Page 53 of The Player's Obsession

I have more than a few inches.

Is it wrong that I wish we were staying in a quaint bed and breakfast and I had her all to myself?

CHAPTER24

Penelope

Oliver is thoughtful and sweet. The fact he insists on opening the car door, well, any door for me, is romantic.

The cell phone I laid in my lap pings with a message tone.

Lucinda: Your name is out.

Me: Thank you.

Lucinda: How is the road trip?

Me: Great. It’s snowing.

Lucinda: Maybe you’ll get snowed in. LOL

Me: It better be at the resort hotel and not on the side of the road.

I giggle.

“A friend?” Oliver asks.

“Lucinda. She said my name is out, so I assume my brother got a nice payday. You never told me you were so famous.”

“Me?” He takes his gorgeous hand and points a finger at himself, acting cute.

“Yes, you. You know very well you’re popular. I never knew how much until now. I know Travis is, of course. Every football fan knows the quarterback. But you have had quite a career with him. Are you close?”

“Yes, but I pulled away in my funk over Melanie. I should have been a better friend to him this year. However, he’s new to the team as well. And, in my defense, he pulled a quickie Vegas wedding on me, and she’s someone we never met. Then, her life blew up over her ex stealing her songs, but she won in court, and now she’s having concerts around the country. Rose is very nice. You two will get along.”

“She sounds nice.” I wonder what it will be like to have more friends. And at the same time, will they remain my friends after we break off our fake relationship?

“She’s from the desert and loves the cold weather here. It’s a change for her as she spent her entire life in Las Vegas.”

“I can’t believe it gets colder than New York City. I mean, I never thought about living here.”

“None of us do,” he chuckles, and I secretly inhale his cologne. Why does he have to smell so good? Sitting next to him makes my ovaries happy enough to throw a party.

We’re an hour into our drive when his phone rings. He glances at the huge screen facing us from the console, and I see Mom is displayed.

“I can call her later,” he says.

“I don’t mind. It might be important.”

Oliver hits answer.

“Oliver, I didn’t know you were seeing someone. Why didn’t you tell me?” She sounds happy and hurt he didn’t share his life with her.

“It’s a recent development, Mom. How did you find out I was seeing someone?”

“It’s all over the place. You’d have to live under a rock not to see the video of you looking at her in the stands. I can tell you like her. What’s she like?”

“Ask her yourself. She’s right here. We’re heading to Melanie’s wedding.”

---