Page 18 of Biggest Player (Not Yours #2)

Margot

“It’s not a bad thing.”

We’re walking out of the theater; then we stop when we get to my car, the blanket that was covering my lap during the movie draped over my arm—it is now going to be a forever reminder that I let him diddle me during half of it.

A blush creeps up my face as I open the back door to my car and toss the thing in the back seat, slamming the door quickly so I don’t have to look at it.

I am lighting that thing on fire the second I get home ...

“Anytime anyone says they want to talk, believe me, it’s never good.”

I love egging him on. “Stop being so dramatic.”

“I’ve never been dramatic in my entire life,” he announces, leaning against my driver’s side door, pulling me in until I’m standing between his spread legs.

He’s so big.

So much taller.

“So you’re only being theatrical for my benefit? Gotcha.”

“That’s not what I ...” He’s looking down at me, and I’m looking up at him—and obviously the only logical thing to do right at this moment is kiss him.

All I have to do is go up on my toes and plant one on him ...

Still.

I don’t.

On the one hand: we did what we did. On the other: I don’t want to feel used. Or needy. Or greedy.

I don’t want him to have the upper hand or feel like he’s driving this train wreck.

It’s me.

I’m the captain and I say when.

“You want to kiss me,” he says. “I can tell.”

As a response I roll my eyes. He’s cocky enough, he doesn’t need me feeding his ego by confirming his suspicions. Unlike some people, I can contain my primal urges.

Er.

Recent events notwithstanding.

Movie second base does not count.

“Stop trying to distract me,” I tell him, adding a little bit of salt to my tone just to let him know who’s boss.

“Distract you from what?”

He is too handsome for his own good, and my God the man knows how to use his hands ...

No wonder he gets paid so much.

Raw, unbridled talent in those fingers ...

“From the talk.” I sigh, knowing that the next words out of my mouth are absolutely necessary. “Listen, Dex. You’re a really nice guy and—”

His loud groan cuts me off. “Are you breaking up with me?”

Huh? “No. We’d have to be dating for me to break up with you.”

Dumbass.

“Oh.” He grins down at me.

“Can I continue?”

He nods.

“Listen, Dex. You’re a really nice guy, and I have a lot of fun with you.

But I have a daughter to consider, and what I’m looking for is a relationship—not a new friend.

” I hesitate. “Pretend you’re normal and you start dating me, then you find out Dex Lansing is my buddy. You wouldn’t be thrilled.”

“But you’re not dating anyone.”

I run a hand through my hair, distracted again when his hands go to my waist and pull me closer.

Dammit!

I’m trying to lay down the law here!

“That’s not the point. I want to be dating someone.”

“Um. Should I be insulted?” he wants to know, not looking insulted in the least.

I tilt my head. What is he talking about? “Why would you be insulted? You let it be known from the second we swiped on one another that you didn’t want to date a woman who has a kid, and now here we are, talking in circles.”

“What if I changed my mind?”

“Did you?”

It takes him a few seconds to respond.

Then slowly, he nods. “Yeah. I think I did change my mind.”

Shut up. He cannot be serious right now.

“You changed your mind, and now you want to date. Me. Specifically.”

Another nod.

His hands roam up my rib cage, and when his fingers brush the sides of my breasts, I swat at him. “Stop it, Dex, this is serious.”

“This is serious.”

“Stop repeating me.”

“I’m not repeating you.”

Oh my God.

I adjust my stance, giving his chest a poke with the tip of my finger.

“So you’re telling me that you woke up this morning and suddenly you feel differently? Because I will tell you right now—you do not date a single mother if you don’t mean it.”

His mouth falls open as if he’s going to say more, but then it closes, as if he can’t decide what to say.

Dex swallows, Adam’s apple bobbing. “I mean it.”

Such conviction.

“Why?”

I need to know his reasons before I can decide if this is a good idea. I cannot let him in if I don’t believe his intentions are pure, but honestly, if sex is the only thing he’s after, he can get that anywhere.

Can’t he?

As far as professional athletes are concerned—especially really hot, handsome ones—women must be tripping over themselves to bang him. I know I would be if it was just me.

But it’s not.

I have Wyatt, and we are a package deal.

“You actually need me to tell you why I think you’re amazing?”

No. But it’s always nice to hear.

“Yes, please.”

Sue me for wanting compliments and flattering words about myself.

Dex takes a deep breath, his eyes locking on to mine with an intensity that makes my heart skip a beat. I asked him to take this conversation seriously but didn’t really think he could be this intense—but here he is, bringing the heat.

