Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 133(@200wpm)___ 106(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 133(@200wpm)___ 106(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
Sighing, I waited for them to catch up to me.
“Hey,” I greeted.
Lennox smiled widely and grabbed my hand, pulling me in for a back-slapping hug. “Congratulations, Rhodes. You boys have made me proud.”
“Thanks, Lennox. That means a lot,” I said genuinely.
“It looked like Cole pretty much chewed you out for that mishap in the fourth quarter, so I won’t even mention it.”
“Thanks,” I replied dryly. I rolled my eyes at his passive-aggressive jibe, knowing it was all in fun.
“Lennox, you’re being rude,” Brie cut in. If I were a lesser man, I might have kept the grin off my face at seeing the big, bad Lennox Madison being chastised by his pretty, little wife…or not so little, considering she was about to pop. Lennox’s glare said he was fully aware of why I was amused.
“You remember our niece, Finley,” Brie announced with a wave toward my girl, who smiled at me, making my heart squeeze. I hated that I couldn’t pull her to me and give her a kiss, one that would show this punk who she belonged to.
“And this is Lennox’s nephew, Gabe and his wife, Avery. Who also happens to be my best friend.” Brie smiled at Lennox with a twinkle in her eyes. “We actually met at their wedding.”
Married? Lennox’s nephew? Finley didn’t have a brother, so that meant that this was her cousin. Her married cousin.
My smile was sincere as I said hello to him and his wife. “Nice to meet you, Gabe, Avery.”
“You, too,” he returned as we shook hands.
“I think you know the twin brother of one of our other best friends. Miles Hensley,” said Avery as I shook her hand.
“Ah, yes. Wide receiver. Phoenix Dragons.”
“Yep,” she confirmed with a grin.
“We’ve known each other for several years. We have the same agent.”
Lennox muttered something, making me laugh. My agent was one of the few honest ones out there, but Lennox was still smarting over the last two deals the guy had brokered with the Nighthawks.
We chatted for a few more minutes, then I wished them good night after coming up with a lame excuse on why I wasn’t headed to The End Zone.
Finley shot me a smile over her shoulder as they walked away, and I tried to return it. She obviously noticed the tightness in my expression though because her smile slipped and her shoulders fell.
I looked forward to celebrating with her at home tonight. But I wouldn’t be able to keep this relationship a secret for much longer.
10
FINLEY
Watching Rhodes play an incredible game had turned me on more than I expected. All I had wanted to do when I saw him in the stadium parking lot was throw myself in his arms. Walking away from him had been the hardest thing to do, but it had been the only way to throw my uncle off the scent.
Luckily, Gabe and Avery had been in town for the game because they were an excellent distraction. Lennox hadn’t asked any questions when I bailed on their post-game plans so I could head to Rhodes’s place instead.
He waited for me when I arrived, using the fob he’d given me so I could get to his floor. As soon as the elevator doors slid open, he yanked me close and crashed his mouth against mine, a deep growl rumbling up his chest.
I was breathless when he finally broke our kiss, and I already missed the feel of his lips on mine. Then he looked down at me with that bright smile of his, water dripping on his lips from his still-wet hair from the shower, and I couldn't help but grin in return as he led me into his apartment.
“I was hoping we’d win today because I bought you something. It’ll come in handy for our next game.”
I hadn’t even noticed the little red gift bag perched on the couch. I was too busy wondering how quickly I could get him naked on the leather sectional.
“Want to open it?” he asked, dangling the handle from his massive fingers—the ones I wanted so badly on me.
“I thought maybe we’d celebrate first,” I said, taking a step closer and fluttering my eyelashes as I met his heated stare.
I was still getting used to the whole “being sexy” thing, but if the bulge in his sweatpants said anything, I was at least having some effect on him.
“Open the bag first,” he said.
“Ugh, fine,” I huffed, rolling my eyes as I took the bag, opening it as my fingers brushed against the soft jersey material.
I had to hold back a laugh as I held up the bright red jersey with “Channing” on the back.
“Did you seriously gift me your jersey?”
He took a step closer, gripping me around the waist as he pressed my heated body against his. “Yes, and I want to celebrate with you wearing nothing but this jersey. I’m going to take you from behind so I can see my name on your back while I take you. I need to know you’re mine.”