Page 34 of The Offside Rule
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” He smirked again. His eyes dropped to my mouth when I smiled, and my stomach flipped so hard I had to shift my weight. The movement made his gaze drop again, just for a second, to the hem of my dress. When he looked back up, his face had gone very still.
I pressed my lips together. “Are you okay?”
“Yep.”
“You sure?”
“Uh-huh.”
A laugh slipped out of me before I could stop it. His eyes warmed at the sound, and that made everything worse. The elevator slowed. The doors opened to the lobby, and we both stepped out like we had not just spent too many floors pretending the air wasn’t charged enough to spark.
Max was waiting near the front doors, looking down at his phone. He glanced up, saw Hunter first, then me, and his eyebrows rose. I gave him a look that said don’t you dare. He smiled like he was absolutely going to dare. Before he could say anything, Billie Rose appeared from one of the lobby chairs and let out a whistle loud enough to make the concierge look up.
“Well, damn,” she said in her thick Texas drawl. “Look at you, Catherine Celia. That dress is doin’ the Lord’s work.”
I groaned. “Billie.”
“What? It is.” She stopped beside me and gave Hunter a bright smile. “And who do we have here?”
Hunter looked amused. “Hi. Hunter Russell.” He shook her hand.
“I’m Billie Rose,” she said, holding out a hand. “Best friend, emotional support menace, and the woman responsible for that dress.”
Hunter shook her hand. “Nice to meet you.”
I turned to Hunter because I needed to move this along before Billie started asking questions that would get us all killed. “This is Max McGuire, my cousin. Max, Billie Rose.”
Max gave Billie an easy grin. “Nice to meet you.”
Billie looked him over without shame. “Well, Dallas hockey is certainly not hurtin’ for pretty men.”
Max’s grin widened. “I like her.”
“You would,” Hunter muttered.
Billie hooked her arm through mine. “Where are y’all headed?”
“VIP lounge at a club,” Max said. “I convinced Grandpa here to leave the building.”
Hunter gave him a flat look.
Billie laughed. “We’re going to a lounge for drinks with the girls.”
“Girls’ night?” Max asked.
“Exactly. No men allowed unless they’re bringin’ drinks,” Billie said.
“Not a problem,” Max offered.
“No,” Hunter and I said at the same time.
Billie’s eyes moved between us.
I tugged her toward the doors. “Uber’s here.”
“Uh-huh,” she said, drawing it out like she had just discovered evidence in a murder investigation.
We said quick goodbyes and headed outside. I didn’t look back until we reached the car. Obviously, I looked back. Hunter was watching me. Max was watching Hunter watching me.Perfect. I slid into the Uber and shut the door. Billie Rose climbed in beside me, buckled her seat belt, and stared.
