Page 53 of Penalty Kick

Talia: Wow…

Dash: I hope that is a good wow…?

Talia: It is. No one has ever made me feel the way you do, Dash. And I like it. A lot.

Dash: Same

Sighing, she looked at the time on her phone. She needed to get some sleep. She was picking up Aspen early tomorrow morning, and then had a long day of reception stuff with Felicity. She wished that Dash were here with her now, so she could fall asleep wrapped up in those arms, but that would come soon enough.

Talia: I need to get some sleep

Dash: Same. Sweet dreams, Bonita.

Dirty dreams is more like it…

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Talia inhaled deeply, her heart racing faster than the horses at Churchill Downs as she walked into Archer’s Green. The last time she’d been here had been for Felicity's father’s funeral. That day had been somber to start with and ended with all kinds of shit hitting the proverbial fan—much of which she had been the catalyst for, unknowingly outing Felicity and Gunnar’s then-secret relationship.

All of that was behind them though, and today they were celebrating.

The massive ballroom looked like a different room than it had that day. There was the same basic setup—a elaborate buffet along one wall, opposite a large mahogany bar with intricate carvings, and a dance floor in the back, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a pristine garden. The elegant white decorations, roses, and twinkle lights gave the space a romantic, intimate feel that surrounded Talia the moment she stepped foot into the room. Giving Dash’s hand a squeeze, she turned to smile at him, happiness washing over her that he was here.

“You look radiant,” he whispered into her ear, placing a soft kiss just underneath her earlobe.

A shiver ran down her spine, the gentleness of his touch paired with the slight tickle of his breath against her skin making her already racing heart kick up a notch. If he kept this up, she was done for. It had taken everything she had in her not to drool when he and Liam had walked into the apartment to pick up her and Avery, both of them looking like they had just walked off the runway in their bespoke suits. The way his eyes had danced up and down her body, slowly drinking in her short, shimmery silver dress had made something ignite in her. Talia had never heard of a wrap halter dress prior to Avery pulling this off the rack, insisting she try it on. The plunging neckline showed off more of her boobs than she ever had in public, and with a hemline that came to her midthighs at best, she’d been worried she was showing too much skin. Based on Dash’s reaction though, it was just enough.

“Yeah, well, you look good enough to eat in that suit of yours,” she replied, trying to sound coy.

“I hope to be the one eating you later,” he countered, the look in his eyes unmistakable.

Oh…my…God…

Forget that shiver, Talia suddenly felt like she was going to go up in flames. The whole room was easily a million degrees right now, and only getting warmer thanks to Dash’s deliciously dirty words. She wanted him so badly she could taste it. More than that, wanting him felt right. There was so much more to him than the bad boy exterior—although she couldn’t lie, there was excitement in that. But deeper than that, even deeper than watching him on the pitch with the kids and learning about his family, had been his promise to her. You set the pace…whenever you are ready, I will be here. Those words had solidified in her what she had already known but hadn’t wanted to admit. She wanted him like she had never wanted anyone else, and she was going to act on it.

Talia smirked, wanting to find the perfect comeback. Dash was quicker though, stealing a kiss, then stepping back and putting space between them. Behaving was the name of the game tonight, not wanting to steal the spotlight from her parents. Their marriage was the only thing anyone needed to be talking about tonight. Not to mention, they hadn’t exactly shared with Gunnar what was going on, and this was not the way for him to find out.

On the far end of the room, Felicity and Gunnar stood in front of a large archway that was covered in more white roses and twinkle lights. Both of them looked radiant—Gunnar in a classic black tux, and Felicity in a sleek, white cocktail dress that looked like it had been sewn right onto her, it fit so well. Talia was convinced she could make a paper bag look beautiful, but in a dress like this, Felicity simply glowed. The only time Talia had seen these two this happy had been on the night of their actual wedding in Vegas, and her heart squeezed with the memory.

Walking toward them, she let her hand drop from Dash’s, missing it instantly. It was hard to know if someone in the small crowd that was watching as the photographer snapped picture after picture of the newlyweds would have even noticed, but until there were more people here, she wasn't risking it. Especially with this crowd.

“The family,” as Felicity had started to refer to them as, was a bit of a motley crew. None of them were actually related—aside from Felicity and her younger brother, Dalton, and Gunnar and Talia—but that didn’t matter. They fit. And tonight, the whole gang was here.

“You know everyone, right?” Talia quietly asked Dash as they approached. “I know you know Cowboy and Theo, since he’s your boss and she just did the TV feature on the team. And Felicity’s brother, Dalton, who I guess is also your boss?” Dash nodded and shrugged, telling her he also wasn’t quite sure how that worked. “The brunette next to him is Zara, his fiancée. They are getting married next spring. And then next to Dalton is—”

“Trust me, Bonita, I know who Cullen Cruz is.”

“That’s right, he’s kind of a big deal in your world, huh?”

“Only the greatest football player of all time, yes,” Dash answered her with a wink.

Biting back a giggle, Talia tried to tamp down the butterflies that were fluttering in her tummy. That damn wink did her in every time. Dash knew it too, busting it out more and more.

“Hey!” Felicity called, breaking free from Gunnar and running over and wrapping her arms tightly around Talia.

“Stop or you’re gonna make our makeup run,” she warned.

“You’re right, you’re right,” Felicity agreed, stepping back. “But you look beautiful. And hi, Dash.”