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I must be really desperate to justify all of this if I’m finding logic in their words. “I don’t want to be known as the reporter who sleeps with the athletes she interviews.”
“Okay, first of all, you only slept with one of them,” Clare tells me pointedly. “And second—I doubt you’re the first one to do it, Willow. I find it hard to believe that not a single other professional who interacts with players have done it, too. They probably are just good at hiding it.”
I blow out a breath. “My job is more important than some football player.”
“A sexy, older, single, rich, superstar football player,” Vick emphasizes, like all of those traits are important. “Besides, you need to have some fun, Willow. It’s not the end of the world if you get with an athlete. You don’t always have to be all work and no play.”
Her statement is followed by my phone buzzing, and I pull it out to see that I have a text from an unknown number.
Unknown:Join me for dinner tonight.
My heart drops as I read the text. Only one person could have sent it to me—I can almost hear his deep voice saying those words, but I don’t give in easily. Even as my thumbs tremble slightly as I respond.
Willow:Who is this?
Unknown:The guy who made you come twice in the locker room.
“Holy shit,” Vick guffaws, obviously reading my text as my throat dries.
“What? What’s happening?” Clare demands, wanting to be in the loop.
Vick slaps my arm. “Reply to him! Say yes!”
My eyes are wide as Clare groans. “Reply to who? Say yes to what?”
When I don’t say anything, shock leaving me speechless as I reread Reed’s texts over and over again, Vick bursts out, “Reed asked Willow out on a date!”
This time, Clare really did swerve the car.
***
“What the hell are you doing, Willow? This is such a bad idea. A stupid, terrible idea.”
I mutter those words to myself, constantly, as I walk up the front door of Reed’s house—or, more accurately speaking, mansion. It’s within one of Chicago’s gated communities with a shit-ton of security. Reed had told his team I would be arriving and to expect me, so driving in had been no problem. But now I’m standing in front of his sprawling home, the hood of my jacket up because not only is it cold, but I don’t want anyone nosy enough to spy over to see me on Reed Maxwell’s doorstep.
Talk about taking risks. I think Reed fucked most of the brain cells out of me.
Vick and Clare practically pushed me to take Reed up on his offer for dinner. As much as I wanted to see him again, I tried to do the responsible thing and not accept the dinner invitation. But the girls were incessant, not leaving me alone for a second, and now here I am. I would be lying if I said a part of me didn’t want to come. Reed’s invitation had both shocked me and warmed my insides up with sheer pleasure. I didn’t want to say no, even though I knew all of the reasons why I shouldn’t say yes. And now I’m on his doorstep with butterflies in my stomach and seconds away from getting back in my car and driving home.
But the front door swings open, and there he is, looking unfairly gorgeous and enough to make a grown woman—me—tremble at the knees.
A small smile tugs at the corner of Reed’s mouth as he stands there in black jeans and a navy button down tucked in, sleeves rolled to the elbows to show off sinewed forearms that make my mouth water. The shirt stretches deliciously over his firm chest and broad shoulders, his dark hair stylishly messy atop his head, and brown eyes looking at me like I was the meal being served tonight.
His gaze takes in my own outfit, a deep purple jumpsuit with a V-neck that gives off ample cleavage, sleeveless under the jacket I’m wearing. My hair is straight, makeup not too heavy but enough to accentuate my eyes and lips, and underneath all of that, a new pair of lingerie that I’m not sure Reed will see, but a part of me—a big, rebellious, horny part—hopes that he does.
When his eyes meet mine, my heart jumps at the hunger that swirls in them. The want. And something else I can’t put a finger on just yet.
“Wow, Willow,” Reed says lowly, his voice deep, which sends shivers down my spine as his hand finds mine. His touch is warm and electric as he pulls me into his house, his eyes never leaving me as I enter. “You look gorgeous.”
He shuts the door behind us, my cheeks aflame as I look up at him and the smile that touches my mouth is effortless. I don’t even think to look around his home; my gaze is locked on him. “Thank you,” I murmur, my stomach fluttering with delight.
His smirk widens, sexy and slow, as his fingers trail up my arm and gently cup my cheek. Reed dips his head, his gaze never leaving mine as he says, “I’m going to kiss you now.”
I already feel breathless. “Let me take my jacket off first,” I tease.
“You have three seconds.”
A huff of a laugh escapes me, but I don’t waste time in shrugging it off, pulling my arms through the sleeves and draping the jacket over my arms in front of me. When I look up at Reed, he’s already leaning in, and my eyes fall shut as his lips meet mine in a kiss that’s softer than I anticipated. Sweeter. Like he’s taking his time because he knows there will be others.
