“Your cheeks are pretty flushed. Want to tell me what you’re thinking about?” he said with a cocky smirk.
“What? I’m not flushed. It’s hot outside.” I couldn’t look at him.
“It’s seventy-five degrees tonight. Actually, it’s pretty cool with the breeze. I think you’re thinking about that kiss last night.”
“Of course, you do. Because you’re arrogant and cocky and—” I threw my hands in the air because I was flustered. He was right. That kiss was all I could think about.
He wrapped his fingers around my wrist and turned me to face him. “You can’t stop thinking about it because neither can I. It was a good fucking kiss. The best I’ve ever had.”
“Stop,” I whispered, glancing around to make sure no one was watching us because I was suddenly ridiculously turned on.
“The way you rocked up and down my cock like you fucking owned it… Because you do, Brinkley. This can all be yours if you want it. I’ll make you come so many times you won’t be able to see straight, sweetheart.”
The bastard.
My breaths were labored, and desire pooled between my thighs. This was not good.
I pressed my fingers to my temples. “Okay, this stops now. My parents live here. No more talk about last night. Let’s go.”
He chuckled, and we started walking again. “You a little frustrated, baby?”
“I’m fine,” I hissed as we walked up the cobblestone sidewalk toward the front door. I turned around and poked my finger hard into his chest, and I wanted to tear his buttons open and kiss every inch of him. My God. What was happening to me? “Best behavior, Captain.”
“Always.” The back of his hand grazed mine, and goose bumps ran down my arms and legs.
Once we stepped inside, all hell broke loose. Everyone gawked and fawned over the football star.
“Lincoln, I can’t believe you’re really here,” my mother said. The woman didn’t give a damn about football, but she was suddenly very interested in the man.
Maddox and Wyle were there, and of course, they were laughing and talking and telling my brothers that he was coming to guys’ night this week.
Cage introduced Gracie to Lincoln, but my brother could barely form a sentence when he tried to speak.
Hugh and Finn were completely comfortable and acting like they’d been best friends with the guy for years.
“I think he’s having a good time,” Georgia said as we stood several feet away from them, sipping our wine. Lila walked over to join us, as my mom was busy in the kitchen.
“He does. And this can be an overwhelming group.” Lila chuckled.
“Yeah. I mean, they’re all falling all over him. I don’t know why he wouldn’t enjoy that. The man has a big ego.”
Georgia studied me. “It’s okay to say that you like him. He seems like a really good guy.”
“I agree. Don’t fight it, girl. He’s hot. You’re hot,” Lila said, waggling her brows.
“He’s fine. We’re friends.”
“Oh, I know that face. You like him,” Georgia whispered before grabbing mine and Lila’s hands and tugging us toward the hallway. “Tell me.”
“It’s nothing. I’m attracted to him. We accidentally kissed last night. And then he pretended that he wanted to actually date me. Give it a real try. See where it goes. It’s ridiculous. I was on board with a one-time fling—no risk of anyone’s feelings getting hurt. But he wanted to go and make it complicated.”
“You’ve never even had a one-night stand. Why are you pushing for that?” Georgia asked.
“I mean, maybe he knows one night just won’t be enough,” Lila whispered.
“I’m not against having a one-nighter. I just haven’t found anyone that I wanted to give it a try with and that I was super attracted to. Plus, he’s not the dating type. He’s a freaking football star. Come on. Am I the only one that sees it? This would never work.”
“Football stars date all the time. It’s not unheard of.” Lila shrugged.
“And he never stops staring at you. Maddox and I both noticed it when you were over yesterday. And you’re always together. Why are you so afraid to give it a try?”
“There are a million reasons why it won’t work.”
“There were a million reasons why your brother and I would never work, and look at us,” Lila said.
Georgia chuckled. “Agreed. And the idea of Maddox and I felt impossible at first. Give me one good reason why it can’t work,” Georgia said, putting her hands on her hips, and Lila stood beside her, waiting, as well.
“I can name several. He’s a freaking football star. He’s moving across the country. We annoy each other daily.”
Georgia studied me for a long moment before she spoke. “You really like him, and you’re afraid of getting hurt. That’s new for you, isn’t it?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Come on, Brinks. You’ve never dated a man who challenged you. You tend to date really passive guys who you tire of quickly. But there’s no risk there, is there?”
“Yeah, I have to agree. That Kaeran guy had the personality of a snail,” Lila said, and she and Georgia broke out in a fit of laughter.
“What are you talking about? Obviously, I prefer to date guys that I don’t fight with. That’s sort of a good thing.” I chuckled and looked up when Lincoln said my name.
“That’s just the arrogant football player bragging about how you’re getting all these job offers because you’re so talented. He’s such a pig,” Georgia said, making no attempt to hide her sarcasm.
“The nerve of him.” Lila smirked.
Thankfully, my mother called us all to the table for dinner.
“Okay, enough of this conversation. Let’s go eat. I’m starving.”
We all sat around the table, and my father looked so starstruck it was difficult not to laugh.
Lincoln sat beside me, with Cage and Gracie on the other side of him. Hugh and Lila were directly across from us, and Georgia and Maddox sat beside them with Wyle on the other side of them. Finn was next to me, and my parents were each at the head of the table.
We passed the platters of chicken and mashed potatoes and corn on the cob around the table as Gracie asked Lincoln several questions about football. It was adorable the way he answered each one as she listened intently.
“I want to thank you for what you’re doing for Lionel,” Hugh said as he passed the rolls to Lila. “He worked with me this morning, and he was all excited that you texted him last night.”
“What is he doing for Lionel?” my father asked.
“He’s helping him out with the hope that Lionel can continue his football career in college. Even if he just walks onto a team, it would be good for him to go away and experience college. The dude has been working for a long time, and he deserves a chance to just be a normal college kid, and if he got to play for a team, it would be the icing on the cake,” my brother said.
“He’s a good kid. I’m happy to help.”
I glanced over at him. “Did you speak to the coach?”