Page 23 of Crossing Lines

He shrugged a shoulder and drew his attention to me. “I don’t know. It seems like you’ve been through a lot. I want to get to know you.”

I blinked.Whywas on the tip of my tongue again, but I needed to divert this conversation, even though I felt exactly the same as him. I drank the rest of my whisky. “Well, it’s getting late. We should probably head up to our rooms, eh?” I set my empty glass on the coffee table and stood, then grabbed my suit jacket.

With a nod, he stood. “After you.” He waved his hand.

I strolled toward the lobby. “What room are you in?” Please don’t be anywhere near mine. I didn’t know how much more of his presence I could take before I’d do something stupid.

“Three thirty-one.” He walked beside me, and as we stopped at the elevator, he pressed the call button.

With my heart pounding, I said, “Oh, we’re on the same floor.” I glanced at the stairwell next to the elevator. Maybe I should make an excuse and take the stairs instead?

The elevator dinged and opened.

I stepped inside with Jonah following me, then hit the button for the third floor.

He twisted to face me. “Ryan?”

I clenched my eyes shut for a beat. Jesus, he was killing me. “Yeah?” I kept my gaze on the floor buttons. If I looked at him, he might take it as an invitation, and I wouldn’t stop him if he kissed me. Why the hell was I thinking this way? I took a deep breath.

He placed his palm on my cheek and turned my head.

My gaze locked on his.

Fixating on my mouth, he leaned in.

The elevator dinged and the door opened.

“Oh, there you are,” Archer said.

Jonah dropped his arm to his side. “Yeah, wanted to walk off the game and look who I found?” He gave his friend a lopsided grin.

“Hey, Coach.” Archer beamed at me. “Guess you needed to walk off the game too? Have you come up with any new strategies we can use tomorrow?”

“Uh, no. I was, um, calling an old friend from back home.” Brushing a hand down the back of my hair, I let out a stumbling chuckle. “I just needed to unwind a bit.” Stealing a glance at Jonah, I stepped around Archer. “See you boys in the morning. Get some sleep.” I hustled to my room and slid my keycard out of the breast pocket of my suit jacket with trembling hands. What almost happened? Had I imagined it, or had Jonah been about to kiss me in the elevator?

I fumbled with the keycard and dropped it. “Shit.” As I bent to pick it up, I blew out a long breath. I had to calm down.Nothing happened. I plucked my keycard off the carpet, straightened, then unlocked my door. I had to stay away from Jonah tomorrow.

Stepping inside my room, I fought to steady myself. Maybe we needed to have a talk. But if I was misreading things, I’d look like an idiot. I’d keep my distance. I wouldn’t let him get me alone again.

CHAPTER SEVEN

JONAH

Glancing behind me, I followed Archer to our room and stepped inside after he opened the door, my heart thrumming in my throat. I’d almost kissed Ryan in the elevator. What would he have done if I had? Would he have kissed me back? He’d been so vulnerable with me in the bar. I needed that, needed him.

Archer twisted around at the foot of his bed and planted his hands on his hips. “What the hell happened?”

“Nothing.” I walked in and flopped down on my back on my bed, placing the heel of my hand on my forehead. “Okay, something.” It was okay if Archer knew. He was my best friend.

Archer climbed onto my bed and hovered over me, propping himself on straight arms on either side of my shoulders. “Spill.” His wavy blond hair flowed down around his face.

Flicking my gaze to his brown eyes, I said, “We talked in the bar, and he told me things about himself that I…” I pressed my lips together. “Fuck, we had a moment, okay?”

“A moment? Withmycoach?” He scoffed and sat back on his tucked legs. “Jonah, you’re going to get him in trouble.”

“No, I’m not.” I sat up on the bed and bent my legs at theknees. “He’s not my coach. I don’t think it would matter if we started seeing each other.” There, I’d said it.

“Are you crazy?” He dropped his mouth open, staring at me.

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