“Team’s in trouble, isn’t it?” I said.
Adrian had warned that Cash’s divorce had beaten the patience out of him. He no longer bothered with pleasantries, they just cost him more in lawyer’s fees.
“Yeah.” He nodded. “And Adrian thinks he’s gotta take it on the chin.”
“Can I help?”
“Can you skate?”
“Not really.”
“That’s all right. Most of the team’s too drunk during practice to stay upright anyway.” His sigh hurt. At least Adrian wasn’t alone in his fight. “He’s gonna need someone.”
“That’s the plan,” I smiled. “We’re trying to make a little someone.”
“He’s gonna need you.”
“Oh, don’t get the wrong idea. We’re not…together together.”
“Ever think you should be?”
Cash was a man of few words and harder hits.
I quieted.
Once upon a time, I had more than enough fears, hesitations, and concerns to ensure I didn’t make a terrible mistake with Adrian. I kept things casual, hoping that my silly, spontaneous proposition would distract us from the very real consequences of having sex.
Now?
I’d fallen for Adrian and landed right in his arms. I’d slept next to him, woken at his side, and committed to memory the serenity I’d found cuddled against his body.
And all the reasons I had for playing it safe and denying my feelings were suddenly disappearing with every stolen kiss and wayward touch.
My goal was to have a baby with Adrian. Nothing more. Nothing complicated. Nothing that could risk our lifelong friendship.
I couldn’t let anything ruin what we already had.
Because the closer I got to this man, the more I’d realized that being best friends would never be enough.
13
Adrian
Sign of a good team party was a decent fight.
A few good punches were as important to the health of a team as a solid practice or flawless drills. Cleared the bad air. Let guys sort out their problems.
Usually, it was all forgotten after a cold beer.
Not this time.
The rift between Leo and Felix wouldn’t be mended after a dip in the pool and a couple of hot dogs.
Especially after the slip n’ slide, strippers, and their brawl went viral on Twitter.
On any other team, the head coach would’ve hauled our asses in at one in the morning, dressed us in full pads, and forced us to skate until either the exhaustion or the hangover made us puke.
Didn’t get a call from Coach Harland.
Got one from Magnolia Mallory instead.
She left me a voice message warning about the story she’d have to run. The organization wouldn’t mind a little rotten publicity before training camp. Only problem was that the insanity had happened at my house.
So much for my spotless reputation.
Not that it mattered now.
I’d peeled the men off my patio and sent them home in UBERs sometime after midnight. An early night for the team, but most of the guys had passed out long before then. My home was trashed, but I’d deal with it later. A shower was all I needed, and I let the hot water nearly scald me for a good ten minutes before facing the one I feared I’d disappointed the most.
I didn’t bother dressing. The towel was fine. The cool air perked me up.
As did the woman waiting in my bedroom.
Clover snuggled against my pillows. She’d wrapped herself in my old Marauders’ jersey and a pair of booty shorts. Her socks were stark white and innocent.
She made for a beautiful, comfortable vision in my bed.
I liked it.
And the guilt would ruin me.
It was late. I was tired. She’d spent most of the night cleaning up after men who belonged in either a hockey rink or a barn yard.
And she was fertile.
I owed her a night of passionate, romantic love making. But nothing about tonight had been what I’d intended.
I wasn’t used to breaking promises to my best friend.
“How much longer do you think you’ll be…” I didn’t dare speak the word. The towel had already shamed me, tenting from the sight of her sprawled over my bed.
Clover answered with a flick of her eyebrow. “Fertile?”
I hardened even more. Fuck me. Clover’s glance lingered over my waist, but she was kind enough not to comment.
“I took the ovulation test today,” she said. “I’m…good to go.”
Damn my luck. “Right now?”
She patted the bed. “Drop the towel, lover boy.”
Shit.
This wasn’t how this night was supposed to go.
Any part of it.
“Stop it,” she said. “I know what you’re thinking. You’re going to ruin this by being noble.”
“Can you blame me?”
“If you white knight this instead of getting me pregnant? Yes.”
“I don’t want…” I gestured over the bed. She played her part well, twisting her legs and inviting me onto the blankets. “To treat you the way I did before.”
“Why not?”
“Because I promised you I’d control myself tonight.”
“Stop putting so much pressure on this.” She stretched out with a giggle. “I don’t need the whole enchilada. I’m good with a couple chips and some salsa.”
“Maybe I’m not.”
She smoothed the wrinkles from the pillowcase. “Our night together doesn’t have to be something planned out and extravagant. We can…enjoy the moment. Isn’t that what you want?”
Yes.
And no.
I couldn’t have this conversation with a raging erection and no pants. I grabbed a pair of sweats, but it didn’t do any good. Only revealed my vulgar thoughts for her to see.
“I want it to be special because it’s you, Clover.”
“I’m not picky.”
“Well…I am.” And I wasn’t ashamed of it. “Maybe that’s why we’re so good together. I won’t let you settle for something half-assed.”
“To be clear, I don’t want tonight to be any ass.”
I ignored her—mostly because that particular thought would’ve ended me right then and there.
“If we’re going to do this, we should do it right,” I said.
Clover sighed, biting her lower lip. “You keep talking like that—about wanting things to be perfect and how last time wasn’t right. I can’t help but think…”
I didn’t like her hesitation. “What?”
“Was our last night together that…bad?”
How the fuck was I supposed to explain this to my best friend.
A woman so forbidden to me that lusting after her made me a terrible, dirty bastard.
“That night was the best sex I’ve ever had,” I said.
Her eyes widened—painfully innocent. “You’re not just saying that?”
I gestured low, toward my inappropriate bulge. “I’ve learned it’s best to not lie about that region of my body.”
“I’m surprised to hear that.”
“Why?”
She shrugged. “You’ve always had your pick of the ladies.”