Page 56 of The Wingman

Jules: Like a hyena misses a toothache.

Rider: Hey!

Jules: Kidding.

After his away game last night, the guys went out to celebrate the win, but Rider went back to the room to Skype with me. It was another fun night, and as much as I hate to admit it, and would never voice a word of it to him, I miss him more than words can say.

Rider: What are you wearing?

Jules: Didn’t we do this last night?

Rider: Yeah, that was fun, but I’m serious. I’ll be there in ten minutes. Put on something comfortable, and warm. We’re going out.

Jules: Where are we going?

Rider: You’ll see.

I drop my phone and hurry upstairs to my room. My pulse is leaping, anxious to feel his arms around me again. Yeah, okay, so I shouldn’t be letting myself get carried away, shouldn’t let myself fall for the man who’s a sworn bachelor for life—a guy who thinks people love him because he’s a hockey player.

Am I falling for him?

Oh, God, I very well could be and that frightens me more than anything. More than losing him? Honestly though, my time with him has been a whirlwind, and we’ve been having so much fun, I hadn’t realized that I’ve been going through life without living it. Fear has been holding me back, but goddammit, I’m so tired of being afraid.

With my emotions in turmoil, I tug on a pair of yoga pants, a t-shirt and grab my favorite hoodie. The sound of his Jeep pulling into the driveway brings a big smile to my face. I glance at my reflection in the mirror, smooth my hair back, and walk down the stairs when all I want to do is run into his arms.

He knocks and I open the door. The sight of him, freshly showered, hair still damp, overwhelms me. “You still have my key, don’t you?”

“Yeah,” he says and steps in to me, until his hard body is pressed against mine. “Want it back?”

“No, it’s always good for a friend to have a key.” I give a casual shrug. “You know, in case I lock myself out.” He nods, and I feel an odd little punch to my heart. What? Did I want him to say we were more than friends? Jesus, Jules, get it together. Things might be changing for you, but that doesn’t mean they’re changing for him.

“Or if I

want to sneak in and ravish you.”

“Yeah, that too,” I say, working to keep my voice casual.

His cock thickens against my stomach and I reach between us and cradle it. His eyes briefly shuts and he groans. “Keep that up and we won’t get out of here.”

“Maybe I don’t want to.”

His eyes darken as his gaze moves over my face, and for a brief second, he looks like he’s waging some internal war, then he exhales and steps back. “There are so many things I’m going to do to you later.” Peaches steps up to us and curls around his legs.

“Looks like she’s warming up to you.”

“Or she’s trying to trip me up.”

I laugh. “Yeah, probably that.”

“You ready?” he asks and takes my hands.

I fish my keys from my purse. “Are you going to tell me where were we’re going?”

“Nope.”

“As long as it’s not a gum wall, I’m game.”

He grins. “It’s hard to beat the gum wall, but I think you’ll like this.”

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