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“Are you playing wingman now?” she said with a forced smile.

I shrugged. “Just saying, seems you two have a connection.”

The server came back at that moment and slid the receipt and my card in front of me.

“I get off in an hour,” she whispered into my ear.

Needing her out of my personal space, I raised a shoulder up toward my ear, slightly pushing her out of the way. As I signed my name on the receipt, I rolled my eyes at the phone number listed on the back of my copy.

“You ready, Rain?” I asked, pressing both hands into the bench seat, eager to get the hell out of here.

Out of habit, I scanned the restaurant and bar area, gaze snagging on a disheveled man sitting at the end of the bar, dark eyes locked on me. I met his intense stare, only breaking it when Rain walked past, heading for the door. Hand hovering over her lower back, I guided her around the full tables, noticing every time she tensed when the noise level increased from a burst of laughter or someone yelling about the game playing on the TVs.

Outside, I sucked in a deep breath of the crisp air. In my youth, I loved being surrounded by people. My favorite times were in the locker room, with the team joking and fucking around. In fact, I hated being alone. The weight of everything felt heavier if I wasn’t in the middle of a crowd.

But now I was more like Rain, the complete opposite of who I was then. I loved the quiet, savored the time I could actually think by myself.

A pricking sensation, the feeling of being watched, had every muscle tensing. It didn’t seem dangerous per se, more like how it felt to be stalked by the paparazzi.

“I can get an Uber,” Rain said halfway to the car.

“What?” I jerked my head around, searching the shadows for the cause of the sensation, but came up empty. “Why?”

“I heard what she said to you. Don’t feel you have to hold back because I’m here.” There was a sadness in her tone that told me she didn’t quite believe her own words.

“I’m right where I want to be, Rain.” Unlocking her door, I pulled it open and folded both forearms on top. “Tonight was fun. You’re not as awkward as you think. Smart as hell, though. Some words you used I’ll have to look up later.”

That sadness vanished with a wide, radiant smile. The smile that made my heart ache, and I’d do anything to see it every day for the rest of my life.

Rain nodded and stuck out her hand. I gave it a hesitant look before grasping it, mine completely engulfing her smaller one.

“Friends?”

The moment I knew I would never play football again didn’t hold a candle to the anguish that word out of her mouth sent through my chest.

Because I wanted so much more.

“Friends,” I gritted out. “Come on, let’s get you home to Jameson.”

Right into the arms of a man who deserved her.

And far from the one who didn’t.

16

RAIN

The ride to my place was quiet, both of us lost in our respective thoughts. Which I was thankful for, considering I didn’t know what to say that wouldn’t expose the utter devastation I felt at knowing I was right about Slade’s actions yesterday.

Of course, he didn’t want or see me the way I wanted and saw him. He was being territorial because a new man—an FBI agent, at that—came into town and immediately connected with me.

It made sense, yet it didn’t. I’d really hoped Slade would refute my theory, tell me I was overthinking it all and his actions in my office yesterday were genuine. That he wanted me, wanted to cross that professional boundary. With me.

But he didn’t.

Instead, he pointed out that Jameson was into me. Now, I was blind to a lot of things, but not that. Jameson made it very clear how he viewed me, never jerking me back and forth, toying with my emotions. Which was a breath of fresh air because I knew where I stood with him.

Though I also knew Jameson wouldn’t take that first step. That ball was in my court. Not because he wasn’t interested, but he toed that gentleman's line carefully. It was cute. And infuriating. Last night, I’d worn my cutest sleep shorts, basically offered myself up on a platter by lying beside him on the couch. But nothing happened.

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