Even the Score(81)

“Do you regret marrying her?”

A smile grew slowly across his lips as he shook his head. “No, I don’t. First of all, I got the best parts of her in Logan and Becca, and for that, I’ll always be grateful. Second, I think every relationship teaches us something, and that one taught me that I’m made for marriage. I loved having inside jokes with someone. I loved creating traditions and memories and celebrating all the little things. I loved coming home at the end of the day to the same person. Blaire was the wrong person, but I look forward to that day when I start that all over with someone else. Someone better. Someone that loves me just as much as I love them.”

That woman was a fucking moron who had a prince among men wrapped around her snobby, manicured little finger, and she flicked him off like a worthless bug.

“What about you?” Andy asked, pulling me from my thoughts.

His question caught me off guard. “What about me?”

“Yeah. I’m assuming you’ve had relationships in the past. Anyone ever lie to you about being pregnant?” he asked with a laugh.

“Ha-ha, funnyman. No, no one’s ever lied to me about being pregnant, and honestly . . . I haven’t had that many relationships. Not any good ones, at least.” I shrugged.

“Why is that?”

“I don’t really know. My parents were teenagers when they had me, but my mom took off before I even turned one, so I was raised completely by my dad. We kinda grew up together, actually. He raised me to be super independent and never rely on anyone for anything. Every time I dated a guy, it was always the same thing. It would start out great, but eventually he’d get all macho and try to tuck me under his wing. Little did he know, that’s the worst thing to do with me. Instead of letting him, my reaction was to punch him in the gut and run away.”

Andy’s mouth widened into a big smile, his eyes sparkling with laughter at my visual. “You know, I can actually picture you doing that.”

“Eventually it just became easier to keep everyone away and concentrate on my career. Less feelings and bullshit that way, ya know?”

Andy’s nostrils flared as he inhaled loudly. “I do know. But . . . you’ve let me tuck you under my wing a few times. What does that mean?”

“I wouldn’t say I’ve been all the way under your wing, but I’ve definitely let you pull me in closer than most.” Tension filled the space on the couch in between us. The same tension that I felt that night on the bench outside of the bar when I kissed him for the first time. “But the good news is I don’t have the urge to punch you in the gut, so that’s a bonus.”

The words were barely out of my mouth, and I hadn’t even had a chance to laugh at my own joke when Andy leaned over, cupped my face, and crashed his lips against mine. Adrenaline shot through me, just like it had that night outside of the bar, but after all we’d gone through the last couple of weeks together, it was more intense. I reached up, placing my hands on his forearms as his mouth opened against mine.

Every care I had in the world completely disintegrated as he moved closer, pressing his body against mine. At that moment I didn’t care about anything other than being with him. I needed this. I needed him.





CHAPTER 31

Andy

Kissing Danicka was like throwing a penny into a wishing well, only instead of never seeing it again, you turn around and there’s a leprechaun standing there, handing you a fucking pot of gold. She kissed just as fiercely as she argued. Nothing with her was half-assed. Passion seeped out of her in everything she did, and being the lucky bastard on the receiving end of her intensity was amazing.

I pulled my lips from hers and stood up, not taking my eyes off of her. Reaching down, I gently grabbed her wrists and tugged her to a stand as I tried to catch my breath. I wove my hand into her hair, gently pulling it from its ponytail. She stared up at me with parted lips as strands of her dark hair fell over the sides of her face. I felt carnal, animalistic. I wanted to pick her up, throw her over my shoulder, and drag her back to my cave, but I also wanted to take things slow and enjoy every second with her.

I ran the backs of my fingers softly down her cheek and along her jawline. She closed her eyes and tilted her head, leaning into my hand as she lifted her fingers and put them over mine. A jolt of anticipation flashed through my whole body when she pulled my fingers and led them down past the waistband of her sweats.

“Wait,” I whispered. She bit her lip and lowered a worried eyebrow when I pulled my hand back. “I’m not fucking you on some living room couch like a frat boy. At least not the first time.” I winked at her as a shy smile broke out across her lips. I took her hand in mine, clicked the TV off, and led her upstairs to my bedroom.