Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50620 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 253(@200wpm)___ 202(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50620 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 253(@200wpm)___ 202(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
“So what are the exact terms of our deal?”
She lifted her head from my chest. “No sex. Obviously.”
“How about kissing?”
Clarke laughed. “Like I want to kiss you.”
“Less than forty-eight hours ago you couldn’t keep your hands off me.”
“No kissing,” she clarified. “And no touching.”
I slid my fingers up her bare arm, and she shivered. “I’m touching you right now.”
“This doesn’t count. We’re the maid-of-honor and the best man. Dancing together is part of the job.”
“I’d dance with you, regardless.”
She sighed, blowing a strand of loose hair in her face.
I swiped the hair behind her ear. “If you’d stop fighting your feelings for me, we can make this work. Everyone will believe we’re in love.”
“You’re not capable of love.”
“Yes, I am. I love my sister, my parents… Ethan and my teammates. I love plenty of people.”
“Have you ever told a woman you love her?”
I shook my head.
“Have you ever thought you might be in love with a woman?”
“I had a crush on this girl in middle school. Samantha Carter. But she wouldn’t even look at me.”
“A crush doesn’t count. I’m talking real love. Someone who makes your heart beat faster when you’re around them. It’s like the world starts and stops when you see them.”
My heart raced whenever Clarke was around, but I would never consider what I felt for her love. It was attraction, definitely interest. I’d always wondered why I could never forget about her.
I was the one who pursued her every time I was in New York. A few times I even lied and said I was there for work. She probably knew I lied. But if she did, she never mentioned it.
“No,” I admitted. “Never felt like that before.”
“It’s a horrible feeling,” she slurred. “Love sucks. And losing it sucks even more.”
She had a rough break up with her ex-husband and an absentee father. No matter what I said or did to change her mind, she lumped me in with the men who had disappointed her. That was my fault. I was never clear with her in the past. We had serious communication issues that caused most of our problems. And I wasn’t ready for a serious relationship back then. Even now, I wanted to resist the idea, but I needed her help to save my career.
I moved my hand to the back of her head, and her eyes met mine. She stared at me with watery blue eyes. Stupid bet. I really wanted to kiss her pouty pink lips.
Instead, I held her close and whispered, “I can’t make up for every man who hurt you. But I will try.”
Chapter Twelve
WILL
The Flyers general manager slammed the door and took a seat behind his desk. I sat across from him with Olivia, my publicist, and waited for his tense expression to soften. But by the looks of his scowl, his attitude was here to stay.
“Thank you for meeting with us,” Olivia said to him.
Ignoring Olivia, Mike glared at me, leaning forward, elbows rested on his desk. He leveled me with an intimidating stare. “Is this marriage real?”
“Yes,” I choked out.
“Last month, you and Liam almost got your stupid asses arrested for drunk driving. You’re lucky the cops called me first. And then you get married by Elvis in Vegas to a woman you barely know? What the hell is going on with you, Roman?”
“Nothing. I was just blowing off some steam with Liam. It got a little out of hand. And Clarke… I’ve known her for years. She used to work with my sister at The Philadelphia Inquirer. Remember, she did a story on the team when we got into the playoffs two years ago?”
He nodded. “What are you playing at? She’s a highly regarded reporter. Does she have dirt on you? What is she getting out of this deal?”
“It’s not a deal. We wanted to get married.”
“You’re in love with her? Hmm… Because I recall seeing you with a group of women a few weeks ago. You expect me to believe this woman is the love of your life when you can’t keep your dick in your pants?”
My heart raced so fast I could hardly breathe. Attempting to still my breathing and erratic thoughts, I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned back in the leather chair.
“I do,” I muttered. “Love her.”
I liked her a lot. Did that count? I loved fucking her and talking to her and kissing her. Okay, I loved a lot of things about her. But it was not real love, the kind Clarke had described to me at the wedding.
“The owner is sick of this shit,” he growled as he folded his hands on the desk. “I’m thinking about trading you and Liam. Both of you are too much of a liability. This is a business, Roman. We have to keep asses in the seats to keep the lights on.”