Page 19

The parking lot is packed and Bankes finds a space toward the back. By the time we make it inside, it seems like half the team is already there celebrating. As soon as they spot us, I feel like Norm in the iconic show Cheers as they all shout my name.

“Hump!” There’s wrestling around and lots of shit talking as they argue who gets to buy me my first drink.

Paisley is staying at my parents’ place, so I don’t have to worry about getting home at a certain time or stumbling in drunk, but I told her I’d pick her up in the morning and drive her to school.

It’s only nine-thirty, but it feels like midnight. It’s been a hot minute since I’ve had so much to drink, and I’m only three beers and two shots in. I’m not drunk, but I’ve got a nice buzz going on.

I smell her before I see her. Her arm reaches past my seat at the bar, setting down an empty glass.

“Can I get a refill? Soda water with lime?”

“Sure thing,” the bartender says, filling up her glass. “Anything for you?” he asks me.

“You can put his drink on my tab,” Kendall says.

The bartender laughs. “Your waters haven’t needed a tab, and this guy’s drinks have been paid for in advance by half the people in this bar.”

“It’s the thought that counts.” She brings her glass to her lips and stares at me while she sips.

We’re practically eye-level with me sitting and her standing. I swivel my stool so I accidentally bracket her legs with my thighs.

“You’ve been ignoring me.”

“Hardly. You’re Mr. Popular.”

My eyes gravitate toward her mouth as she sips from her glass. Her lips are coated with a sheen of water I want to run my tongue over.

“I could say the same about you.” I cock my head toward the dance floor.

“Jealous?” Her lip tilts for a second before it turns down into a frown. “I didn’t mean...”

I haven’t forgotten about the last time we were in a similar situation. Dancing. Flirting. Me attacking her mouth, then pushing her away and accusing her of being a tease. Of sleeping around.

It’s getting fucking hot in here, so I unbutton the cuffs of my shirt and roll my sleeves up to my elbows. Kendall follows the move with her eyes, and she latches onto her bottom lip with her teeth. Something I wouldn’t mind doing.

“Dance with me.” I don’t ask as I stand, my body pressing against hers. It could be liquid courage. It could be too many hits to the head. Either way, I take her hand in mine and pull her to the dance floor.

There are cat calls from the guys who are littered across the floor making fools of themselves dancing with each other, hitting on women, or dancing with their wives or girlfriends. Everyone is having a good time, and I’m not about to spoil it.

I’m an okay dancer sober, but with a few beers buzzing through me, I’m loose and fearless. I stare into Kendall’s shocked and appreciative green eyes as I move our bodies to a Jay-Z song. This is why the guys love the Whiskey Buckle. There’s always a mix between country and popular dance songs.

Whatever keeps the patrons drinking and dancing, I guess. The song ends and blends into another, and our eyes remain locked the entire time. “My jersey looks fucking good on you.”

Kendall lifts her arms, resting her wrists on my shoulders, and moves in closer. My cock hardens and I tilt my hips to grind into her when I’m yanked from behind and drawn into a circle of my teammates attempting to out dance each other.

“You’re on fire tonight, Hump. Let’s see how you do in a dance off,” Dec says as he drops to the floor into a painful looking split, then leaps to his feet.

“Fuck no.” I cup my balls. “My dick’s too big for that shit.”

They egg me on until I find myself making a fool of myself with the rest of them. When I’m sweaty and parched, I wave them off and head to the bar. “Water, please.”

“Make that two.” The gardenia scent flows with her words. “That was quite some show. I’m not sure if I’m more impressed with your performance on the field or on the dance floor.”

I eye fuck her over the rim of my glass. I’d love to show you my performance in the bedroom. I nearly choke on my words in my head and chase them down with the rest of my water. She’s on the verge of forgiving me for being an asshat—I think—I’m not about to blow it by saying something so asinine.

“There’s a reason why I don’t drink or dance much anymore.”

“Why’s that?” she asks.

“It’s exhausting.” I take out my phone to request an uber.

Kendall covers my phone with her hand. “You don’t need to call an uber. I can take you home.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I offered, remember?”

“I don’t want to cut your night short.”

“Early mornings mean no late night partying for me. I don’t mind, Potato. Really.”

I should say bye to the guys, but they’ll just prolong my exit, so I sneak out with Kendall. She’s uncharacteristically quiet during the car ride to my house.

She idles in my driveway, then puts her car in park. “I’ve been thinking,” she says as she lowers the music.

“Is that why you ignored me all last week?” Shit. I didn’t mean to sound like a petulant child.

“Actually, yes.” She swivels in her seat and faces me.

“I wanted to thank you for the most beautiful flowers I’ve ever received.

Actually, other than the small corsage my prom date gave me my senior year in high school, I’ve never been given flowers before.

They were beautiful. Breathtaking, actually.

