Page 40 of The Chase

She smiled back at me but didn’t have a retort because Noah and Dinah walked over to us. Dinah smiled at Maxine. “Hi, again!”

Max smiled back at her. “Good to see you. Oh! I read your book this weekend.”

Dinah’s smile could have lit up a whole hockey arena. “Which one?”

“Oh, all of them,” Max said with a shrug.

Dinah’s mouth hung open. “Already?”

Max nodded. “I was addicted. I had to know if all the couples were gonna get together. I usually read more adult romances, but I like young adult too.”

Dinah beamed. “Oh, my friend Fi, Aaron Riley’s wife, is coming out with a super sexy adult romance.”

“Oh, I’m game!”

Dinah nodded, and then the two were having a conversation I couldn’t keep up with. Although, inside, I was glad Max was getting on with Dinah. Before Noah and Dinah got together, the three of us were tight. Noah shrugged at me, and we started rehashing the game while the girls chatted. It had been a close game, and we really needed to step it up if we were going to make the playoffs this year.

I ordered another beer and noticed Max finished with her wine. “You want another drink, baby girl?” I asked.

She smiled. Behind her, Dinah and Noah mouthed ‘baby girl?’ at me, but I ignored them. The bartender refilled Max’s glass, and I watched her tip the wine glass into her mouth. Her lush mouth that kissed me hungrily the last time I had seen her. Shit, now my dick was pressed up against the zipper of my pants.

Noah leaned down to say something to Dinah, and she laughed. “Hey, you two, we’re gonna get out of here. It was nice to see you again, Max.”

I hugged them and settled back onto my barstool. My hand went to the back of Max’s neck as I played with her hair. She twirled the wineglass in her hand as she sipped it in thought.

“Do you have work tomorrow?” I asked.

She yawned and nodded. “Yeah, sorry.”

“Hey, this counts as date number three.”

She smiled and drank more of her wine. “Oh, does it now?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I’m ignoring the boys, so I can talk to my girl.”

Her cheeks went that cute shade of pinkish-red when she got embarrassed. I never knew I’d be into shy girls, but it looked cute on Max. The more time I spent with her, the more I liked it.

I frowned when I remembered I flew out early tomorrow for another road trip. Yes, another one. We just traveled only to come back home for one game, and then we were back out tomorrow for another road game.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“I have to fly again tomorrow, and I’ll miss you.”

She smiled. “It’s okay. You’ll owe me a date when you get back.”

“I’m keeping you to that, baby girl.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah,” I whispered huskily as I nuzzled my face into her neck. She smelled so good, like citrus and possibilities. She gave me hope I could be good enough, that I was good enough for her.

“TJ?”

“Hmm?” I whispered as I pressed my lips against her neck.

“Are you gonna kiss me now?”

I chuckled and felt it vibrate across her lithe body. I cupped her face in my hands and slanted my lips over hers.