Page 63 of The Player

“You just want to get me naked.”

“Am I being too subtle?”

Nicole laughed and pointed toward the hallway. “Get out of my studio.”

He kept coming anyway, and she backed toward the doorway. “Drew, if you get one drop of that on me⁠—”

“You’ll what?”

“I’ll kill you.”

“I like my chances.”

He lunged with the tube still in his hand. Nicole turned and ran, his bare feet pounding behind her. She made it halfway down the hall before his free arm caught her around the waist and lifted her clear off the floor. Nicole shrieked and laughed and kicked, for all the good it did, while he hauled her against him.

“Drew, put me down!”

“All right.” Drew swung her around so his back was to the stairs and set her on her feet, still grinning. “Time for round two.”

Nicole glanced toward the studio and dipped her shoulder that way, ready to break for the stairs. Drew stayed right where he was.

“Aw, that’s cute. You really thought I was gonna fall for that?”

She tried to dart around him, but he moved with her, blocking her again. Then he stepped aside and nodded toward the stairs.

“Go on. I’ll give you a head start.”

Nicole took one look at the paint in his hand and ran.

His laughter followed her down the stairs, then his footsteps, coming fast enough that she glanced over her shoulder.

“Drew, don’t you dare get paint on my bed!”

His grin widened. “Who said we were using the bed?”

She squealed and ducked into the bedroom, with him right on her heels.

Drew woke with his arm stretched across Nicole’s empty side of the bed. The bathroom was dark and quiet. He lay there a minute, pretty sure he knew where she’d gone, then pushed the sheet aside and headed upstairs.

She was sitting naked at her easel, one foot hooked around a leg of the stool, her hair falling over her shoulder as she leaned toward the canvas. She was frowning a little. Whatever she was looking at, she wasn’t happy with it yet. She leaned closer, then pushed her hair back with the wrist she’d somehow gotten purple paint on. Shit, she was going to get it on her face. But she tucked the strand behind her ear without smearing herself and went right on painting. Drew propped a shoulder against the doorframe, smiling to himself.

He was in love with her. Not just falling for her, the way he’d told her the other night. He was already there.

He stayed where he was, watching her. It felt good to admit it to himself. He could say her name right now, wait for her to look up, and tell her. Maybe she’d put down that brush and smile at him. A guy could dream, right?

How long had he been in love with her? A day? A week? Had it started with their first kiss?

He would’ve fucking loved to hear her say she loved him too. But she’d said she was falling for him, and that didn’t mean she was in love with him yet. That was okay. A girl like Nicole was falling for him. How the hell could he be disappointed with that? Besides, this was a lot, especially for two people who’d already agreed to end things when he left.

He looked down at the floor and ran his palm along the doorframe. Tell her he loved her, and then what? He’d still be leaving in the spring, and the draft and everything that came after it would be waiting for him. She’d been honest about how little she wanted that life, and he’d agreed with her. Now here he was, wanting her in it anyway.

Give me a chance, baby. Let me prove we can make it work. He could hear himself saying it. He wanted to ask her so badly. And what the fuck was he supposed to offer her when she asked how? That he’d be home when she needed him? That women would stop trying to get into his bed? He could turn them down, but he couldn’t do a damn thing about the travel or the cameras in his face every time he turned around. He knew she’d never be happy with all that, even standing here wishing there was some way to keep her.

Drew swallowed and looked back at her. He wanted her to know he loved her, but he was keeping it to himself. She was here with him now, and he could make sure the time they had was good without asking her for more than they’d agreed to.

Nicole glanced up. “Hey.” She smiled. “How long have you been standing there?”

“A few minutes.” He smiled back and nodded toward the canvas. “Couldn’t sleep?”