“You’re a Raiders fan?”
“I’m a Kate fan.”
Good answer.
The fifty-yard line is so close, some of the players on the sidelines may very well hear my screaming. It’s a tied game at half-time and we decide to get a bite to eat.
“Hot dog?” he asks as we move to the front of the line.
“And a beer.”
“Girl after my own heart.”
There’s a crowd milling around the beer station; a small group of girls of about eighteen or nineteen are staring in our direction. Eventually, they make their way over to us. “Aren’t you Flynn Beckham?” one eyelash-batting girl asks.
Flynn’s arm wraps around my waist. “I am.”
The small gaggle of girls squeal. “I’ve seen you at Stardust a dozen times!”
“Well, thank you for coming. We’ll be back on the road soon.”
“Would you sign an autograph for me?”
“Sure.”
The smiling girls dig into their handbags, one of them pulling out a red felt-tip marker. She pulls up her shirt, revealing a lacy red bra overflowing with more cleavage than a push-up bra could ever offer me, and thrusts them in Flynn’s direction. “Sign over my heart,” she says.
“That’s very sweet of you. But that wouldn’t be very respectful to my girlfriend here.” He motions in my direction. It might be the first time they even notice I’m standing next to him.
The girl looks annoyed at my presence and doesn’t lower her shirt right away. But Flynn handles it with grace. Grabbing a napkin from a nearby dispenser, he begins to scribble, asking the girl’s name. “Jenny,” she says. He writes her a quick note, complete with a few sketches of music notes, and signs his name.
His hand on the small of my back, he leads me away. “I hear the game starting. You ladies enjoy the rest of the afternoon.”
“Nicely done, Rockstar,” I bump shoulders with Flynn as we make our way back to our seats. “By the way, I think your girlfriend would have been okay with you signing some skin. It doesn’t seem so risqué since you’re dating four other women.”
Flynn stops and unexpectedly pulls me close to him. “That’s all for the show. But today, when it’s my choice, I’m here with you only.”
Our evening date is nothing like the way we spent our day. Gone is the casual, fun atmosphere as Flynn takes my hand to board the beautiful catamaran for a sunset cruise.
“You look beautiful. I can’t decide if I like you better in a Chargers t-shirt or a dress.” He looks me up and down approvingly.
“Thank you. You clean up pretty well, yourself.” His dress shirt and suit are both dark, but his tie is the perfect shade of pale blue to match the sparkle in his eyes. Even though he’s dressed more formally than this afternoon, there’s still an air of casualness about him. A laidback vibe that I can’t help but notice is so distinctly different than what Cooper Montgomery throws off. The way that man comes off is anything but causal. I feel guilty thinking of Cooper when Flynn has been nothing short of perfect today. In fact, I can’t seem to think of a single thing Flynn’s done to sour me to him since the day I met him.
We find a quiet spot on the bow and the catamaran sets sail. The uniformed waiter brings us drinks and hors d’oeuvres and quickly makes himself scarce. It’s almost easy to forget we’re being watched by the prying eye of a camera hidden somewhere discreet. The beautiful boat glides smoothly through the harbor, the front slicing tranquilly through gleaming waters as the sun begins to set in the distance.
“Come here.” Flynn wraps his arm around my shoulders and hauls me close against him. It’s nice. Peaceful almost. I really do enjoy his company. I lean back, allowing myself to relax as he locks both arms around me.
“I had a good time today,” he says, his chin resting on the top of my head.
“Me too,” I exhale.
“I always have a good time when I’m with you.”
“Me too.”
“Kate …”
I turn when he doesn’t say more. “I like you,” he rasps, meeting my gaze.
“I like you too.”
“A lot.”
Oh. I have no idea what to say. I really do like him. Sort of a lot too. But something keeps holding me back. Or more correctly, someone keeps holding me back. If Cooper Montgomery hadn’t barreled into my life, Flynn and I would most likely be in a very different place right now. I need to focus—keep the memory of the kiss we shared before I met Cooper in the forefront of my mind. It was nice. Passionate even. There was a spark, I know there was. I just need to get back to that place. Yet I tense up when he moves in closer.