CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

WALKER

Fuck. Seeing Riley wear my number has my cock twitching in my shorts and my heart thumping in my chest. I’ve seen hundreds of other women with my number on their front and my name on their back, and not once did it ever elicit a territorial pull at my cock.

I want to bury myself balls deep into Riley while she’s wearing nothing but my jersey, and then do it again when she’s wearing nothing at all. I’ve been hard as fucking granite since I saw her in the stands. At one point during the game, I thought my dick was going to break off if I got hit the wrong way.

My training taught me to push away outside distractions once I step on the field, but the second my cleats returned to the sidelines, my cock tuned into Riley like a fucking magnetic pull on a compass.

Riley doesn’t say anything until I pull out of the stadium parking lot. The traffic has thinned now that most of the fans have left, but there’s still a bit of congestion. For once, I don’t mind the delay.

I turn down the music and clear my throat, nervous as to how to start this conversation. “Thanks again for convincing everyone to come to the game. It means a lot.”

“They didn’t need any convincing. Jackson and Taylor were excited to watch you, and Rowan too. Kendall, well, no offense but she came to check out all the other players.” A cute laugh escapes her lips.

“I’d expect no less from her. And I’m not offended in the least. You and Jackson coming and wearing my jersey is more than I ever could have asked for.”

“That’s sad.” Riley claps her hand over her mouth. She wiggles in her seat. “I’m sorry. That was cruel. I didn’t mean...it’s just that...”

“It’s okay, Riley. You’re right. It is sad.” I don’t want her to be here out of pity, and the thought that I’m a charity case has me frowning.

“Walker.” She reaches across the center console and squeezes my arm. “Ever since I learned you were a football player, I’ve wanted to watch you play. I’ve grown up watching all sports, but actually knowing someone on the field? Someone whose name is chanted by thousands? It’s pretty cool.”

“Don’t tell me you’re star struck,” I tease. “I’m the same guy you met a few months ago.”

Only I’m not. And she’s not the same woman.

“Kendall’s beyond star struck, and your brother ate up all the chants from the crowd, pretending they were cheering him instead of you.”

Not the answer I’m looking for, but I won’t push. That she’s here with me, is moving in the right direction. I have a ways to go to prove myself worthy of her. We reach the restaurant before I’m ready to share her with her friends, but I hide my disappointment.

Riley is out of the SUV before I make it to her side, but I don’t let her walk in without being close to her. I place my hand respectfully on her lower back, only slightly touching her as a gentleman would. Not as a man who has kissed her. Had her naked. Licked, sucked, and kissed her most intimate parts.

The hostess greets us, and I don’t miss the star struck look in her eyes. Riley comes to my rescue before the awkwardness of my fame sets in.

“Hi there. You should have a reservation for six under Taylor.”

The hostess looks down at her notes on the podium. “I do. Is your party all here?”

“They should be arriving any minute. They’re right behind us,” Riley offers.

We follow the hostess through a labyrinth of tables, and I’m surprised she seats us at a semi-private table in the back corner.

“Is this okay? We don’t have a private dining room, but my manager said we’d do our best to give your party privacy.”

I’ll have to thank Taylor when he arrives. I’m not used to such special treatment, mostly because I don’t usually go out after games unless we’re away and a group is hanging out at the hotel bar. I’m not anti-social, but I’m not social either.

“This is perfect, thank you,” I say, taking the menus from the hostess.

It’s not upscale, which I appreciate as well, but not a dive restaurant either. Holding out a chair, I wait for Riley to sit and take a seat next to her. Across is nice so I can stare at her, but tonight I want to be close to her.

“Can I get you something to drink while you wait for the rest of your party?”

I wait for Riley to order first. “I’ll have a strawberry margarita, please.”

“Whatever domestic you have on tap is fine. Thank you.”

As soon as she disappears, the rest of the crew appears. It’s not like I thought I’d have a romantic dinner alone with Riley, but I’d hoped for a few more minutes. A few more minutes to talk about what, I’m not sure. Maybe the distraction is what we need to feel more comfortable around each other.

They fill the seats, with Jackson on my left and Rowan on Riley’s right. The next hour passes in a blur as we laugh over nachos, fajitas, and a round of drinks. I only had my one beer and am sipping on water when Kendall orders Riley another margarita.

“Some people have to work in the morning.” She shakes her head at her.

“We all do, cupcake. Three margaritas in almost two hours and a boat load of cheese and carbs to soak it all up isn’t going to throw a wrench in your Monday routine.” She reaches across the table and nudges the margarita our waitress delivers closer to Riley. “Drink up buttercup.”

“Speaking of.” Jackson blots his mouth with his napkin and sets it on his plate. “The car service turns into a pumpkin in an hour. I told our driver we’d be ready to go by now.”

He and Taylor stand and drop a stack of bills on the table.

“I can cover dinner.” I reach for the pile of cash and Jackson swats my hand away. “You earned your free meal tonight, brother. Next one’s on you though.”

“Why did you order me a drink if you knew we were leaving soon?” Riley takes a sip from her margarita and starts to stand.

Kendall pushes her shoulder until she’s seated again. “We don’t all have to go. Walker, you haven’t been drinking. Can you take Riley home?”

“Fabulous idea.” Jackson claps his hands. “Now you have time to finish your beverage and even wash it down with another basket of chips.”

