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CHAPTER FOURTEEN

LET’S DISCUSS

RHODES

Now

As much as I want to carry Elle all the way to her bedroom and toss her on the bed before leaning over her and kissing my way down her soft skin, I don’t. I set her on her feet carefully as soon as we’re inside the door, and even move across the room, so I’m not tempted to change my mind.

“Thanks for coming. You didn’t have to. I’m not very worried about Brock. He’s just a little weird sometimes.”

“The fact that you’re worried at all is enough for me to check on you.”

She tilts her head and lifts her shoulder slightly. “Yeah, I guess I’m a little creeped out by him, so thank you.”

She walks over to the couch and I work to school my expression before she turns around. It’s always been a battle. She has long legs and the most perfect ass I’ve ever seen, and in this little sweater outfit she’s got on, both are displayed to perfection. It’s no better when she turns around. Her tits are calling my name and I want to get my hands on her hips and sink into her more than I want my next breath.

Since hearing what she sounds like when she comes, it’s all I can take to be in the same room with her. We haven’t talked about the way she cried out my name when I dipped my fingers inside of her. We’ve talked about the kiss and skirted around everything else, but God knows I haven’t stopped thinking about the way she felt, the way she sounded, the way she tasted when I licked my fingers clean. I wanted to lick her everywhere.

I must not clear my expression entirely because she stares at me like she’s trying to figure something out.

“What?” I ask. I have to clear my throat because it barely comes out.

“Just wondering what you’re thinking.”

“Let’s figure out what we’re gonna do. This dating thing. I wanted you to move in with me when I bought that house, so why not move in? ”

She looks at me like come on now . “I just got my condo. Why would I move in with you?”

“To save money? To avoid your creeper neighbor. To get your parents off your back about Bernard. To get Bernard off your back. It’s not a ridiculous idea.”

“I know we’ve been hanging out more lately and it’s been…nice. Really nice. I’ve missed you so much. My job situation hasn’t changed though. I know I went to the wedding with you…and hung out at your house. But if too many people see us together, it’s going to backfire.” She pauses. “And, I don’t think we’ve fully recovered from what happened. Pretending to be dating—hell, moving in together—it could get confusing.”

I stare at her, waiting for her to keep going. “You’re worried about my feelings.”

“Well, yeah. Aren’t you?”

When she fell apart in my arms, I thought it was because she felt everything I did, that she wanted me with the same unrelenting desire that never seems to let up. Now, I think she’d just been bottled up too long, too stifled under her parents’ thumb and Bernard’s inability to see past his own dick. If the guy ever made her orgasm, I’d be shocked. She’s never talked about it much, but she mentioned one time that he preferred the missionary position. When I asked her what she preferred, she got a wistful expression and said sometimes she wished she was more adventurous.

I took that to mean their sex life wasn’t very satisfying, and it’s eaten me up, knowing all the ways I could show her a world of fun.

“I’m not worried, no,” I say quietly.

She seems surprised by that. “Oh. I—I guess I...” She shakes her head and leans forward, her elbows on her knees .

I keep my eyes steady on hers, so I’m not tempted to stare at the creamy expanse of skin, that dip between her breasts that I traced with my tongue that night.

“Then if you’re really okay with it, I’ll keep acting like we’re together with my parents and Bernard.”

I nod. “Yeah, that’s fine by me.”

Her brows furrow and I’m not sure if it’s a scoff or a laugh that comes next. “You’re so nonchalant about it.”

I put my hands in my pockets and laugh quietly. “I’m not sure what you want me to say. I’ll fake date you for the rest of our lives if that makes you happy.”

There’s definitely a laugh from her now. “I’d never ask that of you, don’t worry.”

“I’m not worried, remember?” I smile at her.

“Right. You’re not worried. Don’t you think your real dating life would suffer if you were stuck fake dating me forever?” Her lips pucker as she stares me down.

“I would not be suffering.”

“What does that mean?” She stalks toward me, her finger jabbing into my chest. “You think you could go a week without getting laid to keep pretenses up? Because if we lived together or if word ever got out about us dating, it would really cramp your style.”

I grab her finger and hold it, watching as her mouth parts and her eyes flicker up at mine, uncertain.

“I guess you haven’t noticed that nothing has been going on in that area for a while now.”

“You’re finally getting tired of playing the field?” she rasps.

“Something like that.”

“Well, don’t you think lines might get confusing if we’re together all the time after?—”

“I’m. Not. Worried. ”

“ Why not ?” Her teeth clamp over her bottom lip, sliding over it as her eyes bounce between mine.

“Because I’ve been living with how I feel about you since the night we met.”

Her eyes widen and I let her finger go, stepping back from the heat between us. I walk to the door and look back. She hasn’t moved an inch.

“Think about what I said about staying with me. Keep your place, sell it—you don’t have to decide now. It can be for however long you want. If you need the option or just like the idea, it’s there. Bonus would be that it’s one way you could see Levi without getting caught. Since he’s with his mom half of the time, he’d just think he was getting to see you more often.”

