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M ILES

Not gonna lie, the first thing I did when I pulled into Walker and Riley’s driveway was look for Rowan’s car. They’re hosting an end of the summer party—mid-July because football summers are short—and invited the team and their families.

Many of the guys are still away enjoying the last few days of freedom before football dictates their lives, but a good number are still around.

Even though Rowan’s not related to any of the players, she’s Riley and Kendall’s best friend, and where they are, Rowan is usually nearby.

The party is also a way for Walker to show off his son, no doubt. Can’t blame him. The little guy is cute, even if he’s ridiculously tiny. I can’t imagine ever being that small.

“Miles,” Riley greets me at the door and gives me a hug. “I’m so glad you came. It’s mostly the married guys who are here. From what Walker said, the bachelors are sowing their oats across the country.”

“Actually, worldwide.” I wink and drape my arm over her shoulder. “Motherhood is treating you well.”

“Always the charmer.” She pats my chest as we walk through the living room to the back of the house.

“That I am, but it’s true. You’re glowing. Who knew hot moms would be my thing?” I say louder when I notice Bankes coming down the hallway.

“Don’t you fucking dare hit on my wife, and in my house,” Bankes growls.

I click my tongue. “Swearing in front of the bambino? Riley, when you realize you married the wrong man, all you have to do is call.”

“Hell, you can’t control your mouth or your dick.” Bankes holds Emmitt closer to his chest.

“I’ve had no complaints about either.”

“Christ.” He storms outside with the rest of the party.

“Did he just take off with the baby and leave you to my sexual prowess?”

“He did.” Riley laughs. “And no complaints here. Watching him with Emmitt is the biggest turn on. Women love watching a man go soft over a baby. The dad thing is sexy as hell.”

“Yeah?” I file that nugget of information away. It most definitely will come in handy someday.

“Don’t even think about it, Miles. Emmitt is not to be used as a chick magnet.”

“It’s not fair Bankes gets to use him.”

“Find yourself a nice wife, then you can use your children to turn her on too.”

“Riles. I don’t need a baby to turn a woman on. Not when I got all this.” I run my hand down my torso and lead her outside.

“No, I guess you don’t. Although, I hate to break it to you, all the women here are taken. So be on your best behavior.”

I scan the backyard and don’t see Rowan. Riley leaves me to play hostess and I grab myself a beer while I make small talk with Darius. My eyes can’t help shifting to the kitchen door anytime someone walks out, hoping it’s Rowan.

“Uncle Bucky!” My favorite little person calls from the pool.

“Hey Paisley Pickles. How’s the water?” I crouch by the edge of the pool and dip my hand in.

“Come play with me. Please?”

“Yes, Bucky. Please?” Kendall parrots from a pink tube shaped like a donut.

“Mom can’t throw me in the air as high as you can.”

“I bet your weakling dad can’t either.” I’m surprised Nash isn’t in the pool with his daughter. Like Bankes, he’s wrapped around his kid’s finger.

And his wife’s.

Not a bad place to be considering how cool they both are.

“Daddy went to get auntie Rowan’s birthday cake.”

I snap my head around and look for the object of my obsession. “It’s Rowan’s birthday? I didn’t know she was here.”

Kendall slides off the tube and floats to the edge of the pool, sloshing water over my slides.

“We didn’t tell her about the side party we’re having for her or she wouldn’t come. She hates being the center of attention.”

“Yet you’re throwing her a surprise party in front of fifty of your husband’s teammates.”

“So dramatic.” Kendall lifts herself out of the pool and intentionally splashes more water over my legs.

Whatever. It’s hot out, the water’s refreshing, and I’m wearing my swim trunks. I give her a friendly kiss on the cheek and am kinda bummed her husband isn’t around. It’s fun riling him up.

“We’ll do the cake and present thing off to the side when all you guys are deep into your drinks and corn hole tournament.”

I glance at the lawn to the right of the pool and the row of eight corn hole games. Bankes became obsessive last summer and sets up tournaments on his iPad to keep track of placements. Total dork.

Now that I know Rowan is coming to the party, I relax a little and strip off my shirt, tossing it onto one of the loungers. Partly because Paisley asked me to play with her in the pool, and mostly because I’m vain enough to want to strut around half naked in front of Rowan.

I work hard for this body, and there’s nothing wrong with showing it off. Without warning, I leap off the edge of the pool and cannon ball in the middle. When I surface, Paisley’s laughter fills the air.

She’s a beast in the water, never slowing down, and demanding I toss her in the air over and over again. It isn’t until my arms are actually aching, and I slow my pace with the whirlpool I’ve been making, that I notice Rowan sitting under an umbrella on the patio with Riley, and little Emmitt cocooned in her arms.

“Hot dogs are ready, sweet pea. Time to come out.”

