Learning Curves(25)

But what did Lauren want?

Jessica touched him, her palm going to his chest just as Lauren turned his way. She stared for a moment then tore her glance away. His heart crashed against his chest. Jesus, after the weekend they’d had, did she think he’d want anyone but her? Then again, he never told her how he felt, and he did have a reputation…

He removed Jessica’s hand from his body. “What are you doing?”

“I figure if those two are going to play, then maybe we can too,” she cooed. She made a noise, a little snorting sound. “I don’t know what he’s all of a sudden seeing in her again anyway.”

“I do.”

Matthew touched a strand of Lauren’s hair, and Linc shoved away from the bar, the vision of those two in bed together had him seeing red. She was his, and he had every intention of proving it to Matthew and to Lauren. He cut across the room, slid his arm around her waist, and in a show of possession, pulled her tight. He dipped his head, his mouth inches from hers. She stiffened at first, but then her body relaxed against his as she fixed her attention on him.

“Linc,” she said, breathlessly.

“I need to talk to you.”

“If you’ll excuse us, we were in the middle of a conversation,” Matthew said.

“Lauren,” Linc said, without sparing Matthew a glance. As he put the puck in her hands, praying she wanted to play in his end, he sucked in a sharp breath.

“If you’ll excuse us, Matthew.”

A measure of relief moved through Linc, and Matthew grumbled under his breath and slunk away.

“What’s going on?” she asked. “What are you really doing here? Shouldn’t you be in the Keys getting your special delivery?”

His head reared back. “What are you talking about?”

“I overheard you and the pretty blonde at the airport, Linc.”

“Shit.”

A noise escaped in her throat. “Yeah, shit.”

He shook his head. “Lauren, you’ve got it all wrong. She runs a charter company and does special deliveries to those in the Keys—as in groceries, supplies, things like that.”

She gave him a skeptical look. “And she enjoys the view from your deck after she delivers them.”

He scrubbed his hand through his hair, needing her to believe him. “Yeah, well, she’s pushy. When I told you I didn’t bring girls to the Keys, I wasn’t lying.” He pulled his phone from his pocket. “We can call her company. I’ll prove it to you. She’s not my girl, never has been. You however…”

Her face softened. “What about me?”

She believed him. Thank fuck.

Instead of answering, he gestured to the TV behind the bar. “Your team is playing.”

“You mean the Miami Rays?” she said, placing her hands on his chest. The warmth of her fingers seeped under his shirt. Jesus, he loved being touched by her.

“New York Storms.” He ran the backs of his fingers along her cheek, the things he felt for her making it difficult to breathe. “Care to make a bet on the outcome?”

“You want to make a bet?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“You once said you hated unfinished business?”

Dark lashed blinked over curious eyes. “And?”

He waved a finger back and forth between the two of them. “And that’s what we have.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You and me.” He splayed his hand on the small of her back. “Whatever this thing is between us, it’s far from finished.”

Her fingers curled against his shirt, and a smile lit her eyes as her mouth curved. “It is?”

“We’re not done. There is so much more I want with you.”

“So you’re thinking another bet?” The deeply intimate way she was looking at him fueled his need. “Another weekend?”

“No. I’m thinking about taking you home, stripping you naked, and making sweet fucking love to you.”

Her chest heaved, excitement dancing in her eyes. “Lovemaking, huh?”

“Yeah.”

“That sounds pretty…good.”

A rush of tenderness rolled through him. “So are we when we’re together, which is why I want to take you out of here right now and keep you all to myself.” He drew a fueling breath. “And I think I’m about to scare the hell out of you right now.”

“Why?” She frowned.

“I’m thinking I might like to make love to you for a long time. Like forever.”

Tension moved through her. She glanced down. “Oh.”

His gut clenched and he tipped her chin to see her expression. “Oh what?”