Page 24 of Outplayed

We stared at each other for a moment, but then a throat cleared.

Travis’s eyes narrowed on his friend. “Link, this is Violet. Violet, Link.”

Link’s hand came my way. I took it and shook. He grinned. “Nice to meet you finally, Violet.”

“Ah, yeah.” I nodded, glancing down to my hand when Link didn’t let go and kept shaking it.

“Good to see Travis has a good woman who’s not shy to take care of situations.”

My head whipped to Travis. He was already stepping up. His hand went over ours and I felt the pressure. “Want to drop her hand, Link?”

He chuckled. “Sure.”

“What do you mean, woman?” I asked. “I’m not his woman. Did he tell you I was his woman?”

Link’s eyes widened. “Ah.” He coughed.

My gaze went to Travis. “Did you say I was your woman? One kiss, Travis, and I was in a panicked state. I told you nothing was going to happen between us.”

“Violet.” He smiled.

“Why are you smiling?” My jaw clenched.

“You came to help me. You stopped her from touching me.”

“So?” I screeched. God, I sounded like his ex. Breathing deeply, I pinched the bridge of my nose and nodded to myself. “I am going to end up killing you.”

Link laughed loudly. “Shit, I fuckin’ love her myself.”

“Link,” Travis barked low and grumbly.

“Daddy?”

“Izzy, honey, no,” a female called from inside.

I froze.

A little girl around five came running out the door and jumped. Travis turned in time to catch her. His face buried into her neck where he blew some raspberries.

Oh shit.

Fuck him. I would not defrost over the sight of him being sweet, cute, and yet all goddamn sexy at the same time.

He tapped my phones for God’s sake.

A woman stepped out, puffing, her hand on her chest. “Sorry, she got away from me.”

“That’s because she’s a monster.” Travis grinned.

“I am not, Daddy. I’m a princess.”

“Hmm, I’ll have to see about that. You know, princesses eat all their vegetables. Will you eat yours tonight?”

Cuteness overload. I had to get out of here.

Stepping back, hoping no one would notice me, I got one foot on the steps behind me when the woman looked at me. She smiled. I didn’t return it. I didn’t know who she was.

“I’ll try, Daddy,” Izzy replied, causing Travis to laugh. Then he reached out, hooked his arm around the woman and tugged her into his side, kissing her temple.

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