Page 28 of Third Strike Smitten

“But what if⁠—“

“No.” She holds up a hand. “This is a business arrangement, not a hookup. We’re helping each other out, that’s it. Sex will just confuse everything.”

“Not for me,” I say, before I can think better of it. Her eyes widen slightly, and I realize I’ve just exposed myself. I quickly recover with a playful wink. “I’m just saying if a fake relationship with extra benefits is something you want, even down the road, I’m happy to be that guy. That is…” I lean forward and whisper, “if you can handle piercings.”

I watch her jaw unhinge and her cheeks flush knowing I just put a spark of curiosity into that cute little head of hers. “But don’t worry, Coach. I’m a professional. I can handle a no-sex clause.”

Isla tilts her head and looks at me the way someone looks at a puzzle they’ve already solved. “Right. Because you’re so good at handling things.”

I could handle you sweetheart.

“I am when I want to be.”

She laughs, the sound making something warm spread through my chest. “We’ll see about that.”

“So, is that a yes?” I ask, trying to keep the eagerness from my voice.

Isla takes a deep breath, scanning my face like she’s looking for any sign that I might be playing her. “Will the organization be upset if you’re dating one of the team’s flight attendants?”

“I don’t think so,” I answer honestly, leaning back in the booth. “They just want to see me with someone. They don’t care who. Plus, I’ve dated people in the organization before.”

“Really?” She raises an eyebrow. “Who?”

I wave my hand dismissively. “Someone in marketing. It didn’t last long. It was years ago. She doesn’t even live in Portland anymore.”

She taps her finger against the table. “And what about your brothers? What will they think?”

“My brothers?” I laugh, shaking my head. “Hell, they’ll probably throw a fucking party. Bishop’s been on my case about finding someone ‘stable’ for years.”

“And they’ll be okay with the whole fake relationship thing?”

“Honestly, I think it’s better if they don’t know. They can’t act natural if they know we’re faking it.”

“So, we’d be lying to your family?”

“I mean...” I run a hand through my hair, suddenly feeling like I might be in way over my head. “It’s not lying, exactly. I can tell them we’re trying to keep things kind of private.”

“And they’re not going to figure us out? You know…that twin, or in your case, triplet telepathy thing?"

“Nah. I can play them off.” He cringes. “But we’re pretty close. They’ll definitely expect me to bring you around on the regular. Would that bother you?”

She shrugs. “I suppose not. Will it bother you?”

“Not at all. They’re cool and most of the time I actually enjoy hanging out with them. Plus, Shepherd has Sutton now and she’d definitely appreciate another female in the mix.”

“What’s our timeline? How long are we doing this?”

“The gala is in August, right? So, we’d need to be ‘solidly together’ by then. So basically, we start…now. And we should probably stay together through the end of the season, maybe a little after.”

“Through the end of the season,” she repeats, nodding slowly. “That gives us about four months.”

I’m suddenly very aware of how long four months is…or rather, my dick is aware of how long four months is.

Four months with no sex?

How the hell am I going to survive?

I wonder if her no sex rule means no making out.