“The lady handles my money—with an expert hand, I might add.” Dylan released a happy sigh. “The intimacy involved in our financial transactions is indescribable.”
“Intimacy?” Levi scoffed. “You’re delusional. And a jackass.”
“Of all the players whose money she handles, I’m Piper’s favorite,” Dylan said with complete confidence.
“In your dreams.” Shaking his head, Levi tied the laces on his cleats. “Piper gives the same professional attention to all her clients. You’re nothing special.”
Levi’s phone rang. Glancing at the screen, Dylan’s smile widened.
“Let’s ask the lady herself,” he said, answering the call before Levi could stop him. “Beautiful Piper. Who do you love more? Me or Levi?”
“At the moment,” she answered without a second thought. “you’re my number one.”
“Ouch!” Dylan snorted as Levi snatched back his phone. “Somebody’s in the doghouse.”
“Get out,” Levi said, pointing toward the exit.
“Touchy, touchy.” Dylan grabbed his helmet. “Make it quick. Coach wants to start running drills at the top of the hour.”
Alone, Levi lifted the phone to his ear.
“Piper—”
“I heard what Dylan said so I’ll say what I have to say—short and to the point,” Piper said in her best, I’m in charge, voice. “What the hell, Levi. That kiss? What the hell were you thinking?”
Levi’s lips curved into a smile of pure male satisfaction. Since they’d parted the night before, Piper had worked herself into quite a state. Seemed the morning aftereffects of their kiss were even better than he hoped.
“When done right, thinking has little to do with kissing,” Levi told her. He couldn’t quite keep a touch of smug from creeping into his voice. “And the kiss we shared? It was all kinds of right. If you say anything to the contrary, you’re lying—to me and yourself.”
“Did I say anything about the quality?” Piper asked. “I’m not surprised that you have superior lip skills.”
“Thank you,” Levi said without a bit of humility.
“Honestly, I’ve always been slightly curious about how it would feel to kiss you.”
Better and better, Levi thought. He wondered how Piper would handle their first post-encounter conversation. He worried she would use anger and denial as a shield against him. Or worse, she might shut him out while shutting him down.
Levi should have known better. Piper wasn’t one to hide her head in the sand. She didn’t shy away from uncomfortable conversations. Not that he saw anything wrong with what happened last night.
“Curiosity can be a good thing,” Levi said. “Now that we’ve kissed, what’s your verdict?”
“As I said, you’re good. Exceptionally good.”
“Keep going,” he urged.
“I give you high marks in all categories,” Piper told him. “Not too wet, not too dry. Soft, but firm. Superior use of tongue. And I like the fact that you didn’t get handsy. You touched my face, and my neck, but didn’t go for my breasts—a rookie mistake. First kiss, first base only. Smart.”
“You gave what happened a lot of thought.” Levi pumped a fist into the air. “When can we do it again?”
“We can’t,” Piper said, popping his happiness balloon. “One and done. Curiosity satisfied.”
“Don’t be so hasty.” Levi had prepared an argument—a good one. Strong and persuasive. Piper wasn’t interested.
“We’ll chalk the kiss up to a momentary aberration,” she said. “If not forgotten, then archived. Nothing more than a sweet memory.”
Sweet? Levi didn’t like Piper’s description. Hot, yes. Sensuous, definitely. But to call their kiss sweet was like calling the Mona Lisa a nice painting. How could she use such a mild word to describe a masterpiece?
“Piper—” Levi began only to have her cut him off.
“Never again,” Piper told him. “Promise me.”
“I don’t want to,” Levi said, his tone just as firm as hers.
“What you want is all that matters?” she asked.
“You can say no to me. Anytime. I’ll back off. But I don’t think you will,” he told her. “You can end our relationship. Refuse to see me. Stop answering my phone calls. Cut me off, cold turkey. If you have the willpower.”
“Arrogant prick,” Piper muttered.
Levi felt a wave of relief wash through his body. He’d gambled that Piper wouldn’t trash their relationship simply because she was rattled by his kiss and worried about the implications. He’d won. For now. She might change her mind at any moment, her prerogative. His mission was to make certain she had no reason to leave him. Now, or ever.
“Why?” Piper asked with a sigh. “We’ve been friends for two years. Spent hours together. You’ve had chance after chance to kiss me. Why now?”
Levi understood Piper’s confusion because she was right. Hopefully, his answer would help her to understand.
“Monte Oliver’s accident was a wakeup call.” Rubbing his neck, Levi leaned against the locker as he gathered his thoughts. “What we have here on Earth goes by in a blink, Piper. I realized how much time I’ve wasted. Comfortably coasting along. I’m done. From now on, I refuse to play backup in my own life.”
“You think our friendship has been a waste of time?” The hurt in Piper’s voice was unmistakable. “I’ve treasured every second. I’m sorry you don’t feel the same.”
Like a knife to his heart, Piper’s words cut deep. Levi realized while trying to explain his actions, he’d taken a wrong turn down a dark alley. Quickly, he reversed course and headed toward the light.
“Meeting you at that wedding, agreeing to be your fake boyfriend, was the best thing that ever happened to me.” Wishing he could see what was going on in Piper’s expressive green eyes, Levi cursed the distance between them. “You’ve been my friend. My confidant. Now, I’d like you to be more.”
“More?” Piper asked.
“For too long, I’ve accepted my lot in life.” Levi smiled. “I’m the starting quarterback for the Seattle Knights. Win or lose, whether I succeed or fall flat on my face, no one will ever take that away from me. I can’t go back, Piper.”
“What exactly are you after, Levi?” Piper sighed. “What do you want?”
The answer was simple, yet infinitely complicated.
“I want everything.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
▲ ▼ ▲ ▼
