Page 22 of Defending her Heart

My armpits are sweaty, I have spilled beer on my jersey, and I’m buzzing from the noise.

“We’d planned on going home after the game, but I’m sure the guys will want to celebrate.” Riley links her arm through mine and Rowan’s as we follow Jackson and Taylor to the long corridors that lead us to the friends and family waiting area.

It takes a while for the team to start making their way out of the locker room. When Walker emerges and he spots Riley, his entire being lights up like he’s been away from her for months instead of a few hours.

It’s adorable and beautiful and romantic. She jumps into his arms and gives him a hard kiss on the mouth.

“Kids these days. It’s like they’re going off to war.” Rowan giggles next to me. “Get a room, you horny animals.”

The truth is, I love seeing my best friend happy and in love. She’s had a tough life, as has Walker, despite growing up with a silver spoon in his mouth, and they make a perfect pair.

“They’re so cute,” Rowan sighs next to me.

Out of the three of us, we would have pegged Rowan as the one to settle down first. A romantic at heart, and the sweetest soul you’ll ever meet, there’s not a human on the planet who can find fault with her.

Which also makes said humans not good enough for her. Riley and I don’t have to go protective mama bear on her since she’s not a fool. Smart and beautiful, she has her head on straight and has been focused on her schooling and career for the past decade.

As soon as she finishes her residency this fall, she’ll start looking for nursing jobs in pediatric offices, which shouldn’t be too hard for her to find.

A group of tall, well built men come through the double doors and my eyes gravitate toward the sexiest one of them all. His head is tilted down as he taps out a message on his cell phone. I see a quick smile on his lips as he types some more before pocketing his phone.

He lifts his head and spots Walker and Riley, then pauses when our eyes lock. I see trepidation on his face. Trepidation about what, I haven’t a clue. He darts his tongue out and swipes it along his bottom lip, seemingly unaware of how damn sexy he is in his black dress pants and dark gray button-down shirt. It’s open at the collar and I can see a sliver of what I know to be a delicious chest.

Miles bumps into him from behind and squeezes his shoulder, ultimately pushing him to our small circle.

“You ladies coming out with us tonight?”

“We planned on going home,” Walker says, wrapping his arm around Riley’s waist and dragging her into his side.

“Come on, man. You guys can fuck like rabbits later. We gotta celebrate. I already reserved a table at Whiskey Buckle.”

“That sounds fun.” Riley pats Walker’s stomach. “Jackson and Taylor, can you make it?”

“Sorry, dollface. Taylor has court in the AM and I have a video conference call with Hong Kong at the asscrack of dawn.”

“Rowan and I are in.” I elbow her and she nods in agreement.

“I’m off tomorrow.”

“Perfect.” Miles steps behind us and drapes his giant ass arms that have a wingspan broader than a 747 over our shoulders. “Hump. You’re coming too. If you’re lucky, literally and figuratively.”

Nash shakes his head. “That doesn’t even make sense.”

“Coming as in—”

Nash holds up his hand. “Yeah. I get it. I also get that your IQ is lower than your jersey number.” His gaze drops to my chest. Or rather, the big eight-six on the front of my jersey. Miles’s number.

“So you’re coming...squared?”

The lack of amusement painted on Nash’s face only intensifies my giggles. “Come on, Nash Potato. Live a little.”

“Nash Potato?” Miles kisses the top of my head. “Fuck, that’s genius. I’m a little jelly I didn’t think of that first.”

If looks could kill.

No, Nash’s dark eyes aren’t deadly, unless you count death by orgasm. Not that I’m anywhere near, but if he’d strip down to those delectable boxers I caught him in and let me drool for a few minutes over his body, I no doubt would die by orgasm.

Too bad his personality leaves much to be desired.

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