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Heat flushed over my body, my mind instantly replaying the kiss.
I couldn't stop thinking about it. I'd never been kissed like that before. He'd somehow thrilled me while also coaxing me into this languid and blissful state, which didn't make any sense at all because they were two complete opposite feelings, and yet somehow he'd managed it.
Not to mention that every time I thought about it, Icravedthat feeling again.
The feeling of being someone's sole focus. It was such a rarity for me to allow anybody to take control or to help or to even put me at the center of their attention. That just wasn't my role in life. It never had been.
I was the responsible one. The protector, the provider, the planner. The warrior, as Jesse and Brecken liked to say.
I wasn't someone who was taken care of. Ever.
And yet...When Crossland had kissed me, I’d felt fully taken care of for the first time.
Even though it was just a game.
Even though it had been out of some desperate edge to prove he could do better than I did.
And Ilikedthat. I liked that a lot.
“Oh, no,” Maple said, waggling her finger at me. “I see that look. Where did you just go?”
“I have an idea,” Jesse muttered under his breath before hiding behind his drink.
I flashed him a scolding look.
He'd been at the show and told me he’d walked by, witnessing a fraction of what we thought was a hidden kiss.
“You have to give us something,” Sophia begged.
I couldn't stop myself from smiling. I guess it wasn't against the contract terms to talk about things that a boyfriend and girlfriend would do.
“We kissed,” I said. And it felt good to tell some truth.
Sophia and Maple shared excited little squeals before silently urging me to continue.
I took a sip of my drink, drawing out the anticipation just because I knew it would drive them nuts. When Sophia looked like she was ready to throttle me, I continued.
“It was as hot as he looks in those suits he wears.”
I was met with another round of squeals, followed by several high fives across the table.
The normality of sharing sassy tidbits among trusted confidants filled me with excitement.
But as our food arrived, I caught Jesse looking discreetly at me.
And because I knew him so well, I knew that he was worried.
Because he knew the truth.
He knew this was all a ruse.
Pretending to be somebody's girlfriend was one thing, but kissing them and actually enjoying it? Kissing Crossland and craving it more than I craved my next iced coffee? Well, that was another thing entirely.
CHAPTER 8
Crossland
It was a rare thing when our monthly poker game and a Calgary versus Reaper game ended up in the same weekend.
