Page 75 of Daring the Defender

I love college.

And I’m pretty sure I love this man, too.

When I don’t answer his question, Reid adds with a shrug of his shoulders, “What Axel doesn’t know, won’t hurt him.”

“What would he really do if he found out?” I reach for another off the coffee table. We’re on the couch, a true crime quietly playing on the TV. Reid has already seen this one and, by request, spoiled the ending. “Beat you up?”

He considers it, ultimately saying, “Reese wouldn’t let him fully beat me up. Maybe one shot, but with the playoffs coming up, he couldn’t go too hard. He’d probably just be really pissy about it and make everyone miserable around here.”

“I don’t have to guess what he’d do to me.” With our feet tangled under the blanket, I pull at the layers of pastry, eating them slowly. “After an unbearable lecture, he’d send me back to Texas on the first available plane.”

He grows silent at that topic, and I don’t blame him. I don’t want to talk about me leaving either. What Reid and I have is undefined. Iaskedhim to take my virginity, as part of ourarrangement. I don’t think he minded, but it definitely wasn’t an organic moment.

“So tell me about the rest of your family.” I nudge him with my foot. “The ones who weren’t here today.”

That lightens him up, and he starts naming more names than I can keep up with. There’s the three older sisters, plus Ronnie who’s the youngest and two older brothers. They’re scattered all over, but they’re still close. “The Wilder’s insisted on it. If you wanted to be a member of the family, you had to fully commit.”

Leaning over, I push up the sleeve of his T-shirt, exposing the tattoo. “Eight homes, huh?” He looks down at the tattoo, at my fingers tracing the number. “That was a pretty impressive speech today.”

“I just want those kids to know they shouldn’t give up. They get knocked down so many times, it can be hard to get back up. But life gets easier when you have a plan. Back ups to the back up.”

“What do you mean?”

“Like with hockey. I’ve been drafted already and if everything goes well in the play-offs, I’ll be in New York next season, but if it doesn’t, I’ll have my degree and my portfolio.”

“That’s smart.” I sink into the couch. “Take it from someone who has no back-ups. No degree. No career. No skills.”

“Bullshit.” He scoffs.

“What do you mean, ‘bullshit?’”

He smirks, and I have no doubt it’s because of my swearing. I think he likes corrupting me. “You have plenty of skills.”

“Cleaning up after hockey players doesn’t count.”

“That’s not what I was going to say,” he argues. “You’re an amazing cook, and you’re good at taking care of people. You have an instinct for it. That’s why Mike hired you on at the Badger Den. It’s not as easy as it seems.”

“I already know I’m looking down the long barrel of being a housewife, Reid, no need to rub it in.”

“Hey.” He grabs me by the waist and drags me onto his lap. “Those are important things. Critical, if you ask me and not everyone has it.” He brushes my hair off my shoulder and lifts my chin until I’m looking into his eyes. “All I wanted growing up was for someone to offer a little comfort and stability. Don’t underestimate those qualities.”

I shake my head. “Wow.”

“What?”

“Only you could make taking care of others sound sexy.”

His lips curve up and his hands grab my ass. “Everything you do is sexy, GG. It doesn’t matter if you’re baking delicious food, serving beer down at the bar, or have your lips wrapped around my cock.” He presses a kiss against my neck and I shiver. “I knew the second you walked in that door and sat on my lap, you were more woman than I’d know what to do with.”

“Same,” I confess. “About the moment I saw you.”

“Not a minute has passed in every single day since you crawled in my lap and kissed me that I haven’t been thinking about you.”

I swallow, processing that information, finally exhaling, “Wow.”

“Too much?” he asks, looking slightly concerned.

“Not for me.”

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