Page 84 of Risky Game

“How’d I do?” I asked, and Amelia’s head jerked up.

“Daddy!” She tossed her book, scrambled to her feet, and ran to me. She’d spent the fourth quarter in the family room, and I only knew that because Ruby had texted me when she did it. She knew I wouldn’t see the text, but I liked that she checked in to let me know. “You were great! And you won!”

“The team won. I only helped.”

Behind her, Ruby rolled her eyes. “So modest. Congratulations.”

God, I wanted to hug her. Kiss her. I wanted to slam her body against that wall and ravage her. I couldn’t for a dozen known reasons, but none of it stopped me from wishing it could happen.

“Should we head out?” I had Amelia’s hand in mine and Ruby packed up her coloring book and crayons into a bag she’d brought for Amelia.

“Actually,” Ruby said, “I think I’ll let you two celebrate alone. I’ll be back later.”

“Why?” I barked it out and Ruby jerked, tucking her hair behind her ear.

“Um.” She shrugged and looked away. “I just… I have some things to do?”

Did she now… She was lying. At minimum hiding something.

“I was looking forward to celebrating together.” I said it as a whisper, letting her see my disappointment. I kept it quiet enough so Amelia couldn’t hear.

She flinched. “I know, but I’ll be back later tonight.”

I couldn’t force her. I wouldn’t force her to want to spend time with Amelia and me. But I wanted it, more than I’d ever expected to want another woman. I wanted Ruby with me, celebrating both my win and my birthday.

“All right.” I sighed. Grinning down at Amelia, I took her hand. “Just you and me, squirt!”

“I want McDonald’s for dinner.”

McDonald’s. I’d just won my first game as the head coach for an NFL team and I was going to be suckered into eating McDonald’s for dinner.

What a glorious life.

Next to us, Ruby giggled. “She’s been asking for it all day and was upset she couldn’t get it here.”

“Whatever my girl wants…”

I let that hang and gave Ruby a wink.

Fine. No birthday dinner with her or family time. That was probably the safest thing anyway. I was starting to think about her too much. Want her too much.

This was only sex. Hottest sex of my life, but sex all the same. I needed to remember that.

Ruby was leaving us, and it was best, at least for Amelia’s sake, if we didn’t get more attached than necessary.

Right. For Amelia’s sake.

Ruby wasn’t the only crappy liar.

Chapter 23

Ruby

I hurt his feelings. I saw it in his frown and the way he grew silent as Logan walked me to the car on the same ramp where he’d parked his. Benefits of working for the Coach? Hella good parking on game days.

But I had a surprise for him. Earlier, Amelia had been on a FaceTime call with her mom, and at the last moment, Vanessa reminded her it was Logan’s birthday. There was no time to do anything or buy him anything before we left, but that hadn’t stopped Amelia from being near tears on the way to the stadium.

I made her a deal. She kept it a secret that we knew, and tomorrow, once we had time to go shopping, we’d throw him a great big party and surprise him. The surprise convinced her.

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