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I’m not sure if I’m to follow him or stay in place.
“Cassidy, are you coming?”
My head lolls back on my shoulder. The last place I need to be with Aiden Slate is in a bedroom with him in a towel.
Lord have mercy, I only have so much willpower.
I won’t even think about hooking up with him again until the terms of this arrangement are agreed upon. Or ever.
When I make it inside the room, I see that the bed is entirely covered in bags from various stores. Just as I thought.
He motions toward my outfit.
“You…you don’t like how I look?”
Hurt flares, and my eyes mist even though I had just been thinking that same thing.
“No, Cassidy. It’s not like that. I like your style. Please know that.” His head falls back on his shoulders with a groan. “I’m only trying to protect you because people will judge.”
I huff out an injured laugh. “I get that. I knew this was coming. It just doesn’t make it any less embarrassing.”
He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. “You do realize I’ve never dated a single one of them, and I don’t welcome the attention, right?”
“I do,” I say, but that doesn’t change the fact that people will expect a certain type of person, and the fact I don’t fit that image is a real ego killer.
“We’ll have several events to attend. I hoped this would be helpful, not hurtful. I was trying to do something nice…”
I can see the turmoil roiling behind his blue irises and swallow down the lump in my throat. “It was very nice. You didn’t have to do it, but I appreciate it.”
He takes a step toward me. Then two steps. He’s standing right in front of me, and my whole body lights up.
His hand darts out, and he lifts it. For a second, I think he’s about to move the stray piece of hair that has fallen on my face behind my ear, but then he drops his hand just as fast. Almost like he’s been burned.
Ouch.
Figures.
I need to get my head in the game and remember why I’m here.
I’m not here for a relationship, only to fake one. I’m here to make my dreams come true, like he did all those years ago when I gave him the money he needed. This time, it’s his turn to pay up, whether he knows it or not.
11
AIDEN
“How long do you need to get ready?” I ask, taking a step back. I’m too close to her. The desire to grab her, throw her down, and have my way with her is all-consuming, and I’m sure if I wanted to, I could, but I can’t.
I might trust her with my needs, but I can’t trust her with my heart. If she knew the full extent of my thoughts, she’d say the same things I have always heard when I’ve let my guard down.
No. It’s easier to keep this professional, no matter how much I want her.
Her eyes narrow. “For what?”
“Since we won tonight and don’t have a game tomorrow, a bunch of the guys are going out. Actually, I’m pretty sure the entire team will be there. Initially, I wasn’t supposed to go, but I think it will be a good idea.” I give her a second to digest what I’m suggesting.
“You think we should make our debut? As a… a couple? Tonight?”
I see the rising panic, and I don’t blame her. All of this is a lot to ask, whether I’m paying her or not. To throw her into a situation with my teammates on night one is grounds for a bonus.