Paisley swims to the stairs and steps into the towel Kendall has open for her. Kendall wraps her up like a burrito and kisses her nose.

I take my time climbing the ladder and hold out my arms. “Where’s my towel and kiss?”

“Find your own woman,” Potato says as he scoops up Paisley and puts his foot on my face, pushing me back into the pool.

“Fucker,” I call as my back hits the water. I come up sputtering and shake the droplets out of my eyes.

Like an arrow on a compass, my eyes gravitate to Rowan. She’s watching me with a smile and her body shakes with laughter. Could be at something Riley said. Could be at me. Hell, even if she’s laughing at my expense, I’ll take it.

I’ll take anything Rowan’s willing to give. I shake my hair as I glide through the water and walk up the steps closer to her.

Not caring about a towel anymore, I make my way to the patio and greet Riley with a kiss to her cheek. “Thanks for hosting this year, Riles. Especially after popping out the bambino.”

“I can’t take much credit. Walker did all the planning, shopping, and prepping.”

“As it should be. You did all the work growing little Emmitt. Walker’s a lazy fuck who likes to gloat and take all the credit for making the perfect kid.”

Riley chuckles. “That’s exactly what I’ve been telling him as well.”

I turn my attention to Rowan and her gaze snaps up to my face. Yeah, I caught her staring at my abs, and I have no problem with her objectifying me. Fuck, she can objectify me morning, noon, and night.

Because I’m a cocky ass, I wipe my hands down my torso, pretending to wipe away the water dripping onto my cock. Okay. Fine. Water isn’t dripping on my cock, but I can pretend that’s where her focus is.

Was. She’s staring at my face too hard. Like she’s trying not to follow the movement of my hand. She bites down on her lower lip then turns her attention to Emmitt in her arms.

It would be more awkward if I don’t greet her with a kiss to the cheek like I did to Riley and Kendall, so I lean over and brush my lips across her cheek. I may or may not accidentally slide my lips across the corner of her mouth.

Oops.

“I hear it’s your birthday.”

“Riley!” Rowan reprimands.

“You’re not supposed to know about that.” Riley scowls. “Did Walker tell you?” She looks at Rowan. “I swear, Kendall, Mindy, and I were going to give you presents and cake later on when all the guys are shit faced at the cornhole tournament and clueless to our existence.”

“Ladies.” I shake my head. “There’s not enough beer in Boston to make us clueless about your existence.”

“Please don’t make a big deal about it,” Rowan begs.

I rub my chin and nod. “Save me a piece of cake and I won’t say a word.”

“Deal.”

I want to ask about her date, but I’d rather have that conversation in private when I can lead in with my own pick-up lines.

The only problem is, the lines I know are cheesy or too sexual for someone like Rowan. I need some of Trenton’s finesse.

Since he’s still in Nashville, I’m on my own tonight. Not wanting to push too far so early in the night, I tap Emmitt’s nose then leave the ladies alone and head to the food line.

As tempted as I am to turn around to see if Rowan’s eyes are on my ass—because my ass has been compared to a hockey player’s on more than one occasion—I don’t look back.

It isn’t until later in the night when Paisley and Darius’s kids are inside watching a movie in the home theater and Kendall and Riley are snuggled up with their husbands around the fire that I find a moment alone with Rowan.

“Hey,” I come up behind her and whisper in her ear. She jerks back and I rest my hands on her shoulders. “You promised me a slice of cake.”

She tilts her chin up and looks over her shoulder at me. Her mouth is inches from mine and I zero in on her lips. Full. Pink. Glossy.

Fuck, she has an amazing mouth. Her lips promise to be fucking Heaven. Watching them wrap around my cock—

Nope. Can’t go there. Not now.

“It’s in the fridge.” She heads inside and I follow close behind.

“Why so secretive about your birthday?” I ask as she cuts me a slice and serves it on a paper plate.

“You know me.” She shrugs. “Being the center of attention is not my idea of a good time.”

“What is your idea of a good time?” I shovel a forkful of chocolate raspberry cake into my mouth before I can regret the innuendo.

It’s not like she has to interpret my question sexually. Or she can. I have no qualms about that.

“I don’t know. Whatever. I’m easy to please.” She closes the bakery box and puts it back in the fridge. “Ice cream?”

I shake my head. “I’m good. Want a bite?” I hold out another forkful of cake, but she declines.

Probably a good thing. Watching her lips on the fork that had been in my mouth wouldn’t be good for the situation in my shorts. Surely my cock is about ready to make his presence known through the thin fabric.

I clear my throat and do my best to sound casual. “So, how was the date last week?”

Rowan’s head snaps up, her eyes wide with shock. She glances out the kitchen window, then takes my hand and drags me down the hall toward the garage.

