Read Online Playing for Kicks (Play Makers Book 5) by Kate Donovan - Free Book Online

in khakis and a faded T-shirt.
    His eyes twinkled. “Hey, Tess. Sorry I didn’t
call first. I just took a chance you were here.”
    “Well,” she said breathlessly, “I am.”
    “Yeah, that’s cool.” He took a quick glance
at her outfit, then asked, “Do you have a minute?”
    “Me?”
    He stepped closer. “I figure I owe you an
apology. For last night.”
    “Oh, Lord, not at all. I mean, why? Nothing
happened.”
    “We both know it did.”
    “What?”
    “I shouldn’t have run off like that,” he
explained smoothly. “After Erica planned a nice dinner, and you
came all that way to interview me for your article.”
    “Oh.” She exhaled in relief. “No worries on
that score. The question is, did your roof survive the storm?”
    “Yeah, no damage.” He glanced over her
shoulder. “If you’re busy . . .”
    “Oh, not at all. Come on in.” She stood aside
sheepishly. “Can I get you something?”
    “Are you having something?”
    “I’m working on a root beer, but I’m a
bartender and Mr. Murphy’s cabinet is fully stocked, so name your
poison.”
    He flashed a white-hot smile. “Root beer
sounds good, thanks.”
    Flustered again, she motioned for him to take
a seat, then dashed to the kitchen. What was she thinking? He had
an unofficial fiancée for crap’s sake.
    Which means he shouldn’t be here in the
first place, she reminded herself as she poured his soda.
    The thought empowered her as she walked into
the living room, where he still hadn’t taken a seat. Handing him
the drink she said lightly, “Erica tells me you’re engaged.
Congratulations.”
    “Yeah,” he said, his cheeks flushing
slightly. “That’s one reason I’m here.”
    “Oh?”
    He started to respond, then motioned to the
sofa. “Can we sit?”
    “Of course. You sit there and I’ll bring my
favorite chair over from the table.”
    “You have a favorite?” He glanced at the four
identical seats. “Which one is it? I’ll get it.”
    She laughed at herself, then assured him, “I
love them all equally so take your pick.”
    He dragged one over, then suggested, “You
take the couch. I’ll take the chair. How’s that?”
    “It’s good.” She settled down, then smiled in
apology. “Did you want to discuss the article, Sean? If you’ve
changed your mind, that’s fine. I know we sprung it on you without
warning.”
    He eyed her intently. “The article sounds
cool. Like I said, I just wanted to apologize for last night.”
    She wanted to assure him it was fine with her
that he left abruptly, but instinct told her he was referring to
the other thing. Assuming the other thing had actually happened,
and assuming further he knew it happened. In which case, she
wished he’d put a label on it so she’d know what he was apologizing
for. Otherwise, she might put a label on it, and her only
workable theory was some ancient Tantric sex technique that had
been lost to the ages then resurrected via his hot green eyes.
    Luckily, he started talking again about
completely normal things. “So you mentioned my girlfriend. Her name
is Kerrie. I’ve been seeing her for a while, and lately, it hasn’t
been going well. To the point where I’ve been trying to break it
off. So yes, I’m technically involved. But actually, not so
much.”
    “The rumor is you’re engaged.”
    “Kerrie’s in the process of getting a
divorce,” he explained, “so technically, we can’t be
engaged. Plus, we’re breaking up. Like I said. I keep trying, but
she sabotages it.”
    “Or maybe you both sabotage it,” she
suggested, drawing on her experience with lovelorn guys who came
into the bar for advice.
    “The first time, maybe. But the next time,
she knew I wanted to talk so she brought her parents in for
reinforcements. Then last week, she told me she’s having her
virginity restored—”
    “ What?”
    He seemed encouraged. “That’s bizarre, right?
And trust me, I handled it badly.”
    “I’m not sure there’s a good way