“Where do I start?” He exhales, hands still on my hips.

“You’re strong. You’ve been through so much but haven’t given up looking for love.

Still smiling, even though you frown at me a lot and yell.

You’re an amazing mother to Wyatt. I can hear it when you talk about her.

She’s incredible because you are incredible. ”

His words start to melt me like buttuh—and I didn’t think I was the kind of woman who could be so easily swayed.

Dammit!

“And you’re smart,” he goes on. “You’re funny. You make me want to be a better person just by being around you.” Ah, shucks. “I’ve dated plenty of women, sure, but none of them have made me feel the way you do. None of them have made me want to settle down, to build something real.”

I blink, trying to process his words. “And you just realized this today ?”

He shakes his head. “No, it’s been on my mind a few times and today, well. Today, I just ... couldn’t ignore it anymore. I couldn’t keep pretending that what we have is casual when it’s anything but, and I honestly don’t want to be friends.”

He doesn’t want to be friends.

He wants . . .

I take in a gulp of air, images of us in bed passing through my brain—the part of me who hasn’t had sex in months making some of these decisions for me. If I were a man, this would be the part where I’m thinking with my dick.

My heart is pounding.

I can feel the tears starting to prick at the corners of my eyes. Ugh, not in the parking lot of a movie theater! How inconvenient.

See, the thing is ... I want to believe Dex, I really do.

But it’s hard. It’s so hard to trust when you’ve been let down before.

Wyatt’s dad let me down, and sure, he’s there for his child, but I will never, ever, forget how he left me when I was pregnant rather than standing beside me and supporting me.

Dex is not your ex.

Dex is not a boy the way Colton was.

“Dex, I have to protect Wyatt. I know she’s already met you, but I cannot bring someone into her life who’s not going to stick around.” I pull back so I can look him dead in the eyes. “She might be bubbly and outgoing, but trust me, she gets attached quickly.”

“I get that,” he says. “No matter what, we’re friends. What’s the harm in dating and doing things together? Just don’t fall in love with me,” he jokes.

I roll my eyes. “You’re the one who’s going to fall in love with me.”

His eyes darken. His lips press together with an unspoken ... something.

I swallow hard, my throat tight with emotions. “This isn’t about me. Wyatt comes first, always.”

“What does that mean? You’re going to cancel on me if she has her period?”

“She doesn’t get her period because she is ten, but yes, if she’s sick and we have plans, I would cancel on you. That’s what moms do.”

I can see that he’s fighting for some patience but give him some slack since this is new to him and not something he originally wanted to sign up for.

Such a bad idea.

My girlfriends are always warning me about red flags, only I have no idea if he’s a walking red flag or just a regular one?

I take a deep breath, trying to steady my racing thoughts.

“Okay. This probably isn’t going to be that easy.

Being with me means accepting all of it—the good, the bad, the ugly.

It means understanding that sometimes I’m going to be tired and stressed because my students are going to make me bonkers from time to time and I’ll come home and not be the easiest person to be around. ”

“The good news is, we don’t live together, so I won’t have to put up with that.”

I stare. “Seriously?”

“Was that the wrong thing to say?” He clearly has no idea.

“Kind of,” I say finally. “We can try this, but ... if you hurt us, I swear to God I will—”

“I won’t.” He puts his hands up in surrender. “I promise you, I won’t.”

He pulls me into his arms, wrapping me in a hug, and for the first time in a long time, I let myself believe that we can have a future together. A future where Wyatt and I aren’t alone, where we have someone who loves us both and wants to be part of our lives.

Plus, he’s so hot.

Shit.

Stop focusing on how good looking he is, Margot!

Okay, but he is . . .

Then, in the parking lot of the movie theater—where the streetlamps above us are starting to go on, one by one—he pushes my back against my car, sliding his hands to my ass. Squeezes my cheeks in his massive palms before lifting me, pressing his lips on mine.

The cool night air contrasts with the heat of his hands, searing my skin through my thin leggings, making my skin tingle.

We seal our deal with a kiss, one that’s rough and sexy and has the asphalt beneath my feet disappearing.

So sexy . . .

My arms loop around his neck, pulling him closer, fingers digging into his shoulders.

The car door stabs into my back, but I don’t care—all I can focus on is him. His hands are so big and strong and confident, holding me up as if I weigh nothing. His lips, urgent and demanding, claiming mine with a passion that leaves me breathless.

Yes, Dex, yes . . .

As we make out like teenagers, the little seed of doubt slips further to the back of my brain, and my hands—the ones that were on his shoulders—slide into his hair.

Fingers crossed.