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A lot? Fair. Took a real man to handle a lot. Ronan shrugged. “You dated weak men. That’s what dating is, weeding out the non-contenders.” He played with talented guys who were a lot. Every one of them was a star. “Everyone on our team is a lot.” Had he just compared her to a bunch of sweaty guys? Idiot.
Calista blinked, looking surprised. She smiled sweetly at him. “That’s one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me.” Her voice was quiet despite the delight in her green eyes.
Damn, she needed more people in her life who appreciated her and her uniqueness. Ronan put his hand over her ankle and squeezed gently.
Calista swallowed hard. “Piper thinks I should dress better. Order nicer lingerie. I like comfy. But back in the laundry room, I wasn’t only re-imagining the dryer.” She wore a confessional expression. “I was thinking, if I had fancier undies, and this kind of sleepover happened with a real guy, I’d be excited to have silky tempting lingerie to wear, instead of dressing like I was casual and wouldn’t put in any effort for him. That’s fully what I was thinking about in the laundry room.”
Who knew honesty could be such a freaking aphrodisiac? All he could think about was the clothes she wore against her skin. He had to stop. Focus on work. Hockey. Calista in blue Snowers’ panties. Puck. Nope, don’t go there. Rink. Ronan edged his fingers along her shin and under the hem of her yoga pant leg, then slid his thumb against her silky ankle.
Calista’s pupils dilated.
Ah, she was attracted to him. This was not just hypothetical, nor was it professional, at all.
He’d never touched Dodo’s ankle, never had any desire to, never would. But here he was with Calista, and he couldn’t make his fingers drop away. His sheer inability to pull up even a speck of his mammoth discipline was throwing him off. He’d borrow some of her restraint. Open his mouth, say she was the owner, and they should disband and meet back at the stadium.
Ronan swallowed. “I was involved with a woman in the Washington office, an executive. When things went south, I was traded. The move was best for the team. I won’t make that mistake again.” He knew his fingers were still rubbing the back of her soft ankle, but he couldn’t stop. Her skin was like petals in the sun, and by comparison her soft stretchy yoga pants felt rough. “You’re lovely, but you see, our not getting together is not about you. My past has taught me better than to mix professional and personal.”
Calista shifted against the cushion, and her arms fell to her sides. “I didn’t know I was attracted to you until today.”
Her admission punched him in the chest.
“I mean, I adore you, you’re my favorite player, but I didn’t know I wanted…”
Ronan put his finger against her soft lips to keep her from finishing her sentence. His heart rate picked up. He knew what she wanted.
“You, that way,” she whispered, and her warm breath set his nerve endings alight from his finger up his arm and to his chest. From there, every part of him went on alert. He was narrowed in on the answer to a deep want, a building desire, an unshakable pull. He tightened his grip on her ankle.
Calista nodded. “I understand what you’re saying. Look what happened to Dodo and Dahlia. She had to leave her job. Who would want to work under their ex? If my stock purchase gets officially stamped, Dahlia will still be in an awkward position, but at least she’ll be equal to Dodo. I can do that for her. She deserves it, and I’d love to help her.”
Ronan didn’t want to talk about her cousin or the front office. “You believe the sale will go through?” His voice came out raw.
Calista nodded. “I think within the month the paperwork will be sorted. Or, just over a week if our arbitration works.”
“That gives us a week.” What was he saying? Was he really inviting Calista into his bed for a week? Had his desire smashed all his discipline, and rationalized a timeframe to get what he wanted, what they both wanted?
Calista blinked rapidly.
Ronan shook his head. “I shouldn’t have said that.” He was right though. They had a brief window where they could be more than friends. “The idea was in my head, and the words popped out of my mouth.” There were so many reasons they did not suit each other. “There’s no point though, I’ll hurt you. I want a homebody, cook and take care of me woman. You’re…”
Calista finished his sentence. “A lot, I know.”
Ronan shifted. He leaned forward, put his finger under her chin, and tilted her head up to his.
