Page 219 of Just for the Cameras
I tug on her braid. “I like the braids. I even like the little pieces that frame your face.”
“Thank you.” She places her hands on my shoulders. “Okay, take me to the party before I try to hide away in the glove box of your truck.”
“I would love to see you attempt that, but maybe another time.”
I take her hand and help her out of the truck. When I shut the door, I pinch her chin with my forefinger and thumb and tilt her mouth up before stealing another kiss from her.
When her lips mold around mine, I take a second to just sink into her, taste her, revel in the way she fits so perfectly against me. Jesus, why did it take me so long to give in to the temptation? I could have been doing this for much longer.
Fucking fool.
When I pull away, I smile down at her and then kiss the tip of her nose. “Ready?”
She nods. “Ready.”
“Then let’s go.”
Her hand in mine, I lead her into the training facility, where they’ve transformed the practice field into a giant event space. On the far end are jump houses, obstacle courses, and tables full of family-friendly craft projects. I’ve never ventured down toward the end because I’ve never needed to.
On the closest end, a DJ hangs out on a stage and there are rows and rows of tables and high-tops. They’ve strung bunting from pole to pole, celebrating the Foghorns’ new season, and a photo booth, a dance floor, and a bar are nearby.
That’s where we will be headed.
“Wow, it looks amazing in here and smells good too. Not the usual dirty-sneaker smell.”
I chuckle. “Yeah, they must have cleaned everything, knowing families were coming.”
I nod to a few guys in passing, some of them giving fist bumps to Maple as we make our way to the bar.
I lean down to her ear and say, “And you were worried that no one was going to want you here.”
“An ‘I told you so’? Really, Graydon?”
I chuckle and kiss the side of her head. “Not sure I’ll get many, so I have to claim them when I can.”
“For your benefit, I wouldn’t.” She pats my cheek, and I smirk because I love the confidence.
The past few days have been different. Like there’s been something missing from her eyes and whatever it is has been replaced with worry. And I know it has everything to do with the contract Gretchen had her sign, even though Maple kept telling me over and over again that she was fine. That she wasn’t upset. I knew she was hiding her true feelings from me.
But night after night, we’ve made dinner together, we’ve spent time just talking about everything and anything, and when it’s time for bed, I’ve shown her just how much she means to me, how much I need her.
So seeing that sass come out? I fucking love it.
“What do you want to drink?”
She presses her lips together as she gives her answer some thought. “Umm, I don’t know. Are we doing alcohol?”
“We’re at a bar, at a team function, where my dad will be making an appearance. Yes, we are doing alcohol.”
“Your dad will be here?” she asks, her eyes going wide.
“Yes, he’s at every Foghorns event because he doesn’t have a life of his own and attempts to live his glory days through me despite thinking I’m a waste of human space.”
She frowns. “Well, he’s rude, and I hope he stubs his toe today.”
“Yeah, I hope for a lot more than that,” I say, and then turn to the bartender. “Can we get a Guinness and…does a wine work for you?”
“White,” she says.
