Page 58 of Thoroughly Innocent Intent

“It means Sam might be the reason I don’t want to give up all my personal time, but she’s not the one making demands on it. You two are. In order for me to have more time with her, the same as you guys enjoy with your families, you have to pull your weight. No more calling on the single guy for all the off-field stuff we should be taking turns with.”

“I hear you,” Dante says. “But for real, I thought you loved staying busy with all that.”

“I do. But that doesn’t mean I want to be the only one doing it. Not anymore.” I see Meghan and Elliot trade a look out of the corner of my eye. “What?” I ask them.

“Nothing.” Elliot shakes her head vigorously.

I arch an eyebrow at Meghan. “What she said.” She dismisses me to look at her fingernails.

“Spit it out, you two.” That probably wouldn’t have garnered a response except that their husbands are watching them just as curiously as I am.

“Well...” Elliot wrings her hands. “It’s just that you’ve been acting differently, dating someone during the season and keeping it sort of a secret and all, and, well, when a guy starts to act differently that’s usually a sign that things are serious.”

“And?” I prompt, because it feels like that’s not all she has to say.

“Elliot thinks you’re in love with Sam.” Megan throws her friend under the bus.

“You do too.” Elliot shoots her a withering look and crosses her arms defensively.

My teammates look between me and their wives as the girls lay out their reasoning, but I’m too lost in my own mind to hear what they’re saying. On the one hand, I’m not surprised they think I’m in love. I’ve known for a while now that I feel differently about Sam, that she’s special in a way other women aren’t, at least to me, which means I could love her. But do I already? It seems like it’s too soon for that, but it wasn’t long ago I told Jen’s fiancé that love doesn’t always follow a pattern, so maybe the feelings are there.

No, wait. That can’t be right. I can’t be in love with someone I haven’t even slept with yet. Not that sex is everything, but I love sex, and it’s been an important part of every relationship I’ve ever had. I couldn’t possibly be in love with someone I haven’t shared that with.

Although I’ve shared a bed with a lot of people I didn’t love, one more example of how Sam breaks all my patterns, so maybe I’m just looking for reasons to think I’m not in love. I wouldn’t be the first guy to do that when he isn’t prepared for a woman to knock him on his ass.

“Yo, Colt. You in?” I look up to find Dante staring at me impatiently.

“What?”

“Brothers. We’re headed over for a burger. You in?” This must be the second or third time he’s asked based on the way they’re all staring at me.

“Nah, I’m meeting Sam,” I decline.

“You get a pass this time since the ladies think you deserve one, but no more secrets. We want to meet her. Soon.” Shane points at my chest.

“Yeah, okay.” I grab my gym bag and sling it over my shoulder, eager to get home. “Later.”

After another round of handshakes and hugs, I’m finally able to break free and head home, feeling both lighter and heavier. I’m glad my teammates and I are past the rift, but the conversation left me feeling anxious about Sam.

We haven’t made specific plans, but I’ve sorta been thinking tonight’s the night we take things to the next level. Part of me still wants that. I’ve been celibate since the day I met her, which isn’t my longest dry spell, but it is the longest I’ve gone without while actually having a girlfriend. And let’s just say the contact we’ve already had has me wound up and ready to go. Only now, after the girls started talking about love, I’m second-guessing things.

I’m dying to sleep with Sam. I want it more than anything except winning another ring. I don’t need to be in love with someone to sleep with them, but she might.

This is something I should’ve considered earlier, especially given the fact that she’s a virgin, but until tonight I never equated losing your virginity with being in love. Lust is the only emotion I’ve ever equated to sex, and since Sam lusts after me as much as I do her, it seemed like that would be enough. If it’s not, what kind of guy does that make me if I take her virginity without knowing if I love her back?

By the time I get home, I’ve half convinced myself that despite a nearly three-month wait, it’s too soon for sex…until I walk in the door.

I’m hit with the most heavenly smell I’ve ever encountered, courtesy of the stunning brunette pulling a dish out of the oven, and the domestic scene is a stark reminder of what’s missing in my life. For the first time since my divorce, the thought of coming home to an empty house makes me feel hollow inside. I wouldn’t want to come home to just anyone, though. I suppose that might be a sign the girls are right.

“What’s this?” I wrap my arm around Sam’s waist and pull her to me so I can nuzzle her neck.

“I figured you would be hungry.” She leans against me and tilts her head, giving me more skin to work with.

“Starved.” I give her a quick kiss and lean over her shoulder to inhale the rich aroma of cheese and sauce. “You made this?”

“God no.” She rubs her head along my jaw. “The little Italian bistro by my office made it. I thought it would make a good cheat night meal since you just finished your game.”

“It’s perfect.” I give her another kiss and reach for the plates. “So, how was the game? Did you and Delaney have a good time?”

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