Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

Clara

My anger toward Riggs is like blasphemy.

I have no reason to be upset with him.

He wasn't rude and didn't speak out of turn. He was kind, and, while still a bit grumpy, he made me a charcuterie board.

My bed is available as long as I'm not in it.

He may as well have slammed the door in my face.

He made his feelings toward me well-known, and I shouldn't be upset at that. I should be thankful and happy that I can get over my little crush on him. He obviously isn't feeling me, so why should I feel anything for him? Who cares if I love how dark his eyes are and that I can see little flecks of light brown around the rim of his pupils. How even though his sweats were baggy, they still showcased the thickness of his thighs and the roundness of his ass. His Bears tee was tight against his shoulders, and his biceps bulged out of the sleeves.

Riggs McCoy is way out of my league.

But yet, as I sit across from Gavin Hepworth, the backup goalie for my future brother-in-law and my date for the night, I can't help but compare him to Riggs.

Pathetic, I know.

He's the total opposite. Where Riggs is all dark and brooding, Gavin is goofy and light, with blond hair and bright-green eyes. He's tall, but he lacks the muscles to be able to throw me around. To make me feel small and weak in his hands. I want to be owned, not handled with kid gloves. Gavin doesn't have the intense gaze that Riggs has, and most of all, he's missing the Scottish brogue that has me giggling like a schoolgirl.

Yup, Gavin doesn't even give me the urge to scream his name.

Pity.

My sister and her baby daddy don't seem to notice my dismay as they stare into each other's eyes. Alex grins, and Elliot flushes red as he reaches for her, bringing her chair toward him and between his legs as if we aren't in public, but at home. He presses his forehead to hers, and they just grin at each other. When Elliot jumps a bit, she beams even brighter as she grabs his hands to place on her belly.

While I'm completely disgusted by them, I love how much they love each other and that he's feeling his child grow inside her. I wasn't a fan of Elliot hiding her pregnancy the way she did, but it was Austen who thought it'd be better to let her and to play along. I didn't want to forgive her for lying to me, but Alex, he didn't care. He only wanted her and their baby.

Swoon.

I roll my eyes at my inner hopeless romantic and meet Gavin's light gaze. "Sorry, they do this a lot. It's their world. We're just living in it."

He chuckles lightly, and I wonder how it sounds when Riggs laughs.

For the love of God, Clara, get it together.

I exhale as he waves them off. "Try sharing a room attached to theirs."

I grimace. "God bless, how are you unscathed?"

"Who said I was?" he asks with a wink, and I smile brightly at him. He's funny. He's nice. He could be a really good match.

But he's not Riggs McCoy.

I've had crushes, I've had infatuations, and while I haven't been in love, I have gotten over my crushes. So, this shouldn't be hard for me. I can hook up with Gavin a few times to scratch the itch and then move on once I'm not thinking of Riggs twenty-four seven. But I don't want to lead Gavin on, and there is a good chance seeing Riggs when I watch the dogs could prolong my crush. If I really wanted to get over Riggs, I should fuck him once to get him out of my system. But that won't happen if he wants nothing to do with me.

If he wants to keep it professional .

I am too much. Why am I mad he wants to keep things professional? I am a fucking professional! Ugh, but I don't want to be a professional where he is concerned. I roll my eyes at my inner monologue and notice that Gavin is looking at me expectantly. I blink, and then I feel my face flush. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"

"I was asking how long you've been in the dog business?"

I grin widely, hoping it'll distract him from my daydreaming. "Sorry, my mind is all over the place?—"

Before I can finish, though, a commotion beside us distracts me once more. Alex stands, embracing none other than Riggs McCoy. My whole body is set aflame at the sight of him. He is wearing some jeans and a light orange shirt that hugs his muscles in all the right ways. A black-and-orange Bears ballcap is on his head, hanging low over his eyes, but I can still see those dark depths. God, he is stunning.

I actually feel my lips part as I drink him in, hating that I've been mad at him for the last two days. He stands so confidently, giving my sister a side hug before shaking hands with Gavin. When his eyes land on me, my breath catches in my throat as those eyes move along my face to my neck and then to the rest of me. Does he like the little pink tennis dress I'm wearing? I watch him, hoping for the smallest confirmation, but he doesn't give one. Instead, his eyes meet mine, but I do notice his jaw tightening.

I wonder why.

I plaster a huge smile on my face, hoping it hides how much he is affecting me as I say brightly, "Riggs, funny seeing you here."

He nods. "Clara." He pats Gavin on the back. "I didn't realize you two were dating."

Just as I say, "We're not," Gavin tells him, "This is our first date."

Riggs nods slowly. "That's nice," he says as if it's no concern to him, which it's not, but damn it, I wish it were. I wish he'd get mad, demand no other guy touch me, and then take me home and spank me for my insolence.

Yup, I've been reading too many mafia romances.

"Coach, join us," Alex says, pointing to the chair beside me. "It's better than getting food and heading home, where it'll be cold."

My heart jumps into my throat, wanting to have him stay, but that isn't my place. Plus, he doesn't seem to want to stay. "I like eating at home."

"Sure, but here, the food is warm, and we are good company," Alex says proudly, rubbing Elliot's belly.

"Are you now?" he asks. And is that a playful tone? I know that he and Alex are close, but does that mean that Riggs isn't always so brooding?

"You know it," Alex says, grinning, before he waves down our waitress. "Can you get him a glass of sweet tea? You need a menu, Coach?"

Riggs shakes his head as he lowers himself into the chair beside me. His knee brushes mine, and I take in a deep breath. Of course, he doesn't even notice as he says, "No. I know what I want."

I bet he does. I bet he eats the same thing and never tries anything else.

Unable to keep that in, I say, "Maybe try something new since you're eating at the site?"

Riggs slowly moves his gaze to mine, the brown of his eyes darkening and leaving me breathless. "Are you implying that I only get one thing from here?"

I smile. "I am. Probably steak and potatoes."

Alex scoffs as Gavin chuckles. I feel Elliot's eyes on me, but I ignore her. Meanwhile, Riggs just gazes into my eyes. "And why steak and potatoes? Maybe I like the pasta from here."

I shrug. "Maybe, but pasta isn't good when you get it to go."

He nods. "Which is why I planned on getting it."

I press my lips together, feeling dumb for saying anything. I just wanted his attention, and, of course, I proved that I'm not worthy of it. When he stands, my eyes widen when he grasps Gavin's shoulder. "Trade seats with me. It's you two on a date, not her and me."

Everyone at the table chuckles. Even I fake a laugh, but the embarrassment that's flooding me makes me itch all over. I bite into my bottom lip as I reach for my beer, downing most of it as the conversation carries on around me. As I place my glass down, my fingers brush his as he grabs his drink. Our eyes meet for only a millisecond before he looks away at what Alex is saying. My shoulders sag, and I feel his hatred for me deep in my core.

Surely this will be enough to get me over my crush?