Page 57 of Can't Get Enough

“For now, yeah,” Maverick says, not looking away from his father or at me. I wish I could pluck the words passing between father and son out of the air because they seem to be holding a silent conversation.

“All right.” Mr. Bell turns a charming smile on me and extends his hand. “Very nice to meet you. You’ll have to come back when there ain’t a playoff game on the line. I promise I’ll be more social then.”

“I understand.” I take his hand and he gives it a little squeeze, his smile deepening before he lets go.

“Lemme get down here before the fourth quarter starts,” he mumbles, heading for the door.

Bolt and Skipper pass him coming back in, looking slightly less disheveled than the last time. Bolt’s bow tie is firmly in place, but the neat line of his clothing is disrupted by the pucker of a shirt hastily stuffed back into his pants. Skipper’s blouse and jeans look as neat as they did before, but a red mark blooms at the side of her neck.

Maverick and I share a quick amused glance before schooling our faces intowe don’t see nothingneutrality.

“You’re back,” Maverick says smoothly with a gentle, discreet elbow in my side.

“Yeah, hi,” I add, suppressing a grin. “The fourth quarter is just getting started.”

They glare at our obviously fake blissful ignorance and then turn their glares on each other. When their eyes catch, something softens in their expressions. Only for a second, though, before Bolt turns away and marches over to the bar.

“Whiskey neat,” he barks to the bartender.

Skipper watches his back, her lips trembling. When she looks at me, her eyes are wide like she’s trying not to cry.

A low rumble of disapproval slips from my chest and I look at Bolt’s back with daggers. It was cute when I thought Skipper was enjoying this, but if that motherfucker hurt my girl…

“Was that a growl?” Maverick asks, low-voiced.

“Check your boy. If he hurts Skipper—”

“He wouldn’t.” Maverick frowns. “Not like that. Never.”

“If he hurts her in any way,” I tell him. “His ass is mine.”

“Protective, aren’t you?” he smiles, admiration entering his eyes.

“Of my friends, yeah.” I glance over to where Skipper stands, shifting from foot to foot awkwardly and shoving her hands in the back pockets of her jeans. “We’re gonna head out. I’ll text Chapel to let her know.”

I start off, but his hand on my elbow pulls me back, pulls me closer. The scent of good-smelling man suffuses the air around me, and I have to force myself not to burrow into Maverick’s neck to investigate further. He smells sexy and masculine and costly. It’s good cologne and clean skin and him. His hand at my elbow stops me from walking away. I relish the hardness of his body pressed into me for a few seconds. Every one of my curves wants to mold to the unyielding lines of him.

Smells good. Feels good. Looks good.

Damn.

When I glance up, he’s staring at me, nostrils flared like he’s breathing me in as deeply as I’m breathing him.

This shit cannot happen.

I jerk my elbow away, and it breaks the spell—brings me back to my senses.

“You’ll think about the trip to Colorado?” he asks, eyes falling to my mouth. I want to hide my lips from him because what if he’s imagining how they would feel pressed to his, open under his. Because that’s the rogue thought torturing my mind right now.

“I told you I’ll ask Kashawn and Nelly.” Tension laces my voice and I let out a sigh. I’m tired of trying not to be fascinated by and drawn to this man, but it’s not a fight I can lose. There’s too much at stake for my career and for Chapel’s.

When I look back to Maverick there is a knowing there that makes me think maybe I’m not the only one tired of fighting.

“Sorry.” I lick my lips and soften my tone. “Thank you for being willing to help us. If we’re able to take you up on your offer, I’ll reach out to Bolt and—”

“Reach out to me,” Maverick says, a firmness in his words that I dare not dispute. “Directly.”

Our eyes hold for a few seconds, and all the breath clogs in my chest. I can’t breathe under the intensity of Maverick’s dark eyes—of all that checked energy aimed at me.

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