AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’d love to,” she says, bounding off my lap.
“Me too.”
Bain shakes his head. “Sorry, dude… I need Stevie as my partner. We’re playing Gage and Liam.”
I laugh. Those are two players who haven’t been here and don’t know how good Stevie is. “Fine. I’ll come cheer her on, then.”
The game is eight ball and Gage breaks the rack. He’s actually a good player, and soon the entire team surrounds the table, watching the action.
It’s Stevie, though, who everyone cheers for, because while the other three are good, she’s pulling off trick shots that amaze and wow. It makes me realize I was pretty lucky to have beaten her when we first played.
Or did she lose on purpose because she wanted to give me that ten minutes of her time?
I like that possibility a lot, and I’ll make sure to ask her later tonight. She’ll tell me the truth, but she’ll make me work for it.
A nudge to my shoulder gets my attention, and I turn to see Harlow. “I’m here to act as the concerned friend while Stevie is otherwise occupied.”
“Concerned about what?” I ask, keeping my eye on the game and more importantly, my girl who just jumped the cue ball over another ball to make her shot.
“The usual,” she says with a smirk. “That you’ll be nice to her, that you won’t hurt her, that it won’t be just Bear in line to kick your ass if you do but I’ll be next.”
I cut her a glance. “You know damn well you don’t need those assurances.”
Harlow appraises me. “I totally judge you for the prior woman you were with.”
I laugh and shake my head. “And it’s who I was dating and how hard I tried to make it work that got Stevie to give me a chance. She admired that I didn’t quit when it got hard.”
Harlow’s eyes go round. “Really?”
“Really. But you don’t need me to tell you that. You know I’m a good dude.”
“I don’t, but Stone says you are.”
“Well, there you go.” I fully face her, though so she knows I’m serious. “But truthfully… I really like Stevie. Like, in a way that no other woman has ever made me feel. It’s the real deal.”
Harlow glances around and then leans in to me. “I can attest that you’ve got Stevie quite giddy herself. She really likes you too.”
“And you know this how?” I ask, needing more than just gut instinct.
“Because she told me, and I can see how she acts around you. I’ve seen her with every man she’s ever dated, and you’re different. So you better make it work or—”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah… Bear will kick my ass, then you.”
“And I’ll have Stone add on a third ass kicking,” she says fiercely.
I grin at her. “Duly noted.”
Harlow bumps her hip against mine. “But I don’t think I have anything to worry about.”
Eyes pinned on Stevie teasing Gage and Liam about something—seeing how easily she fits in with my people—I assure Harlow, “No, you don’t.”
CHAPTER 15
Stevie
I walk into the diner and do a brief glance around as I tug off my gloves. I spot Rory in a booth at the back as she waves to get my attention. She rises as I head her way.
Funnily enough, she looks a little like Stevie Nicks. Long, wavy blond hair that reaches well past her mid back with long bangs framing her face. She’s tall and curvy, dressed in a sort of gypsy-esque flowing dress with a long, black-lace overlay coat. She wears wrist bangles and big hoop earrings.
“Stevie,” she exclaims, and I don’t need her outstretched arms to know I’m expected to hug her. I got a super tight one last night before she and Hendrix left.
Her surprise visit meant that Hendrix and I didn’t stay together last night. While Rory wanted to take an Uber home so he could come to my house, the two of us wouldn’t hear of it. Of course, Hendrix couldn’t drive, so he accompanied her to his place, but we both agreed it was poor form to leave a houseguest alone like that.
I was invited to Hendrix’s, but I didn’t want him to have to drive me all the way back home this morning. He had a mid-morning skate, and I wanted him to be able to sleep in.
So here I am, having spent the night alone, and yet I couldn’t be happier because it meant that I got to meet Rory. And tonight, my dad and Hendrix are coming over for dinner so they can get to know each other a little better. It was Hendrix’s idea, and while my dad grumbled when he suggested it last night, I could tell he was secretly pleased to see the guy I’m interested in take some initiative. No one has ever done that before because my dad has always intimidated my prior boyfriends.
