Page 118 of Fighting Chance

“Girl, spit it out!”

“Kieran made me come on the bookstore’s couch and anyone walking by could have seen.”

My chest is heaving by the time I’m done blurting it out, and Cindy and Bella’s wide eyes just serve to speed up my already frantic heart rate. “Say something!”

“I feel like a proud mom right now.” Cindy takes a sip of her wine before chuckling to herself. “Damn, Lil.”

“In public?” Bella squeaks.

I nod emphatically, my excitement over it showing.

I’ve been thinking about it nonstop ever since. Have barely been able to function with it playing repeatedly in my mind. How Kieran made me feel is nothing compared to how I’ve made myself feel. It was electric and so addicting, I understand why the puck bunnies beg for him.

“It was amazing, really,” I breathe.

Cindy rubs her hands together. “I can’t wait to see where this goes.”

“It’s not going anywhere,” I say dryly. “This is going to work for us, you’ll see.”

She hums under her breath. “I suppose we will.”

“Trust me, Kieran is more than happy with our agreement.”

“Talking about me, sunshine?”

My spine snaps upright, my head swinging behind me. I find Kieran leaning against the open patio doors, his white T-shirt clinging to his body like a second skin as he folds his arms across his chest, his grin smug as hell.

“No!” I blurt at the same time Cindy snorts.

“Sure, sure.”

Kieran’s dark chuckle does something to my body. My stomach clenches, the hair on my arms standing on end as he pushes off the doorframe, the backwards black hat he’s wearing making him even more attractive—if that’s possible.

He struts toward me as if he doesn’t have a care in the world until his shoes brush mine. My head tips back, my heart pounding furiously as his arm reaches past me. He pulls back, a grape clutched between his fingers.

“What are you telling them?” he asks, popping it in his mouth.

My cheeks flame. “Nothing.”

Cindy groans. “Jesus, you could cut the sexual tension with a spoon.”

Kieran’s lips tip upwards. “Good to know, Cin.”

“She’s not said much,” Bella whispers in an attempt to help.

It doesn’t. Kieran’s grin turns downright devilish as he drawls, “Perhaps I haven’t given her enough to talk about yet.” Winking down at me he goes on, “I should rectify that.”

I’m utterly mortified as a small sound escapes me, and I can’t tell if it’s a whimper or a squeak.

Thankfully, an even louder squeal takes away from my mortifying noise. Emmy comes barreling into the house, Bambi on her heels, and she doesn’t stop until she smashes into the back of Kieran’s legs.

“Wow,” he says with a laugh. “Hello, little munchkin.” Bending, he scoops her into his arms, his smile wide and full of love. “What are you and Bambi doing running around like chickens with your heads cut off?”

Emmy giggles into her hands before laying her head down on his shoulder. He wraps his free arm around her, laying his cheekatop her head and you can practically feel the air change as all three of us women watch Kieran snuggle his daughter.

“Grayson wanted me to let you know that lunch is ready and off the grill. Everyone’s eating, and considering how many players are down there, I’d hurry to snag food.”

Cindy whose eyes fill with dark clouds seems to shake herself before marching off with another bottle of wine in her hand that she somehow acquired. “I’m going to kill Asher if he didn’t put food aside for me.”