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She freezes, a slow smile spreading across her face. “Why? You don’t like sharing the attention?”
My brow rises. “Maybe I don’t. You’re supposed to be here for me, Em. Is that a problem?”
She stares at me for a few seconds like she’s trying to figure me out. I can’t tell if she’s flirting with me tonight or just enjoying the attention I’m throwing her way, but I like the vibe between us.
“Are you jealous, Sam?”
I don’t answer, mostly because I’m not sure what I am right now. All I know is, I didn’t like that guy whispering in her ear and placing his hand on her arm like he owned her. And I didn’t like her looking back at him.
Emerson keeps rambling, showing me again that she’s somewhat intoxicated. Or at least that her lips are loosened by the alcohol she’s consumed. “Because Suki seems to think that you were jealous of me and Milo the other day.”
I chuckle and run a hand down my face while she watches me. Emerson is never this forthcoming. The drinks are some kind of truth serum for her, no doubt. I’ll have to remember that in the future.
“So … were you?” she pushes.
“Was I jealous? Of you and my chef?” I smirk and decide to be honest with her. “Did I notice that you were flirting with him and that he was flirting with you? Yes. Did I like it? No.”
“Is that why you were mean to me the other night?”
“Is that why you left—because I was mean?”
“Yes,” she answers without hesitation.
“I had some things on my mind,” I respond to her question. But I don’t elaborate. It isn’t the time or place to talk about what was really bothering me the other night. I don’t want to discuss my mom and her condition. It’s far too personal and something that shouldn’t be talked about in a bar with my roommate while she’s drunk.
Emerson stares at me for a long moment. “Don’t do it again,” she practically whispers.
“Do what?” I murmur, tucking her hair behind her ear the way I’ve seen her do a million times now. I’m slow with my movements, not wanting to pull away. I like the feel of her soft skin against my callous fingers.
“Be mean to me.”
“I won’t,” I promise. And I mean it with everything I am. Something about the hurt in her expression guts me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to take my bad mood out on you that night. I’ll do my best never to do it again.”
“Okay,” she says with an almost-imperceptible nod.
There are dozens of people crammed into this bar. The atmosphere is festive and lively. My teammates are scattered around, drinking and laughing, hitting on women. Everything is chaotic around us. But for the moment, it’s like the world stops. Everything is quiet. All I see and hear is her. I don’t care about the stupid contract, or that she’s supposed to be my professional keeper. I don’t care that I’m not supposed to touch her. Not with the way her lips quivered just a bit when she asked me not to be mean to her again. Not when I see the vulnerability in her eyes and the softness of her expression. I’m no longer concerned about contractual obligations or what I’m supposed to do. It’s now about what I want to do. And I want to pull her into my arms and protect her from all the evil in the world. I want to protect her from guys like me.
We study each other from a short distance as the silence grows. My eyes drop to her lips. I drift closer. We’re breathing the same air. I’m a second away from kissing her, consequences be damned, when fingers tipped with red-painted nails snake around my arm, creating an unwanted interruption.
“Hello, Sam,” a high-pitched voice purrs.
And although I don’t know who this woman is, the moment between Emerson and me is instantly broken as she stiffens and takes a step away.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
EMERSON
My sister’s voice fills my ears as she moves between Sam and me. I take another step back to catch my breath, needing the space and wondering what just happened.
Sam was about to kiss me. In public. And I think I wanted him to.
My fingers ghost across my lower lip as I imagine him there. The spell is broken when Eve throws her arms around my neck, shattering my fantasy.
“Hi, Em!” Her voice is loud and intrusive when she speaks to me, and she practically knocks me over before letting go. “You haven’t called me back.”
It’s true; I haven’t returned her last two calls. I needed some space from her. And I didn’t want my sister to know of the new affiliation I have with the Hawks or with one of the guys on the team. Particularly Sam. She’s always had a thing for him. And I was sure she would take advantage of my proximity to the player.
Eve turns her back to me to face Sam, her long platinum-blonde hair nearly slapping me in the face. The move tells me that nothing has changed over the years. Eve still carries a torch for Sam. And she still has very little regard for me. It’s my past and my present colliding before my eyes.
