I looked from my best friend to the guy who once broke my heart, weighing the pros and cons. My cons list filled up fast, but the one pro I mentally listed unfortunately outweighed the other side.
And the single item was that I’d finally get to sleep with Luke Sorenson.
“I can’t believe I’m even considering this.” The deal was already signed, sealed, and delivered in my head, but I pretended I was still contemplating. Locking eyes with him, I steeled my expression and pointed in his face. “You get one shot. That’s it. And we do this tonight.”
His only response was an ear-splitting grin.
3
Luke
And to think I was going to stay in and rest. My body had been put through the wringer this past week with constant training and practices, and all I wanted to do was sleep, but something had spurred me to come out tonight.
I’d contemplated going somewhere else but, in the end, McConley’s was the best choice. It was a hole in the wall, someplace I wouldn’t be continuously hounded for autographs and pictures, or at least that was what I thought. Fame was now part of the deal, but sometimes getting recognized sucked. All I wanted to do was play soccer. I happened to be great at it, hence the money and fame.
After being approached by some fans when I first walked in, I’d been sitting in the far corner of the bar when I noticed Olivia. At first, I thought I was hallucinating. I did a double take, but sure enough, it was her. At some point, I figured I’d run into her, but I didn’t think it would be this soon after moving back to Vegas.
To be honest, I was worried about this very scenario because the last time I saw her, our situation was far from ideal. But there was no way she was still angry at me. What happened between us was a decade ago. Although, the woman never left my thoughts for long, so if I continued to think about her, I might’ve still run through her mind over the years, just not in the same way, I was sure.
For ten minutes I watched her from afar, mesmerized by her slightest of movements. The way she tossed her hair over her shoulder, the auburn color darker than I remembered, exposing her slender neck. The way she threw her head back and laughed at something Brooke said, an action which made me smile, even though the expression was involuntary. I didn’t even realize I was doing it until my cheek muscles started to ache. But when she glanced around the bar before leaning into her best friend, I knew whatever she was set to divulge had to be good.
Curiosity prodded me to change seats.
I’d accidentally bumped into her, almost spilling her drink. Luckily, the element of surprise hadn’t been lost as she never turned to see who the clumsy ass was who banged into her.
And good thing because I got an earful.
It didn’t take me long to figure out what she was talking about, her matter-of-fact points making me rock hard. Thank God for the shelter of the bar’s overhang because I adjusted myself three times before I offered her my services.
Which brought us here.
“You get one shot. That’s it. And we do this tonight.” The look on Olivia’s face was a blend of irritation, intrigue, and stubbornness, a heady concoction that once again made my dick twitch against the seam of my jeans.
The bartender, whose name I learned earlier was Hale, approached, interrupting my response to a sentence I never expected to hear.
“You want another?”
“Nah.” I swallowed the rest of my drink and pushed the glass toward him. “I’m good.”
He jerked his chin toward the group of women seated at the table near the door, the same ones who approached me while I was talking to Olivia. “Looks like they want more of you.”
Olivia turned her head to see who Hale was talking about. When she looked back at me with those beautiful green eyes, she made a noise with her throat, but she didn’t say anything. I prayed she didn’t back out because what I had planned for her tonight, I’d been thinking about for years.
“Not interested,” I finally managed to say.
“Oh, to be you, Sorenson. What a dream it would be.”
“I don’t have any complaints.” I looked at the woman next to me when I uttered the next thought that popped into my head. “And neither will you.”
“We’ll see.”
She turned to face Brooke. Whether she mouthed something to her friend or made a face, I’d never know. But I did steal the opportunity to ogle her.
The green floral dress she wore was snug in all the right places, accentuating her plump backside. And although Olivia wasn’t tall, possibly standing around five foot five, give or take an inch, the heels she wore made her legs look like they went on for miles. Okay, maybe not miles. Yards? Yeah, that’s a better analogy. Either way, I couldn’t wait for her to wrap them around me as I moved inside her.
There went the big guy again, begging to be freed.
We needed to leave before she changed her mind. I leaned in close to make sure she could hear me, the chatter in the bar picking up.
“You ready?”
She answered without looking at me. “Let’s go.” She hugged her friend before walking toward the door, flinging her purse over her shoulder in what I could only assume was frustration.
“Take care of her,” Brooke said, pressing her lips to my cheek afterward.
“I’ll do my best.” I was two steps away when I turned back. “Are you good to get home?”
“Aren’t you sweet.” She looked at me like I was crazy for asking the question, though. “I’m good. I’ll grab an Uber. Now go do your job.” Her laughter trailed behind me while I searched for Olivia.
She was halfway out the door when I caught up with her. Damn, she’s fast. I reached for her hand, but she pulled her arm away the second my fingers brushed against hers. I chuckled but I doubted she heard me.
This is going to be fun.
4
Olivia
As soon as we stepped outside, I welcomed the briskness of the night air, hoping to cool off. But the opposite happened, and I was all too aware why my body’s temperature continued to rise. It had everything to do with the man falling into step beside me, even though I didn’t want to admit that to myself.
“Do you want to go to my place or yours?”
While I contemplated the answer to his question, I again dodged his hand reaching for mine for the second time. Touching him right now would kick me off my game, as if I had any to begin with. I’d have to allow him to touch me at some point tonight, but holding hands was too intimate for me to handle. The sentiment might sound off base, but it made sense in my head. For now, at least.
“You already have a place? Didn’t you just move back?”
“I’m renting until I find a house I want to buy.”
My hurried steps took me farther down the sidewalk, but I had no idea where I was going. And neither did he, as was prevalent when he grabbed my arm to stop me.
“What?” I asked when he spun me around and stepped into my personal space. Craning my neck to look up at him disoriented me. His breath fanned my face, his lips only several inches from mine. Instantly, I was assaulted with the memory of our mouths fused together, as if it was only yesterday when it happened. I’d lied before when I told him I’d been kissed by guys who’d been better than him. He’d called me out and I didn’t tell him he was right. No one had made me feel the way he had. He’d essentially ruined me, which was yet another reason for me not to like him.