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I shook my head. “They would probably demand that I turn over the planners. I was left the interest in the team and the stadium. My sisters were left everything else that was not specifically bequeathed. They spent three weeks in court arguing whether the furniture, fixtures, and equipment in the corporate offices were part of the team or part of ‘everything else.’ I’m sure if they knew about the planners, I’d be back in court.”
“You’re probably right.”
“I’m sorry. I made this about me. We’re supposed to be celebrating your return. I’m happy for you as your friend and as the owner of the team. Today’s loss was not fun.”
“Is that what we are? Friends, Bella?” Christian’s gaze dropped to my lips, causing my stomach to do a little somersault. He took his time making his way up to meet my eyes again. “Because I’m friends with a lot of guys on the team, and I didn’t go straight to any of their rooms to tell them the good news.”
I suddenly wished I’d kept the big suite I’d originally been booked in. This room felt very small at the moment. Where’s a grand piano to stick between us when you need it?
Christian stayed silent, watching me the way a pro poker player sizes up his opponent, trying to determine whether he should bet the pot. He rubbed his chin. “Can I ask you a personal question?”
“What?”
“On the plane you said you’d never had a serious relationship as an adult. Did you have one before you were an adult?”
The man was astute, I had to give him that. I motioned to the bottle of champagne. “Can I have more of that, please?”
“Of course.”
Christian poured me a glass, our eyes meeting more than once while he did. After, he set the bottle down and waited for me to continue. But first I drank back half the flute.
“I went out with a guy for about six months when I was seventeen.”
“Was he the same age?”
I shook my head. “He was twenty-five.”
The muscle in Christian’s jaw ticked. “Did he hurt you?”
“Oh gosh, no. Not physically anyway, if that’s what you’re thinking. I was hurt when he broke things off, but I was a kid who thought we were in love.”
“Was he your first?”
I nodded. “Oddly, I’ve been giving a lot of thought to that relationship lately. Maybe it’s one of the reasons I’ve preferred no-strings-attached in the years after.”
“Thank you for sharing that with me.”
“We’re friends, right? Friends share.”
His smile was halfhearted. “I should probably go. It’s late, and the team leaves early tomorrow morning.”
“Oh, sure. Of course. Thank you for stopping by and letting me know. I’m excited to see you back on the field.”
Christian set his glass on the small table. “’Night, Bella.”
I followed him to the door. He opened it a quarter of the way, but then stopped and shut it before turning back around. Since I’d followed, we were now toe to toe.
“I don’t have too many women friends, except for wives and girlfriends of my buddies. But I’m pretty sure friends hug goodbye.” He opened his arms and flashed a boyish grin. When I hesitated, Christian lifted his brows, as if to say, What are you waiting for, friend? It felt like a challenge—one I wasn’t about to back down from. So I stepped forward and circled my arms around his tree trunk of a torso.
God, he’s so…thick. I bet all of him is thick.
On that thought, Christian wrapped his arms around me. I’d been hugging him, but my front was barely touching his body. He corrected that. He pulled me against him so hard that I felt every single bump of his eight-pack press into my skin. I was certain when he let go I’d have inverse abs from the dents he left behind. And he smelled damn good, too. Not that it was easy to breathe with his boa-constrictor grip, but each time my nostrils squeaked in air, it was mixed with the most delicious smell—woodsy, with a hint of leather, and so damn masculine. One hand slid up my back, and his fingers dug into my hair. Goosebumps littered my arms, and even though I could barely breathe through his grip, I felt my body go slack after a few heartbeats. Not until that moment did I realize I hadn’t relaxed in a very damn long time—which was ironic since it took not being able to breathe to breathe easily. I’m not sure how long we stayed like that, but definitely longer than the length of time friends would hug goodbye.
When he finally loosened his death grip, I already knew I’d be longing for the way it felt after he walked out the door. Christian pulled back, but didn’t release his hold completely. He kept his arms locked around my waist and looked down at me, so I had to tilt my head up to meet his gaze.
