Page 49 of False Catch

"I like women. Actually like them. As people, not just conquests." He sets my book down beside him. "Quinton collects them. There's a difference."

"And you don't collect?"

"I appreciate. Enthusiastically and repeatedly, if given the chance." His grin returns for a second then falls again. "But I never pretend it's something it's not. Everyone knows exactly where they stand with me."

"And where do I stand?"

The question hangs between us. His eyes soften.

"Honestly? I have no fucking idea." He runs a hand through his hair, messing it up. "You're supposed to be off-limits. Team dynamics and all that. But then you show up and boss us around in the boat, and make Tyler actually laugh, and let Zane kiss your head at breakfast, and I just..."

"What?"

"I want to know what your laugh sounds like when you're not worried about five thousand things. I want to know if you're ticklish. I want to know what movie makes you cry every time." He shrugs. "And yeah, I want to kiss you. But mostly I just want to know you."

The honesty catches me off guard. This isn't smooth Beckett or charming Beckett. This is just... Beckett.

"I cry at the end of Rudy," I admit.

"The football movie?"

"Every single time. When they carry him off the field."

"That's adorable." He slides off the desk, moving closer but not crowding. "What else?"

"I'm ticklish behind my knees."

"Filing that information away for later." He grins. "Keep going."

"I snort when I laugh really hard."

"Now that I have to hear."

"Not happening."

"Challenge accepted." He's close enough now that I can see the gold flecks in his green eyes. "Can I tell you something?"

"Okay."

"I haven't hooked up with anyone since you joined the team."

I blink. "That's... what, three weeks?"

"Twenty-four days. Not that I'm counting."

"Why?"

He shrugs. "Didn't want to. They weren't..." He trails off.

"Weren't what?"

"You," he says simply. "They weren't you."

My breath catches. He reaches up slowly, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

"I'm going to kiss you now," he says. "Unless you tell me not to."

"Beckett—"