Page 98 of Let You Love Me

He shifts on his feet and turns toward me, his arms dropping at his side as I clear my throat. “I have sisters, sir. I guess I’m kind of used to thinking about those things.”

“Well . . .” Coach nods in my direction while Dolly beams. “I appreciate it. That’s . . . smart,” he says, almost begrudgingly as he glances back at Lane. “Even though Jason has done work for us before, Teagan probably has a point. You shouldn’t have been meeting him alone. But all you had to do was tell me, and I—”

“Would’ve stopped watching game tape to come with me?” Lane smirks, her brows rising.

Coach gapes, shame sliding over his features.

“That’s what I thought.” Lane snorts but reaches out to pat him on the back. “Anyway, it worked out fine. Teagan was able tostop by and entertain Sophie while I got the contract signed. It’s all good, and I’ll have a roof in the next few weeks.”

“That’s lovely.” Dolly reaches out and squeezes my arm. “It’s so nice to know Lane has someone else looking after her best interests, isn’t it, Ed?” She glances pointedly at her husband, a warning in her tone.

I bow my head, swallowing over the guilt rising in the back of my throat. An image of Lane with the moonlight glittering over her bare skin just moments before she plunged into the water slides through my head.

If by looking after Lane’s best interests she means ogling her naked and imagining all the things I’d like to do to her, then, sure, I’m a fucking saint.

“It is,” Coach says, hesitating before he adds, “he’s on the team, you know?”

I inhale, more than a little relieved.

“Yes, he told me,” Dolly says.

Coach brightens and I have to blink to make sure my eyes aren’t playing tricks on me. “Damn good player, too. A lot of talent. Lane and I were just talking about him a little while ago, weren’t we, Lane?”

Lane’s eyes widen and her cheeks flush.

“Were you now?” I drawl.

So maybe that’s where the sudden bout of doubt came from?

“You just came up in passing,” Lane waves it off as if it’s nothing.

“Well, to be fair, you asked me what I thought of him.” Coach rocks back on his heels, so serious I want to burst out laughing because if Lane’s squinty eyes are any indication, she wants to kill him.

“You were asking about me, huh, Turner?” I ask her, my tone smug.

Lane’s throat bobs before she shoots her father another scathing look.

“Teagan, why don’t you come in and have a seat?” Dolly asks. “Have some coffee?”

“I’d love to—”

“Oh, no, no, no, no.” Lane grabs my arm and steers me toward the door. “We’d better get going or we’re going to be late.” She pauses, then reaches out to Sophie. “Come on, Soph. Let’s get your coat and shoes on.”

“Oh, so soon?” Dolly asks in a sorrowful tone. “Where are you off to?”

“Uh . . .” Lane glances at me in question. “Teagan’s taking us to, uh—”

“It’s a surprise,” I say, having mercy on her.

“Do you need us to watch Sophie, dear?” Dolly asks, directing the question toward Lane, her knowing gaze so loaded with meaning, I snort as I glance away.

“No. We were planning on taking her.”

“Lane”?Dolly shoots her a look only a mother can give?“you can leave her with us once and a while, you know?”

“But I want to go,” Sophie nearly cries.

“It might be nice to just have some grown up time,” Dolly adds.