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“Whoa bro. Another all-nighter, huh?”
He began adding our teams on the computer system displaying overhead.
“Lydia, did you know Hayden has never been late for work.”
Her smile dropped.
“He was late for his important board meeting. His sister was becoming the second CEO.”
She cut her eyes at me. I smiled.
“It’s ok Lydia. There’s a first time for everything.”
She sat next to me, changing her shoes.
I leaned over kissing her cheek. “Listen, Bryce is going to take shots at me, because he knows I really like you. Try to ignore it ok.”
She rubbed my hand. “Ok.”
Bryce wrapped his arms around Karena from behind, who laughed hysterically at something he whispered in her ear. I never asked Bryce about him and Karena. I decided to mind my own business.
After a couple of drinks, I felt relaxed. Lydia and her cousin could only have two drinks since they have to work later. I wish Lydia didn’t have to work. I want the opportunity to get to know her. Our time thus far has been limited. If she worked a 9 to 5 we would have more time to talk. Hard to believe we’ve only known each other for one week.
We should probably stay out of each other’s beds for now. I’m not as strong as I thought I was. I’ve never found a woman who made me want to throw caution to the wind to build a new life with her. Lydia is gentle and kind.
I hate she thinks I want to buy her and actually treat her like a stripper. Or worse, convince her to quit her job then dump her. She has every right to be concerned. There are men who would go back on their word, but I’m not that man. I want her off the pole. I want her to be my woman. Not sure what I would do if she didn’t want to be with me. Selecting a ball from the ball retriever, I watched intently as Lydia threw her hands in the air after bowling a strike.
“Did you see that?”
I smiled, stepping closer to the lane. “Yes. You are a great bowler.”
Standing on her tippy toes she kissed my lips.
Scratch that. She wants to be with me. I will do everything in my power to make her see I’m the man for her.
Gazing into those beautiful gray eyes. Fuck, this woman is tearing me apart from the inside out.
Lydia sat next to Karena, whispering in her ear. I returned my eyes to the lane.
“Hayden, not one more fucking strike!”
I glanced at Bryce over my shoulder. “Take a seat. I don’t need your cackling from behind.”
Again, I focused on my game. I bowled my third perfect strike. Bryce was fuming. It was funny.
“Fucking Mr. All-American!”
I bent over laughing.
“Bryce, it’s not that serious.”
“Bullshit, man you take every game of sports so serious,” he stated with a thick southern drawl.
“Lydia, your boyfriend is an all American?” Karena smiled.
“K, chill. He’s not my boyfriend.” Lydia didn’t make eye contact with me.
“Yes, in high school I was pretty good at baseball, football, basketball, even lacrosse.”
Bryce knocked down every pin except for one. He poked me in my chest. “You’re so fucking modest. When we were in high school, the coaches chose him to be the captain for three years!”
“Bryce, you’re athletic too. Stop acting like you weren’t a jock. The Jock who didn’t listen to his captain.”
He stood in front of me. “We’re still on that? I got us the touchdown, didn’t I?”
“Bryce, that’s not the point.”
Lydia stepped between us. “We are here to have fun.”
I wrapped my arm around Bryce’s head, pulling him under my arm.
“We are good baby. Just a little family rivalry,” I stated with a southern drawl.
“We’ve always argued about who’s the best,” said Bryce.
“Sorry, Lydia and Karena. We are just messing around,” I stated.
They nodded, then laughed.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
HAYDEN
My chef prepared dinner for Lydia and me.
“Hayden, can you cook?” Lydia peeped up from her plate of salmon, vegetables, and baked potato.
“No.”
“Oh. Does your chef cook for you every day?”
“Yes. Can you cook?”
“Yes, I cooked with my mom and grandmother since I was a girl. After my mother passed away, my grandmother made it her mission to make sure I could cook any and everything,” she smiled as she shoved a forkful of string beans into her mouth.
