Page 14 of The One Timer

Fear burns through my pleasure like Cupid has turned into the devil. What the hell is this? I can’t be this into her after fifteen minutes. However, my hammering heart and the sweat breaking out on my brow say otherwise.

Fuck.

Time to shift gears. Emery isn’t the kind of woman I can have a casual fling with because there’s nothing casual about whatever the heck is going on here. What I’m feeling is nothing like I’ve ever felt before. Not even for my high school sweetheart.

Then, a one-timer it is. Because even though she’s the kind of woman I need to stay far away from, the kind of woman who would own me if I allowed her any space, I’m not crazy enough to forfeit this one night with her.

If she’ll go for it...

Chapter Six

EMERY

“Where did you come from?” He shakes his head. I’m hoping his question is rhetorical because I don’t want him to know the answer, and I’d just as soon keep my lies to a minimum. I’m not exactly in the habit of making up stories, and I know if I don’t keep it simple, I’ll get in serious trouble with my web of lies.

“Where are we going?” I deflect as we end up in a garage. “Did you drive here?”

“I did. Since I have relatives in Boston, I got a pass from taking the team bus.” He chuckles. “In fact, I think the only people on the team bus were a couple of rookies and the equipment managers. Portsmouth is pretty close to Boston, so a lot of the guys opted to drive down.”

“I hope the fact that the two teams are so close doesn’t make it hard for your team to gain a following.”

“Not a problem so far. Coach Spence has made sure of that. He’s a fucking genius—excuse my French⁠—”

“No worries about your French. I can handle salty language. I work with some salty clientele—” Shit. I forgot I’m supposed to be a banker.

He raises a brow. “Where is your bank? In Roxbury?”

I laugh because I don’t know what to say. I’m nervous, but he has me charmed. He’s so down to earth. I don’t know what I was expecting, but I come up with something generic to say. “No. I mean, some of the people, especially the older ones, are characters. Tell me about your family in Boston.” I’m more comfortable with him being the topic of conversation. If I’m honest, he fascinates me beyond his hunkiness.

“It’s my grandma, mostly. My sister and uncle live in the burbs. I have some cousins around, too.” He shrugs. “But family revolves around my grandma now. We’re tight.” He lifts his hand with two fingers entwined, and my heart nearly liquifies. Could he be more perfectly irresistible? He’s definitely more than a handsome hunk—if that’s not enough.

And let’s not forget the fact that he’s a freaking billionaire, way more than the run-of-the-mill professional-athlete rich. He’s from old money and a classy family, and it shows because he’s all class.

A class I only dream about, a class I work for and admire from afar. Maybe that’s why he fascinates me—because tonight, I’m getting an up-close, intimate look at someone who was never more than the wispiest dream—untouchable and as inaccessible as a figment of my imagination.

Except for tonight, my Cinderella night. My insides bubble up with nerves, anticipation, and all those giddy feelings long ago buried under heaps of struggle and sadness.

He steers us to the garage’s exit and pushes open the door, where a waft of cold air slaps us in greeting.

“We’re not driving?”

“Not unless you want to?”

“Not at all. Walking is the one thing I’m dressed for.”

He looks down at my feet and grins. “Yes, you are.”

I pull my jacket tighter around me. He takes my hand and leads me up Causeway Street toward Boston’s North End.

“Let’s go to my favorite restaurant in Boston.”

“Italian food?” I guess.

“Pizzeria Regina. The best pizza anywhere—and that includes Italy.”

“Oh. My. God! You’re kidding—Regina’s is amazing. I love that place. I don’t mind admitting it’s the only restaurant I’ve been to in the past…I don’t know how long. And you’re right—it is a place where people get their pictures taken. Though I think you need to be a celebrity to get your picture on the wall.”

“Let’s see what we can do about that. Maybe they’ll consider me a celebrity now that I’ve scored a hat trick—even if I’m not on the home team.”