Page 13 of One and Only

“Not a real one.” She rolled her shoulders again. “I just … it’s a long story, okay?”

“I bet it is.”

She blew out a short breath, then tucked her hair behind her ears.

“So your brother doesn’t know about this.”

“No.” Her eyes held mine, intense and unwavering. “Pleasedon’t tell him.”

I swore under my breath and stared down at the ground. Holding that dark-eyed gaze of hers for too long felt like I was making a promise, and I didn’t know her quite well enough to keep her secrets.

Greer stepped forward and set her hand on my arm. “Please,” she said again.

I glanced up, teeth clenched together and a voice in the back of my head screaming that agreeing toanythingshe was asking was the worst fucking idea I’d ever had.

“You seeing him tomorrow?” I asked. “Because if he asks me anything, I won’t lie.”

She blinked. “Tomorrow,” she said slowly.

“The family event at the team facilities. I assumed that’s why you were in town.”

Greer sucked in a breath. “Yes. Right. I … forgot.”

“Interviewing husbands will do that to you,” I said dryly.

Her eyes flattened in annoyance. “I don’t have time for this. I need to get back to interview this guy because he might just be perfect. But I won’t know that if I’m standing here talking to you.”

She brushed past me, and without thinking, I shot my hand out, wrapping my fingers around her wrist in a firm grip. Her jaw dropped open; her eyes locked where I held her in place.

Not because I wanted to hurt her. Not because it was any of my business. Because something in my gut screamed that I shouldn’t be walking away right now.

Underneath my fingers, her pulse waswild.

“Be careful,” I said urgently. “I don’t know what you’re trying to pull off, but no matter what it is, it’s not worth you trusting a stranger with something like this.”

Greer’s eyes were unwavering on mine, and the longer we stood there, my fingers around her wrist, the faster my heart started pounding. It was so loud, hammering against the cage of my ribs, I was sure she could hear it.

I didn’t know her.

I certainly didn’t know her well enough to be worried, but as I uncurled my fingers, I tried to breathe through the sudden pressure on my chest at what she’d said.

Greer swallowed, then walked back to the booth and took her seat with a pretty smile on her face.

The server joined me in the hallway. “You all right, man?”

“I have no idea,” I said.

“She seems to have that effect on everyone who’s sat in that booth with her tonight, if that helps.”

I gave him a dry look. “It doesn’t.”

Chapter3

Beckett

Most days, it felt like my life could be separated into four distinct categories.

Prepare for playing football.

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