Giving him a curious look, I can only respond to his question with one of my own. “I don’t know. Are we friends?”

The corners of his mouth curl up just a bit. “Well, I was kind of thinking we were.”

Narrowing my eyes I finally ask, “Do you even have girls who are just friends?”

Now he gives me a wolfish grin and I know whatever he’s about to say will have me rolling my eyes. “Nope, but that doesn’t mean we couldn’t engage in a little friends-with-benefits action. I’d be totally onboard with that.”

He doesn’t disappoint.

I shake my head before replying drily, “We’re not going to be that kind of friends.”

His gaze falls to my lips. Then it lowers even further to my bare legs before slowly rising back up to my eyes. His voice deepens as if it’s dropped a few octaves. It does something funny to my insides. Something I don’t necessarily like or want. “You sure about that, Ivy?”

My gaze flattens. “Positive. I think we need to keep things strictly platonic.”

He leans a little closer and my suddenly pounding heart skips a beat. “You have to admit, that was one hell of a kiss.”

My mouth dries because that damn kiss keeps nudging its way back into my consciousness at the most inopportune of times. Instead of admitting just how good it was, I clear my throat. “What kiss?”

The smile gracing his lips turns decidedly predatory. My eyes widen as I realize I’ve made a tactical error. “Maybe I need to remind you just how good it was.”

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In the blink of an eye, I’m off the bed and practically out the door. His smile only grows wider. As if he knows exactly what’s going on inside my head. I really hate that he’s able to tie my insides up into teeny tiny knots. I’ve never had that happen before. And I’m not quite sure how to handle it or make it go away.

How do you neutralize attraction like this?

“I’m… ah… going to get a bottle of water.” I throw the words over my shoulder because I don’t want to look him in the eyes again. Maybe I’m afraid he’ll see the lie within mine. “You want one?”

I’m already halfway down the short hall when I hear him chuckling. “Sure.”

As I walk through the small living room, I see Lexie and Dylan snuggled up together on the couch. “Thanks for letting him in,” I mutter on my way to the kitchen.

Lexie shrugs her shoulders before shooting me a look that says it all. “I figured you guys had stuff to talk about.”

Grumbling at her answer, I grab two bottles of water from the fridge. While I’m there, I close my eyes before inhaling and exhaling a deep breath. And then another. And then one more for good measure.

Do I want to kiss Roan again?

Ummmm, yeah. Of course I do.

That kiss the other day was completely spectacular. But I know getting tangled up with him would be a huge mistake. He’d eat me alive and spit me out without thinking twice about it.

Once my libido is firmly under control, I reluctantly head back towards the bedroom. I’m a few feet away from the door when I hear Roan’s deep voice. Like he’s talking on the phone or something. I’m almost wondering if I should give him a little bit of privacy. Maybe go sit with Lexie and Dylan when I hear what sounds suspiciously like my dad’s voice.

Brows snapping together, my feet quicken because I have to be mistaken. There is no way in hell that Roan is somehow conversing with my dad.

As I burst through the doorway, I see Roan sprawled out on my bed with a phone- my phone- held in his large hand. He’s staring at the screen, a wide smile on his face as he discusses the season… with my dad.

“No, I’ve been watching lots of film and I think we’re going to be able to take them.”

I actually wince when my dad responds enthusiastically. “I hope so. Everyone is talking about how strong the offense and defensive lines are this year. And your quarter back has one hell of an arm on him. It’s very exciting. Did Ivy happen to mention that I played football my freshman and sophomore year at Barnett?”

His amused eyes slide to mine. “No, she didn’t mention it. Anytime you’d like to attend a game, Mr. Kaster, you just let me know and I’ll get you some sweet tickets on the fifty yard line.”

“That would be great! I might just take you up on that offer, Roan. I think my wife would really enjoy seeing a Barnett football game. Especially this year.”

At the thought of Leah and my dad here at Barnett as guests of Roan, I’m suddenly spurred into action.

Oh.

Hell.

No.

Those are the only words careening through my head as I race over to the bed. Our eyes continue to hold as I barrel towards him like a freight train.




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