Not that she has to drag me—or could drag me. I’ll follow her anywhere.

“Don’t mention him,” she whispers.

“What?”

She looks over her shoulder and moves closer so our chests are almost touching. Hell, if her boobs scrape my front, she’s gonna feel some impressive solid wood poke at her stomach.

“My blind date. Kendall and Riley don’t know about him,” she whispers.

I tap down my jealousy and use her nervous energy as an excuse to lower my face closer to hers. Only a whisper of air separates our lips. Her fault for going all undercover secret agent on me.

“Why don’t you want them to know about him? Is he your...secret lover?” Fuck, that was hard to say, but the pink stain on her cheeks is worth it. Kinda.

“Uh, gross. No.”

Gross? I can live with that. “So why so hush about him?”

She lets out a sigh and her sweet breath coasts across my lips. I drag my tongue across my lower lip, hoping to catch a taste of her.

Her eyes fall shut and dark lashes fan out across her freckled skin. Rowan releases my hand and takes a step away from me. “Don’t tell Riley or Kendall, but I met him online.”

“I don’t like the sound of this. And why can’t they know?”

“It’s not bad.”

I fold my arms across my chest. “Yet you’re shitting your pants that your besties will find out.”

Rowan scrunches her nose. “Nice analogy. It’s not that it’s...I don’t know how to explain it.”

“Lay out the facts and I’ll figure out the rest.”

She studies me like she’s trying to determine if I’m trustworthy. I relax my shoulders and soften my scowl.

“They’ve been after me to throw myself into the dating pool now that I’m done with school and my schedule isn’t as hectic. They’re all about setting me up on dates, but I can’t go out with anyone they know. There’d be too much pressure to force myself to like the guy and the only guys they know are, well...” She tips her head down the hallway toward the party happening outside.

Fuck if I’m not offended. I’m about to defend my teammates but the last thing I want her to do is date any of them. Except me, of course. I’m the only one for Rowan, she just hasn’t learned that tidbit of information yet. Nor have her friends.

“Anyway, I signed up for this new dating app. The wife of one of the pediatricians I work for designed it. Friends to Lovers. You don’t upload any pictures or anything and instead, get to know each other and build a friendship. Then, if it’s mutually agreed upon, you go out on a date.”

“Why no pictures?”

“Because people are so concerned about looks that they end up photoshopping, then they don’t live up to the expectations of the other person before they even give each other a chance. With Friends to Lovers, you’re supposed to chat for at least four weeks before meeting.”

“And you talked with this guy for four weeks? What happened on the date, Rowan. Did he try—”

“No.” She shakes her head adamantly. “Nothing like that. We sort of rushed the conversations and met too soon. He works in the financial district and when I mentioned I just graduated and got my nursing degree he made a comment about me being young. I told him I was thirty and he seemed relieved. We messaged each other for a few weeks but the conversation was never...titillating. I convinced myself it was because we were talking online and wanted to meet him.”

Rowan waves her hands through the air as she talks, one of the adorable traits I love about her. Not that I love her. I don’t think I’ve ever loved anyone before other than Auntie Lynn and Jules, but that’s a different kind of love. Loyal, family, my lifeline.

I guess you could say I love my teammates. We say shit like that when someone is feeling down, or gets injured, or needs cheering up.

But loving a woman? I mean, I love their bodies. I love Rowan’s tits. I love her lips. I love her laugh. But I don’t think I’m programmed to love a woman like Nash Potato gets when Kendall’s around. He’s fucking pussy whipped, and I never thought I’d see the day.

Well, he’s always been wrapped around Paisley Pickle’s finger so I guess I could see how he’d fall for a woman.

Bankes was new to the team when he and Riley started hooking up, so I didn’t know him too well before her. From the stories he’s told, there was never a woman in his life before her.

Sweet, those two are.

Me? I’m a sweet guy. Funny. Love to dole out the compliments and charm the panties off a lady. But give my heart to?

I don’t think so.

“We met at a wine bar close to his office in the financial district,” Rowan says, bringing my attention back to the douche canoe date she had last week. “He neglected to mention the reason he gawked at believing I was a twenty-two college grad was because he has a son who just graduated from college, and a daughter who graduated from med school.”

“Too old for you?”

She curls her lip and shakes her head. “It’s one thing to read an age gap romance when the guy is hot. Frank was anything but hot. Maybe if he shaved his head instead of opting for a combover. And maybe if he didn’t have grease stains on his dingy white button down that was bursting at the seams around his middle. And it wouldn’t have hurt if he plucked the hairs hanging from his nose before our date.”

I can’t help it. My stomach shakes and I bowl over in laughter. “Nose hairs?” Shit. My eyes are watering. I stand back up and wipe my tears. “Please tell me as soon as he saw you, he realized you were so far out of his league NASA couldn’t even see the other side.”

