Page 12 of Always Earned, Never Given

Declan

Annabelle graces me with one of those smiles that has a dimple popping deep in both of her cheeks before she tries to push my leg away from her on a laugh. It’s cute she thinks she can move me. This woman might possibly weigh a hundred and twenty pounds soaking wet. Thinking about Annabelle soaking wet has me sucking in my breath while trying to keep my face neutral as I imagine her in front of me...

In the shower.

On her knees.

I stand up and shove my hands in my pockets so she doesn’t notice the way my cock is now straining painfully against the zipper of my jeans. “I promise you, Belle, I don’t think you’re one step above a call girl.” Reaching down, I tuck a lock of her warm caramel-brown hair behind her ear and whisper, “You’re at least two or three steps above that.”

I laugh and allow her to think she’s successfully pushed me away this time.

“Get the hell out of here, Sinclair, before I change my mind and find you an escort service for this weekend.” There go those damn dimples again.

I don’t know why I do what I do next.

I don’t know what made me think it was a good move.

I lean down to say goodbye, to kiss her cheek. But Annabelle stands at the same time as I lean in, and my lips graze hers before she jumps back like she’s just been electrocuted. Those long lashes of hers flutter before she starts laughing.

Hysterically.

I don’t know whether to be pissed that she thinks this is funny or grateful that she’s not pissed. Instinct has me raising both hands in an I surrender motion as I back up.

Her fingers quickly touch her lips before she smiles, laughs, and then points toward the door. “Out. Now, Sinclair. Before I make sure it’s an ugly escort.”

I salute her as I back out through the door, trying to hold my smile back. “See ya Saturday, Belle.”

Walking back out through the studio, I stop at the desk to say goodbye to Tommy and Brady. Tommy has his headphones on while he works on a worksheet while Brady leans against the wall behind him. Reaching out, I grip his shoulder. “Hey, man. I’m outta here. I’ve got tape to watch tonight.”

The noise level around me explodes as a room full of tiny girls dressed in pink run excitedly into the waiting room, looking for their parents. I glance back over to Brady and know, based on the expression on his face, that my sister must have walked through the door.

I didn’t love finding out that my sister was involved with such a high-profile quarterback, but I was wrong to pre-judge the guy. He may be the starting quarterback for Kroydon University, but he’s not the same guy I was during my freshman year at Notre Dame.

I had it thrown at me from more girls and guys than I could count the minute I set foot on campus.

I tried to do the serious girlfriend thing that year, but it blew up in my face. Leighton was the first and only girl I dated seriously in college. I liked her, but I wasn’t in love with her. She professed her love for me a few weeks after we started dating. I like to think I tried, but I was an immature college freshman with the world at my feet and the weight of it on my shoulders. I didn’t like having a nagging girlfriend distracting me from football. I wasn’t ready to try to balance football with anything else.

I could have handled it better.

At least I learned from my mistakes.

I no longer expect Brady Ryan to make those same mistakes I did. After getting to know him this summer, I realized he’s head over heels in love with my sister. As long as he keeps her happy, I guess he’ll get to live another day.

After a few minutes, Nattie comes dancing over to us.

She’s literally dancing instead of walking.

She’s always been a little extra.

“Dec! I didn’t know you were stopping by today.” She leans in and hugs my waist. Cooper and I got all the height in the Sinclair family. Poor Nat is only five-foot-two. She used to think she’d be tall like our supermodel mother. Instead, she stopped growing in the eighth grade.

“Hey, kid. If you’d bother to check your messages once in a while, you’d know I was stopping by. I texted earlier.” No way she didn’t see it. My sister is attached to her phone.

Annabelle walks down the hall, moving next to Tommy. “Oh, she checks her messages even when she isn’t supposed to have her phone on her.” Belle raises her brow. “Isn’t that right, Nattie?”

Nat looks from Belle to me and then decides it’s time to get the hell out of the firing zone. She leans up on her toes and plants a kiss on my cheek. “Good talk. See ya soon.” She grabs Brady’s hand then pulls him behind her down the hall.

Laughter echoes behind the two of them.

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