside, I’m taken aback by the modern interior mixed with classic beach house elements. It’s surprisingly cozy despite its size.

“Wow,” I breathe out and take in the sight. The open living room overlooks the ocean with wall-to-ceiling windows. Large glass doors lead to a deck with an infinity pool that looks like it falls right off the cliff and into the deep waters below. What a perfect place to watch the sunset. “I bet the view is incredible during the day.”

Ryan hangs back, watching me wander around and take it all in. What would I do to live in a place like this? No wonder the girls on campus fall at his feet if he takes them here.

“You like it?”

I turn to face him. Ryan’s leaning against the back of the plush couch, looking casual and relaxed. Everything I’m not, at the moment.

“It’s … incredible. You bring of your conquests here?” I bite my lip and curse myself. Why did I ask that?

“I’ve never brought anyone here.” His eyes narrow, head tilting, as he steps closer until he’s right in front of me. “Why all the judgment?”

I swallow. “Sorry. It doesn’t matter anyway.”

But I hate knowing that I’m another notch on his rhetorical belt. What we had wasn’t special, and what we’re about to do isn’t either. It’s just sex between two people who used to be friends.

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