Page 3 of Playing to Win
He thrusts his hand out and I automatically shake it, a jolt passing between our palms the moment they touch. I can’t let go of his hand, and he can’t seem to either. An uncomfortable giggle escapes me, which is just—weird. I don’t giggle like that. Not really.
His gaze seems to darken, his fingers curling tighter around mine and when I glance over at the couch, I see the redhead scowling at me, crossing her arms in front of her chest.
“You did hear me say her last name, right?” Cam asks Ace.
“I caught it. Maguire. You a cousin?” he asks me. His gaze is hopeful and my heart starts to sink.
Ugh. This has everything to do with Knox. He’s so overprotective of me and my sister, though I’ve rarely had to deal with it. We’re a little farther apart in age, so Blair is the one who’s had Knox standing guard over her with his friends.
“She’s my sister,” Blair pipes up from behind us.
Ace lets go of my hand immediately. “I forgot Knox had two sisters.”
“Is that a deterrent?” I ask, my heart racing a little faster than normal. “That Knox is my brother?”
Is Knox really that much of a threat? What does he say to these guys to keep them away from us?
“It makes you off limits,” Ace says, sending a smile in the redhead’s direction, whose entire demeanor relaxes when he looks at her.
Okay, that’s freaking annoying. Forget the redhead. Forget my brother.
Forget everyone.
My gaze goes to Natalie, her eyebrows shooting up in question, and I sort of love how she’s always encouraging me. If we were to hang out much longer, I’m sure the two of us could get into some serious trouble, and have fun while doing it too.
“Ooh, I love a challenge,” I proclaim, making Natalie laugh.
Ace returns his attention to me, his interest obviously piqued. “You do, huh?”
I nod, not letting the redhead’s moody stare bring me down. “And my brother is not my keeper.”
“Tell that to Knox,” Ace says with a chuckle that he immediately smothers with his hand.
My gaze zeroes in on that hand. It’s large, with a wide palm and long fingers I wonder if he knows how to use.
I have a thing about hands. A man’s hands. I don’t know what it is. I love a smile and a handsome face and a hard body but what really gets me?
Ace’s hands are…perfect. I bet he knows just how to touch a woman. Hands cupped around my cheeks, holding me in place, or even better? A hand around my throat. Gentle yet firm. With just enough pressure to show his strength, though I know deep down he would never harm a single hair on my head.
Heat coats my skin and I part my lips, my tongue touching the corner of my mouth just thinking of Ace’s hands on me.
“Damn, girl, don’t look at me like that,” he murmurs.
I jerk my gaze to his, surprised at the rough sound of his voice. “What do you mean?”
Okay, I let my imagination get out of control and unfortunately, he caught me.
“You’re looking at me like I’m a tasty snack and you’re dying to eat me.” His blunt statement makes my skin burn.
Or maybe that’s the image that’s now floating in my head thanks to what he said.
“I just looked at you like that?” I blink at him, knowing exactly how I looked at him.
Busted.
His laughter is deep. A pleasant sound that makes me smile. “Yeah, you sure did. And don’t play like you don’t know.”
“This is some bullshit,” the redhead mutters as she leaps to her feet and stalks off with a huff.
