Page 56 of Pucking Off-Limits

“Earth to Ivy.”

I blink. "Sorry. Just thinking."

Her gaze locks onto me and doesn't leave.

"Is there more to this than you're telling me? Remember, we don't keep secrets from each other. Ever."

I look away, rubbing my palms together.

"Have you seduced one of your brother's teammates yet?"

The heat in my cheeks increases tenfold.

"Ah ha. I knew it! You couldn't have been this flustered about a man you haven't met yet. How did you do it?"

"I didn't seduce anyone," I say, crossing my arms. "He seduced me. And it's King I want."

A smile spreads on her face. She moves closer.

"Tell me everything. Don't leave out one detail."

I tell her everything that has happened between Declan and me over the past few weeks. She studies me carefully, unusually quiet.

"You're attracted to him," she says when I finish.

"No, I'm not."

"Your face is doing that thing where it turns red and you can't make eye contact."

I stand abruptly. "I should go. Early day tomorrow."

She grins knowingly. "Run away, then. But eventually you're going to admit you're attracted to Declan."

"Never happening," I say on my way to the door.

"We'll see."

I drive around town, then finally to my apartment when I'm pressed and it’s past eleven. I'm fishing for my keys when a figure steps out of the shadows.

My heart pounds painfully against my ribs. I yelp, dropping everything. At the last second, I catch the flowers before they fall.

"It's just me," Marcus says, holding up his hands and eyeing the flowers. "Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."

"What are you doing here?"

"Waiting for you. Can we talk?"

I want to tell him that I'm tired and done dealing with an overprotective brother who treats me like I'm still twelve. But I unlock the door.

"Fine. Make it quick," I say, making sure I pick up my bag and everything else that fell.

We step inside. Marcus looks too big for the small space in my apartment's living room. His six-foot frame makes everything look cramped.

"I'm sorry about today," he says immediately. "I overreacted."

"You think?"

"I just..." He exhales. "You're my little sister. I'm supposed to protect you."