I didn’t thank you because I wasn’t sure why you sent them. ”

“I told you why.”

“They reminded you of me. So you were, what? Bored in a florist shop, got a whiff of a bouquet that smelled like my perfume and said, ‘Hey, I should send those to Kendall’?”

“They smelled like you.”

“How did you know my scent was gardenia?”

“I did a sniff test.” It sounds corny, but it’s true.

Kendall chuckles. “What? Did you seriously smell every flower until you found the one that matched my perfume?”

“Something like that.”

“And the chocolates, and the fruit, and this jersey.” She pulls at the hem. “I wasn’t sure if they were still part of your apology or if...”

“The second.”

“What do you mean?”

“The or if.” I rub the back of my neck and let out a sigh. “I like you, Kendall. I really do, but I don’t have time in my life to...to do things the right way. It’s why I haven’t been with a woman in way too long.”

“The right way means what, exactly?”

“Dinner. Nights out on the town. Dating. My time is limited, and it belongs to Paisley.”

“That’s what I’ve been able to deduce, which is what I’ve been thinking about. I have a proposition for you.”

“Proposition? I’m not at a place where I can negotiate my time or attention.”

“And I’m not at a place where I want to be wined and dined. I was in a long relationship and, well, that’s the last thing I’m looking for.”

If she’s offering no-strings sex, I’m not taking the bait. I’ve been trying to redeem myself after accusing her of sleeping around. I’m not about to ask her for sexual favors. Unsure where this is going, I keep my mouth shut and let her continue.

“You want privacy. You also have sexual needs, as do I. I’m not looking for a relationship or commitment, but I also don’t want to be one of many.

What I’m suggesting is, uh, friends with benefits.

After hours, of course. After Paisley is in bed so she doesn’t get confused.

Your time is limited, but when the need hits, and if we’re both available, I think we could both please each other.

When the time comes where one of us finds someone we’re interested in dating, we let each other know and cut the sexual ties. No hard feelings.”

I swallow the lump in my throat. The fuck? She just offered no strings sex. It’s every guy’s wet dream fantasy. Not that it’s been my fantasy. Have I dreamed of having sex with Kendall? Fuck, yeah. But this...

“You’re a private person and don’t want strangers in your house or anywhere near Paisley.

Since I’ve already crossed that line, well, that’s one less thing you have to worry about.

I wouldn’t let our sexual relationship interfere with my role as Paisley’s teacher.

Ever. I can keep my private life and professional life separate.

I’m hoping by the apology gifts, you’ve learned and believe that about me. ”

Hell, she makes a valid point. I’m too stunned to reply. Fuck, I want to leap across the center console and start this friends-with-benefits relationship right the fuck now. My dick is rock hard in my pants and is pissed at me for holding him back.

“Exactly how would this work? I send you a booty call text when Paisley goes to bed and you show up and we fuck, then you leave? That doesn’t sound fair to you, Kendall. I’d be taking advantage of you.”

“You’re not taking advantage of me if it's my idea.”

“Why? Why would you do this for me?”

“For you?” She laughs. “I’m currently in the longest dry spell of my life. I’m almost a virgin again.”

“I’m sure I’ve got you beat,” I mumble.

“Doubtful.”

“Wanna bet?” I snuff out a snort.

“Sure. If my dry spell is longer than yours, we go inside and seal the deal.”

“And if mine is longer?”

Kendall’s green eyes drop to my mouth, then make a lazy trail down to the open collar of my shirt and down to my lap where my dick is straining against my zipper. I’ve never been as thoroughly eye fucked as I am when I’m around Kendall.

“There’s no way a guy who looks like you has gone too long without sex when you can have any woman in the world.”

It’s not any woman in the world I want though. “Hardly,” I say.

She taps her finger over her lips. “You decide.”

While I want nothing more to fuck her until we both can’t breathe, tonight isn’t the night. I’ve been drinking, and even if we agree to the friends-with-benefits thing, I won’t treat her as a throwaway sex doll.

“Okay. You go first.”

“Is your house empty?”

My eyebrows dip. “Yeah. Why?”

“Because you’re about to break my fourteen-month dry spell.”

Holy shit. Fourteen months? And I’ve been pushing her away because I thought she slept with half the team. Fuck. I owe her a lot more than the few gifts I got her last week.

“Fourteen months is a long time.”

“I’ve only had my vibrator to keep me company. Think your fingers can make me come harder than Dido?”

“Dido?” I shake my head as I adjust myself. Pretty sure my dick broke through the zipper in my pants. I unbuckle my seatbelt and reach for the door handle. “I haven’t had sex since I signed on with the Revs.”

Not waiting for a response, I step out of the car.

Before I close the door, I stoop down and stick my head back in the car. “I’ll be in touch to cash in on your debt.”