Riley crosses her arms and scowls at Jackson and then Kendall. “Really?”

She’s not impressed with their matchmaking, but I sure the fuck am. “It’s not a problem, Riley. As soon as you’re ready, I can take you home.”

I’d much rather stay another hour or five, then take her back to my place, but I’ll follow her lead. As long as she’s not shutting me out, there’s a chance we can be together again.

“I had a great time today. We’ll have to do this again.” Rowan hugs Riley, then me, as do the others.

When Riley and I are alone again, I hide my smile behind my glass of water. Tonight was the first time since I met this well-established group of friends that I felt like I belonged. I wasn’t the outsider to inside jokes. I wasn’t an observer of conversations. I was part of the group, if not the center of it.

“Is this awkward, or does me asking if it’s awkward make it awkward?” Riley draws her finger through the condensation on her glass.

“Define awkward.” I rest my elbow on the table and cup my chin in my palm.

“Hell. It’s me. I’m awkward.” She picks up her glass and takes a healthy gulp of her margarita.

And then I realize that I’m the problem here. I all but accosted her on the yacht at Jackson and Taylor’s wedding and promised to hunt her down. Okay, maybe I didn’t come across as a lion seeking its prey, but by her obvious nerves, that’s how I made her feel.

I’m no good at this cat mouse game. The little time I spend with a woman is to scratch a mutual itch. I’m not a player, and not a man whore, but women know the deal. Before I met Riley, it had been at least two seasons since I took a woman on a date. If I have a need, I go out with my teammates. There’s always plenty of willing and able beautiful women who’d love to have a one-night stand with an NFL player.

Hell, that’s what I thought was happening with Riley, until I spent four seconds with her and realized she was different. She was special.

Then I called her a money chasing slut. Way to go, Walker. Jackson’s lack of advice isn’t helpful either. She doesn’t want to be chased, she wants to be cared for. I have to let her know I’m interested without making her feel I’m only after one thing. I remind myself it was her idea to bring her friends— our friends, my brother and his husband—to watch me play.

Settling back in my seat, I offer her a gentle smile. “We can go anytime you’re ready, Riley. For the record, I don’t think you or the situation is awkward. I’d like to call us friends, at least.”

“I’m sorry, Walker.” She lowers her chin to her chest.

“For what?”

She looks up at me with those gorgeous chocolate eyes and I watch as a line forms between her brows. “I’m not really sure.”

We sit in silence for a few minutes, then I push my chair back and offer her my hand. “It’s getting late, and I’m sure you’re going to push yourself to be at work early.”

She stares at my hand for a moment, and when I think she’s going to refuse it, she takes it and stands. She surprises me again when she doesn’t let go and holds on to me as I lead us out of the restaurant.

When we’re on the road heading back into the city, she finally speaks. “I’d like us to be friends.”

“I’d like that too. Especially since you’re so close with Jackson.”

“Even if you weren’t his brother, I’d still...I’d still want us to be friends.”

Not lovers. Not in a relationship. Not soulmates. Friends. Just friends.

I’ll settle for now, knowing it’s one step in the right direction. All I have to do is woo her with my charm and personality, remind her what she’s missing, and she’ll want more.

Unless I’m on the turf and have a ball trapped between my arm and my ribs, taking it slow is how I roll.

But slow is not what I feel when I’m with Riley.

Even though I’ve been to her apartment before, she gives me directions. I’m sure it has more to do with the need for mindless conversation than anything. When I pull into her back lot, I turn off the engine and release my seatbelt.

“You don’t have to get out. It’s late. I’m sure you’re exhausted after your game.”

“It’s not even nine, but I’d walk you to your door even if it was late and I was exhausted.” I jump out of my SUV before she can protest and help her out of her seat.

I don’t press my luck by trying to reach for her hand but I do follow her around the side of the building and wait until she unlocks the security door.

She doesn’t say anything when I follow her up the stairs to another short hallway. There are two doors on the right and two on the left. She stops in front of the second door on the right, and I stand behind her with my hands in my pockets as she unlocks it.

Riley opens the door and turns to me in the entryway. I can see the turmoil in her eyes. She wants to invite me in but she doesn’t want to give me the wrong impression. She’s scared. Not of me, but of what’s happened between us and what will inevitably happen again.

In my mind, it’s all good, but I can see she’s worried the inevitable isn’t a happy ending.

I slide my hand out of my pocket and slowly reach toward her, tucking a loose curl behind her ear. She tenses at first, then relaxes her shoulders when I don’t do anything else.

“Thank you for coming out to the game this afternoon. I can’t tell you how much it meant to me to see my brother and you in the stands.” I drop my hand and let it hang by my side.

Her eyes crinkle and she smiles tenderly. “We had a lot of fun. Jackson is proud of you.”

I’d rather hear how she feels about me, but I’ll take what I can get.

“Thank you for bringing him back into my life. He told me how you’ve encouraged him to reach out. He wouldn’t be in my life if it wasn’t for your influence.”

“You two would have found your way back to each other.”

“Maybe eventually, but not today. Anyway, thank you. Sleep well, Riley.” I take a step back and my heart flutters when her smile drops.

Progress.

I resist the urge to look over my shoulder as I walk away. And when I don’t hear her door close until I’m at the bottom of the stairwell, I grin.

Slow playing I can do, as long as Riley is willing to play with me.