Page 20 of Draft Pick

“Is that so hard to imagine?”

I opened my mouth to answer, but then Cason reached out to push a lock of my hair behind my ear that’d escaped my messy bun, and I forgot where I was going with that train of thought.

He rose and grabbed my hand, pulling me into his arms as if I belonged there. “I’ll tell you exactly what I want to do and it has nothing to do with a bonfire with a bunch of idiots I’ve spent the last three years watch be idiots. I want to be right here with you. Got it?”

Don’t get attached! Say the words, throw down the proposal, hold your boundaries!

Great idea! Yes! Here it comes…

Nope.

Instead, I opened my mouth, and suddenly Cason’s tongue was dancing with mine, and all thought of boundaries and FWB proposals and no kissing or cuddling went out the window.

And my fluffy robe landed on the floor of my bedroom.

We didn’t even bother putting away the leftover pizza.

And I forgot to tell him he couldn’t sleep over.

Again.

My cell phone vibrated silently.I reluctantly opened my eyes to the morning light as my muscles protested each movement — a reminder that two hard workouts in one day would always demand its due.

Starlie was dead to the world.Yeah, that's right, I did that. A proud smile pulled at the corner of my mouth, the X-rated memories of last night flashing through my brain rapidly.Go ahead and sleep hellcat, you've earned it.

I eased my arm from beneath Starlie and rolled over to grab my phone. It was McKinley. Good mood immediately vaporized. I swore under my breath. He probably discovered that my dad wanted to put me with a different trainer. Either my dad flat-out told him, or he heard through the grapevine — either way, it was a conversation I wasn't interested in having.

Not when I had a beautiful blonde snuggled against me.

I let the call go to voicemail. Sundays were mine. Whatever he had to say could wait until Monday.

Starlie woke up just as I quietly replaced my phone on the nightstand. Her sleepy face, pillow marks indented on her cheeks, lips slightly swollen and puckered, and naked body curled against mine were the perfect way to greet the morning.

"Do you have to go?" She asked, half-awake, as if anticipating my quiet exit, except she slid her arm across my chest even as she offered, "You can take a bagel with you if you want."

"Geez girl, do own stock in the bagel company?”

“Carbs are good,” she murmured sleepily.

"Are you really that ready to kick me out? After last night, I might've earned some grace."

She happily sighed at the memory and wiggled closer. "Okay, you've earned more than a bagel, but I'm not cooking you breakfast."

"No breakfast in bed?" I teased.

"Only if you're making it and bringing it to me."

I might be willing to do that. "Hmm, would you stay naked while I served you?"

Her sleepy laugh made my heart happy. She answered with a shrug, "Sure," and I was ready to jump from the bed and start whipping up some pancakes but suddenly had a better idea.

"So, my day is free. I was thinking… let's take your metal detector out and see what we can find. The weather is supposed to be clear?—"

Her head shot up, her eyes wide with excitement, all sleep gone. "Do you mean it?"

I laughed at her immediate enthusiasm. "Yeah, it'll be fun."

"Oh! I've been waiting to take the metal detector to Cardinal Beach but no one wants to go with me. None of my friends are interested in beach combing unless itdoesn'tinvolve my metal detector."

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