Page 59 of Risky Play

“How was your game?”

The Bulldogs had an afternoon game today against the Carolina Thrashers, and then they were headed to Nashville for another game tomorrow. I hadn’t checked the score before I went to the rink for my own game.

“Good. We won, but I didn’t put up any points. Where are you now?”

“Walking home and then I have to go to a victory party.”

“By yourself?” he asked, and I heard the protectiveness in his voice. It was sweet, but at the same time, it annoyed me.

“Babe, I’m fine!” I walked up to my dorm building and scanned my ID card to open the door. I got on the elevator and rode it while we kept on chatting.

“I don’t like you walking alone at night by yourself,” he said.

“Babe, I know, and it’s so sweet you worry, but I’m okay.”

He grumbled on the other line, and I was glad he couldn’t see me roll my eyes. I got out of the elevator and walked down the hall toward my door. I unlocked it and dropped my bag down on the floor in my room.

“What are you doing?” I asked him.

“Waiting for the jet to go to Nashville.”

“Oh!”

“He’s talking with TJ like twenty feet away,” he said, answering my unasked question. “Are you sure we shouldn’t…”

“Not yet. You still need to take me on that date.”

He chuckled into my ear. “Okay. Is it bad that I miss you already?”

I grinned to myself. “I miss you, too.”

“I better go. Just wanted to hear your voice. I’ll see you in a couple of days.”

“Okay, I’ll see you then.”

I hung up with him, and I felt giddy.

He was mine. He was my boyfriend, and he called me tonight because he missed me. I couldn’t wait for him to be back home again. To be in his arms and kiss him like he’d never left.

My feelings for Matt were already so deep. But that little voice kept reminding me that we needed to keep this a secret. Just for now. If Noah found out now, his freakout would break us. Like it had with every other guy before Matt. I needed to figure out if this was going to work before my brother threw that wrench into our relationship. I wished Matt understood that.

Chapter Sixteen

MATT

Noah was agitated. We got off the jet, and he rushed toward his SUV like there was a fire.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

He grimaced. “Sorry. I miss my wife.”

“Why are you rushing?” TJ asked as he walked beside us. “She’s still at work.”

Noah groaned. “I forgot it was a weekday. I wish she’d quit her day job.”

I held my tongue. Maddie told me last night when we were on the phone why Dinah didn’t want to quit her day job yet. I got that. D was a very independent lady, and she didn’t want to rely on Noah’s income, even if it was far greater than hers.

I understood now why Noah was so antsy. I couldn’t wait to see Maddie later. I didn’t like that she didn’t want to tell her brother about us, but she had a point about us figuring things out first. Still, I felt like a boulder was lodged in my gut every time I talked to Noah. He took me in, gave me guidance, and how did I repay him? By sleeping with his sister behind his back. I felt like such an asshole, but if that’s what sweet pea wanted, that’s what I’d give her.