Page 20 of A Game of Ruck
“Damn right you did,” I whisper loud enough for them to hear.
Annabeth’s cheeks go pink, but she doesn’t look at me, and I make a silent promise to turn my uncouth statement from lie to fact as soon as possible.
The four women gasp, but now they’re looking at me, standing close to Annabeth.
“I mean, of course, I’m here for your wedding trip!Besides, I have a partner.This is Luca.”
She grips my hand like it’s a life raft and we’re sinking fast.
“Wait—thisguy’s withyou?”Lisa gawks, jaw slack, voice dripping disbelief like she just saw a poodle driving a Porsche.
Annabeth’s smiling.
Barely.
Okay, it’s more grimace than anything else.And I want to fix that.
But before I can swoop in with a clever quip, another figure joins the fray.
A guy—stocky, tan, wearing khakis and a designer tee like he got dressed in the dark at a resort gift shop.
“Annabeth!”he booms.“Hello again.Whoa, shit!That’sLuca Warden!Starting forward for the Carolina Rovers!”
“Guilty,” I say, smiling tightly.
The guy, who I’m now mentally filing underChad Energy, gives Annabeth a once-over.
Long.
Appreciative.
Too fucking long.
“Damn, Annabeth,” he says.“You know how to hook ’em!And wow!You look amazing.”
And that’s it.
That’s all the provocation my inner caveman needs to show up swinging.
I slide my arm around her waist and tug her flush against me.
“Yeah,” I say, low and sharp.“She sure does.”
Her breath catches.She doesn’t pull away.
She justlooks up at me, like she’s not sure what to do with all thisme.
But I know exactly what I want to do with her.
Right now?I want to make damn sure the entire wedding party knows she’staken.
Even if it’s pretend—for now.
Even if it started as a job.
Because pretending with her?
It’s starting to feel dangerously close toreal.