And since I plan to convince you to stay with me forever and fall madly in love with me, Levi will never have to get used to being without you.

“We’d set boundaries, of course. He could schedule time to see you just like we have to do now, so you still have your privacy when you want it,” is what I say instead of sounding like a creeper myself.

I’m thinking about Levi though. I don’t want to confuse him, so if she moves in, I want her to stay.

My lips lift when hers do and deepen as I allow my gaze to trail down her body for just a second.

She’s fucking beautiful.

I smirk and she shifts, rubbing her hand over her arm like she’s suddenly chilly.

I point at her now, playful but just telling the damn truth. “And I’ve proven I can control myself around you, so you don’t have to worry about that.”

She blinks and I turn to face the door.

“Make sure you keep your doors locked. And promise you’ll call me if Brock so much as breathes wrong in your direction.”

When she still doesn’t say anything, I look over my shoulder.

She swallows hard and eventually nods.

“Yeah, I promise,” she whispers.

I smile. “Night, dirty bird.”

She groans and rolls her eyes as I walk out. The neighbor isn’t outside anymore, but I sit in my SUV for a few minutes just to be sure he’s not lurking around out here. When it doesn’t seem like he is, I pull out my phone and text the guys. If it were offseason, I’d call an emergency meeting in person, but we’re all exhausted right now.

Anyone around? I know it’s been a long day with practice…but I need someone to tell me if I'm doing something crazy.

Penn

You're never too crazy for me, dude.

Weston

Lay it on us.

Bowie

I'm tired, but wired. What's up?

Henley

What have you done now?

Turns out, Elle let Bernard and her parents think we're dating. As you know, I would not be opposed to this idea whatsoever, but she's apologetic and worried about it. And I think, why doesn’t she just move in? So I suggested it, you know, to keep the theory alive and all.

Weston

Sacrifices. Lol.

Bowie

Isn't this what you're wanting?

Henley

Sounds like the perfect opportunity, man.

You guys think so? I just feel like she's my best friend. She's always going to be my best friend. So we play house for a little while, fake date. What's the harm in that? Why the hell not? It's not like she's saying she's really going to be with me. But at least I’d get to be around her, right?

Penn

Shit, Rhodes. You’ve got it so fucking bad. I can’t believe I just thought you’ve been having a slow roll for the last…what the hell has it been now? You haven’t been my wingman for months. Fuck, you’ve been off for longer than that. A year or more.

I miss sex, but hooking up with random women just hasn’t felt right to me for a long time.

They’d be so shocked if they knew how long.

Penn

I feel like everything I’ve thought about you is a lie.

I chuckle, but it’s hollow in my vehicle. That pretty much describes how it had started to feel with sex—empty. Not that there’s anything wrong with it, but I never planned on being thirty-one and single. My parents’ marriage is something special and I’ve always wanted that. I started the casual hookups trying to get over Elle when she started dating that jerkoff Alfie in college and it just sort of ballooned from there.

I’m not old, but I’m too old to be stupid …and knowing I’m in love with Elle and continuing to stand by and not do more about it is stupid.

She was with Bernard so long, I’d numbed myself.

Penn

But she ain’t with Bernard no more!

Damn straight, she ain’t.

Bowie

I don’t want to, but I’m just gonna say it. It will cause you a world of hurt if she doesn't want to be with you.

I know. But I already don't have her the way I want. So it's not like it's going to hurt any worse than it already does.

Weston

Man, this is heartbreaking. I can't believe you've loved her like this all this time.

I stare at her condo and sigh, finally cranking up the SUV. I can’t believe I’ve loved her like this all this time either, but I do.

And I always will.

Henley

I think this is your chance. Remember when you guys told me I needed to pursue Tru? What better way to pursue her than while you’re doing this fake dating thing?

Weston

THIS. You need her to move in, Rhodes. You can see her without getting her into trouble with the team, and I’m telling you, once she’s under your roof and with you all the time, she won’t be able to resist.

Penn

Like Sadie couldn’t?

Weston

Exactly.

Henley

Whether she moves in with you or not, it’s time to woo.

Penn

Yes. WOO THE FUCK OUT OF THIS GIRL. Fuck me, I’m all torn up about losing my favorite wingman, but I can’t stand to see you suffering. You and Elle belong together.

Thanks, guys. I’m fucking terrified, and I don’t know exactly what to do, but I’m going to try to put all my cards on the table. If she just wants to be my friend after it’s all said and done, I’ll know I’ve tried.

I’m tempted to go knock on her door and start trying tonight, but decide I need a better approach than startling her when she’s getting ready for bed .

When I get home and am in bed myself, I send her a text.

You looked absolutely beautiful tonight.

It’s quiet for a few minutes and I worry that I’ve already blown it.

Elle

Are you already practicing fake dating me?

It’s never been fake when I tell you how beautiful you are.

Elle

Well, thank you. You can stay.

I smile at my phone.

Let Project Woo begin.