“I didn’t want to hurt his feelings, so I stayed for two hours and made small talk. Thankfully, he didn’t try to kiss me or anything and walked me to my car.”

“How soon did he message you for a second date?”

“An hour.”

I nearly bust a rib with laughter. “Please tell me you said no.”

“I politely declined.”

“Row. He had to have a clue. What did he say in his profile that made you think he’d be a good match?”

She curls her bottom lip between her teeth and links her fingers together. “I thought we had a lot in common.”

“Maybe you and his kids.” When she lowers her head, I tip her chin up with my finger. “I’m kidding, Doc. I didn't mean to make you feel bad.”

“My profile is pretty boring compared to some of the other women, and his was on par with mine.”

“I can’t imagine anything about you would be boring.”

“Always so charming.” She lifts a shoulder and stares at my chest. “My profile is basic. I like going for walks, exploring the city and nature, floating on the river, cooking for my friends, and I love kids.”

“Let me guess. His says something about being a family guy and being one with nature.”

“Pretty much. To be fair, I shouldn’t have agreed to meet up with him after corresponding for only two weeks.”

“Don’t lead the guy on by talking to him, okay? You’re gorgeous. You don’t need him stalking you.”

“It’s not like he knows where I work or even my real name.”

“A fake alias? Do tell.”

She rolls her eyes and waves her hand through the air. “It’s nothing like that. We’re encouraged not to use our full names, and since mine isn’t common, I used my middle name and the number seventy-seven.”

I search my brain for the Rev’s roster and can’t think of anyone who wears seventy-seven. It doesn’t mean she doesn’t have a crush on someone from a different team. Or worse. A hockey player. Not that there’s anything wrong with hockey dudes. I have a few friends on the Boston team, but they take player to a whole new level.

“Who’s seventy-seven?”

“It’s my birthday.” Noise from the kitchen ends our conversation. “Please don’t tell them about the app.”

I squeeze my lips together. “Sealed,” I squeak out.

Rowan steps into the bathroom and I head to the kitchen.

Bankes reaches into the fridge for a pitcher of cold water. “What are you doing?”

“Taking a piss. Or would you prefer I pee in the hot tub?”

“You’re not going in the hot tub now. I’m trying to get rid of all these people, not encourage you all to stay longer.”

“My wounded heart.” I clasp my hands over my chest.

“Some people don’t get to sleep until noon every day.”

“Hey, it’s not my fault you can’t keep your dick in your pants.”

Bankes grins at me. “Definitely Riley’s fault, and I’m okay with that.”

“My fault for what?” Riley comes through the door with a sleeping Emmitt in her arms.

“For being so perfect.” He pulls her into his side and kisses her neck.

“Dude. Keep it in your pants until the party’s over.”

“Nah. You can manage the crowd. I’m going to take my wife upstairs.” He cradles Emmitt in his arms and gives Riley a kiss on her cheek. “I’ll take care of the baby and you get ready for bed. And by that, I mean get naked.”

“You two would be disgusting if you weren’t so pretty.”

When Bankes leaves, I hurry with my question before Rowan comes out of the bathroom.

“So, I kinda feel bad about not knowing it’s Rowan’s birthday. I thought I’d make her a card or something. Maybe throw some cash in it.”

I plan on doing a lot more than that, but I don’t need Riley warning me off from her. I tear a piece of paper off the notepad she keeps by the fridge and start writing Rowan’s name.

“What’s, uh, her middle name?”

“Why do you want to know that?” Riley asks as she loads her empty glass in the dishwasher.

“To, uh, make this cheesy paper card a little more formal. Classy, you know?”

“Okay.” Riley snorts a laugh. “It’s Elizabeth. But you don’t need to give her cash, Miles. She doesn’t like accepting gifts, not even from Kendall and me. She’s more about experiences and spending quality time together than having material things.”

“Oh, okay. Well, never mind then.” I scrunch up the paper and toss it in the garbage. “Maybe I’ll book the three of you a spa day or something.”

Riley’s eyes light up and her gaze flicks over my shoulder.

“Sorry about the birthday cake, Rowan.” Riley moves past me and gives Rowan a hug. “But we got a spa day out of it. Miles’s treat.”

“You don’t have to do that, Miles.”

“No big deal, Row-row.”

“Yeah he does.” Riley stands on her tiptoes and kisses my cheek. “Night, Miles. Thanks for taking care of the party for us. Night, Rowan.”

“I was going to head out, but I can stick around to help clean up,” Rowan offers. “Especially if you’re going to treat us to a spa day.”

“That’s a birthday gift. You don’t have to clean up to earn it.”

But hell if I don’t want her to stay.

“I insist.”

“Well, then. What the birthday girl wants, the birthday girl gets.”