Page 27 of Her Power Play

I snort, but I don’t answer him, because he knows who the fuck I’m looking for. “She left. She was too far away for me to ask any questions, but I watched her jog to her car. I don’t know what was wrong, but she left in a hurry.”

Without even thanking him, I climb into my truck, start the engine, and tear out of the parking lot because I’m a man on a mission.

On a mission to find out what the fuck happened to my woman.

It doesn’t take me long to get to her place. Her car is parked in its usual spot, so that’s a good sign. Shifting the truck into Park, I climb out of the front seat and slam the door behind me as I make my way toward her front door.

Lifting my hand, I ball my fingers into a fist. I try as hard as I can to knock on the door without pounding as hard as I want to.

I am amped up but trying to remain calm.

Attempting to remain calm doesn’t take away from the fact that I’m actually pissed off, and I’m curious to know what went through her head to make her run off like that.

She doesn’t open the door. I knock again, this time a little louder. I hear movement in her place. The door doesn’t open, though. I knock again, lifting my arm and placing it against the door, then lean my forehead against my forearm.

“Ruby,” I call out. “Open the door.”

“I think you should go home, Liam,” she calls out.

“I’m not going anywhere until you talk to me.”

I hear her unlock the door, so I take a step backward and wait for her to open it all the way. She does, her red-rimmed eyes meeting mine, and my whole body jerks. Without a word, I move toward her.

Ruby takes a few steps backward and then stops. Slamming the door behind me, I continue moving forward, lifting my hands and cupping her cheeks. “What happened?” I demand. “Why did you leave like that?”

“I’m not them,” she whispers.

“Who?”

My eyes search hers. I don’t know what I’m looking for or if I’ll find it, but I’m trying to figure out what the fuck happened and, more importantly, what she’s even talking about. Who is she not? I am so goddamn confused I don’t even know what to think right now.

“I’m not those girls. The ones waiting outside. I’m so not them, it’s not even funny. And they’re all there, waiting with their signs, and I just can’t be that.”

I stare at her, blinking, unsure as to why she’s even talking about them and also why the fuck she would want to be them. Puck bunnies are for a good time. They know it’s not going anywhere, and they just want a chance to be with a player.

“I don’t want them,” I say. “I don’t want you to be them. I like you, Ruby. I asked Cupcake Girl to be my girlfriend, not them.”

“You’re going to get bored with me. I’m not very exciting.”

My eyes widen, and my lips curve up. I let out a chuckle before I lean forward, touching my mouth to hers. I don’t let her continue talking. There’s nothing else to be said. I should have warned her about the puck bunnies. I should have made sure she knew just how much I like her.

“I’m not going to get bored with you, Ruby. I’m falling in love with you.”

She gasps, her lips parting. I slip my tongue inside her mouth, and I taste her. Nibbling on her bottom lip, I don’t pull away from her. Instead, I shift my head back slightly so that I can look into her eyes.

“I’m falling in love with you,” I repeat.

Ruby lifts her arms, curling her fingers around my wrists and holding on to me there. I watch as her cheeks tint pink. Then she turns her head, touching her lips to the center of my palm before she shifts her attention back to meet mine.

“I think I might have already fallen.”

Her words come out just above a whisper, but they’re all I need to hear. Shifting my head closer, I touch my mouth to hers again. I’m keeping her. She’s everything to me, and I don’t know how it happened, but I fell in love with this cute little cupcake girl.

It was love at first sight—or maybe at first iced coffee spill.

Whatever the case, I’ve never been happier than I am with her. Everything melts away the moment my lips touch hers. All the stress from losing the game, all the pressure to make up for tomorrow’s game.

It’s gone.