Page 40 of Score to Settle
“Well, who cares what they think? You like working atSports Magazine, right?”
I stare straight up in the dark, aware of every dip of the mattress when Jake shifts, every breath I’m taking. “Yeah, I do.” I like Tim and the style of the magazine. And even though I hate that people see me as a failure, I like being back in Denver, too. “But just to make things worse, my ex, Scott, is going to be at the awards dinner too.”
“He’s a journalist?”
I nod. “And a total ass. He’s close to my dad, though. Scott and I dated in college, and when I took him home, the two of them hit it off. Dad helped Scott out a lot with his career. And he’s doing really well because of it.”
“Your dad helped your ex but wouldn’t help you?” Jake’s surprise rings in the darkness.
“Yep. Scott and I broke up after a year. It turns out he was sleeping with half the girls on the course, including my college roommate. It wasn’t a great loss, to be honest. I realized afterward what a prick he was. He always made me feel like I was in the wrong.” I take a breath. I could say more about Scott. Of all the ways he’s an entitled dick, but I push it aside, not wanting to give the man any more space in my thoughts. “But he stayed in touch with my dad. They’re still close. He’s going to be at the dinner and he’s giving a speech to introduce my dad.”
“Couldn’t you have done that?” Jake asks.
I laugh. “That would’ve required my dad to see me as something other than a giant disappointment.”
“Harp—”
“It’s fine, Jake,” I cut in, injecting a lightness into my voice and almost believing it. “I’m honestly doing fine. It’s only one night, and despite everything, I do want to support my dad.”
Jake is quiet for a long time and I think he’s fallen asleep but then he whispers, “This won’t mean anything because I’m justme, but you’re fucking awesome. If your dad and the room full of journalists on Tuesday can’t see that, then it’s their loss.”
I lie awake for a long time, remembering the loneliness of my childhood. All the nights I longed for a mom I’d never known but was acutely aware was missing in my life. And then as a teen, when sixteen-year-old me would fill that loneliness with dreams of Jake Sullivan noticing me for the first time and thinking I was awesome. Jake is wrong. His comment is everything.
EIGHTEEN
JAKE
I wake to find I’m on my side, with an arm flung over Harper’s waist and a hard-on so big it’s almost painful. My thoughts leap straight back to last night. The way Harper pressed against me when we kissed and how fucking good it felt. And that cute night-set she’s wearing, the strap of which has fallen over her shoulder in her sleep. I was halfway to ruined when she stepped out of the bathroom wearing it last night. But it feels weird to stare while Harper’s asleep.
Slowly, I move my arm away from Harper’s body, trying not to wake her. The last thing she needs to see is the tent I’m pitching under the sheets. Man, I haven’t woken up with morning wood like this since I was a teen.
I step to the bathroom and quietly close the door. I need to get it together. I’m acting like some horny frat boy around Harper and she deserves better. That’s why I stopped things progressing last night. It took every ounce of my willpower to pull away from those beautiful full lips. All I wanted was to push her onto the bed and ravage every inch of her body. And I’m pretty sure from the sultry look in her eyes when I pulled back, she wanted it too.
But Harper had been sad after the call from her dad. It felt like I was taking advantage of a low moment. Besides, the whole reason Harper is spending so much time with me is so I can prove my reputation is bullshit. I can hardly do that and make a pass at her at the same time. Even if it did half kill me to promise I wouldn’t try to kiss her again when, honestly, it’s all I can think about.
Turning on the shower, I step under the hot spray and take my dick in my hand. I think of Harper’s lips, her smooth skin, the soft sound she made in her throat when I touched her. It barely takes any time before I’m shuddering in release.
Harper is awake when I step out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my waist. Just looking at her tousled hair and that sheepish smile makes my dick twitch all over again.
“Morning,” I say, trying to act like this is a completely normal situation.
“Hey.” She bites her bottom lip then pulls her hair up into a bun. “Look, about last night…” she starts, but trails off.
“If you’re going to start getting weird on me about the thing that is already forgotten, please don’t,” I say. “It happened. It’s forgotten. So get up because we’ve got the meet-and-greet fans breakfast this morning and you’re going to want to be taking notes on how amazing the fans think I am. It’ll be good background for your feature.”
Harper arches an eyebrow in reply. “Someone’s woken up thinking pretty highly of himself.”
“Maybe you bring out the best in me,” I reply. I meant it as a throwaway comment, but it lands like it’s more.
Harper shoots me a look like she isn’t sure I’m joking. I’m not entirely sure I am either and the realization causes a nervous energy to thud through me. I think about how much better I’ve been playing for the last three weeks and wonder if there’s some truth to my comment.
I reach for the edges of the towel slung around my hips. “Are you planning to watch me get dressed or?—”
“No,” she yelps, jumping up and heading for the bathroom.
I keep my eyes off her ass and focus on finding my clothes.
“Jake,” she says, and I look up to find her standing in the doorway to the bathroom. Her eyes are wide, her face clear of makeup and just as beautiful. “I know we’re not talking about the thing we’ve forgotten, but I just wanted to say thank you. You were kind to me last night when I needed it.”
