Page 12 of Playboy

He huffs. “Did we just sit through the same conversation?”

“Yup.” I chuckle. “I’m not sure if you caught it, but she said she told Hannah she could touch me at her own risk, which means,” I roll my head to the side and open my eyes, “that Hannah asked for permission.” I tap on my forehead. “Twin telepathy. It’s a thing.”

“You Halls are fucked in the head.”

I smile and close my eyes. Yeah, we are.

FIVE

HANNAH

“Just waituntil you see the bikini I bought when I was in Florida. This thing barely has strings.”

Lennox gives me a once-over. “You telling me you don’t have any tan lines beneath that jersey?”

I let out a long sigh. “Sadly, even if I did, no one would get to see them. I was too busy babysitting the damn rookies during spring training to even flirt, let along lay out in the sun.”

Lennox smiles. “Just means your kitty is in need of some attention.”

“My kitty isn’t getting any attention this weekend. But my muscles are ready to get a pounding from the jets in that hot tub.”

My bestie grins. “I love hot tubs.”

“I love hot tubs too.” Aiden, dressed in his signature Bolts blue suit, appears out of nowhere and nuzzles his wife’s neck.

He’s the first of the guys to make his way to the friends and family room after the game. The Bolts won 3-1, and Aiden and Noah were responsible for two of the three goals.

“Congrats, Lep. That was one wicked slapshot.”

He gives me one of his dopey, lopsided smiles. “Thanks, Han. You ready to celebrate?”

“What I’m ready for is a drink. But I promised Noah I’d wait for him. If you’re ready to head out, I’ll meet you there.”

“You sure? We can wait and ride to the house together.”

His offer is sweet, but I’m used to traveling by myself. The girls are always being followed by their men, but I’ve spent more than half my life by myself. I can’t imagine spending that much time with another person and liking it.

“I’m good. I promise. You guys go. But put my bag in a room with a nice en suite, ’kay? I need a hot bath when I get there.”

Lennox winks. “You got it, girlfriend.”

As they head toward the door, Lennox leans into Aiden. In response, he presses a kiss to her cheek.

In the last two years, I’ve gone from having two single friends to being part of a group of five women, four of whom are either married or engaged. One by one, they fell in love, and not once have I longed for my turn. Most women would want what my friends have. And hell, I write romance novels; I get the appeal. But I prefer to sleep in the middle of the mattress and hog the blankets. A vibrator can get me off just as well as a man, if not better, and then I can turn over and go back to reading my book without feeling like I’m disappointing someone by not pretending to be interested in what they have to say.

My girls still include me in their couples’ trips, and I don’t mind being the third wheel—or ninth, in this case. All my besties are with wonderful men who make sure that when they get their girls a drink, they grab one for me too. To be honest, I’m more spoiled than most, since all their guys make a point to watch out for me. It’s a charmed life.

“What are you smiling about?”

I look up to find Noah sauntering my way, his black suit hugging his rugged frame and a pair of black-framed glasses perched on his face. Yes, Noah Harrison wears glasses, and it has always made the ladies go crazy. It’s the juxtaposition, Ithink. He looks like a nerdy jock. And he is. He recites random facts and loves doing crossword puzzles. He was meant to be a grandpa, and I adore him for it.

“Just thinking about the steak and the orgasm that are calling my name.”

“Jesus.” Cringing, he peers around to make sure I haven’t been overheard.

I, on the other hand, laugh my ass off. I’m the head of PR for the baseball team. No one is catching me saying shit like that in public. I cover that stuff up.

“Relax, old man. I’m just teasing. I’m definitely having pizza tonight.”

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