Page 114 of Well Played

He chuckled. “You want me to carry you to your room, sleepyhead?”

“No, I was waiting up for you.”

“Oh yeah?” He grinned. “I like the sound of that.”

I frowned. “Let’s go into the kitchen to talk. I need some water.”

While I was at the sink letting the water run cold, Tanner came up behind me. He stood close, and a hint of something sweet wafted through the air. I turned and sniffed. “You smell like perfume.”

Tanner’s eyes didn’t quite meet mine when he spoke. “Jack’s wife hugged me goodbye when I left.”

It made sense, and I had no reason not to believe him—that is, except for hisprior track record—yet for some reason, I sensed he was lying. But unlike when I’d smelled perfume on him years ago, I didn’t really care if he’d been out with another woman. In fact, it would make my life easier if he were with someone else.

“Why don’t we sit down?” I said.

We settled in at the kitchen table. I took the same seat I’d sat in earlier with Shelby, but rather than take the seat across from me like his mother had, Tanner took the seat next to me. He also scooched his chair closer, so we were practically on top of one another.

Then he took my hand. “What did you want to talk about?”

I untangled my fingers from his. “This,Tanner. You’ve got to stop doing things like taking my hand and putting your arm around me, especially when Alex is around. I don’t want to give him the wrong impression.”

Tanner frowned. “Fine.”

“Also, I called your mom tonight when I realized I’d never reserved a room for your dad’s jersey-retirement ceremony. She told me you’d booked a suite for me, you, and Alex.”

“I thought it would be nice if the three of us stayed together as a family. The suites usually have a couch, and I figured I would crash there. You and Alex could take the bed.”

I didn’t want to drag his mother into this, so I didn’t mention the version that she’d told me earlier.

“I’m not comfortable sharing a room with you, Tanner.”

His face wrinkled, as if he were genuinely perplexed. “Why not? It’s not like I haven’t seen you naked before.”

“That’s not the point. We’re not a couple. I feel like we’ve finally gotten to a good place in our relationship, but if you keep insisting on pushing us to a place I don’t want to go, things are going to go off track.”

“Fine. I’ll call the hotel tomorrow and book you a separate room.”

“Thank you.”

“But I’m still not giving up on us. Eventually we’ll be together again, because we’re meant to be.”

I sighed. Sometimes it was like talking to a wall. “No, Tanner. We’re not.”

“We’ll see.”

It was pointless to have this conversation yet again, and my sleep was more important. “I’m tired. I’m going to go to bed. Goodnight, Tanner.”

“Goodnight, sweetheart.”

CHAPTER 31

Presley

The next week flew by, and before I knew it, I was stepping off of a plane in Denver and checking into the Four Seasons Hotel near the stadium. Just being in the same city as Levi had me on edge, and I found myself looking over my shoulder and all around every two minutes, even at the check-in desk.

Shelby had flown in yesterday, but she was waiting in the lobby when we arrived. She walked over and stood next to me as I waited on the clerk to give me a room key.

“He’s not staying at the hotel.”

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