Read Online Reye's Gold by Ruthie Robinson - Free Book Online Page B

to his team’s table. Her stomach dropped. What had she expected? She looked around her table. She’d been half listening to the conversation going on around her. It had moved on from the soccer game to graduate school stuff, which didn’t interest her. She hadn’t wanted to talk anyway; her mind was occupied elsewhere. Now that Stephen had arrived, she spent her time glancing covertly at his table. Unfortunately, he seemed engrossed in the c onversation surrounding him. Okay, enough of this! She was going home. In a last ditch effort, she would stop by his table and congratulate his team on her way out. She wouldn’t continue to sit here doing nothing, watching and waiting. Sam laughed at Reye as she stood up to leave. “You’re leaving?”
    “Yeah, I think so. School tomorrow.”
    “Sure,” he responded sarcastically. She looked down at him, giving him the evil eye.
    “What does that mean?” Reye asked as Sam looked at her, pretending innocence.
    “You can’t keep your eyes off Mr. Defender is more like it.”
    “Whatever. I’m out of here.” Taking a deep breath she walked over to Stephen’s table. All eyes turned to her.
    “I just wanted to stop by to congratulate you all again for your win. We look forward to playing you again, and we won’t take it so easy on you next time.” She smiled and they laughed. Most looked at her through bright and shining eyes. Beer made people very friendly. Stephen sat watching her. She couldn’t read his expression, but after she finished, he introduced her to the team members as his friend. Some of them she’d recognized from the fra ternity party. Henri she knew and Joe she refused to look at. Stephen retold the story of how they’d met at the air port and that he’d been surprised to see her on the field. His face as he told the story was unguarded, open, with that slightly wicked smile of his that left her feeling all liquid inside. She loved that smile. His eyes were clear, filled with humor.
    At this moment, she wanted him beyond anything she’d ever felt before. “Well, good night,” she said, moving away from the table. His teammates resumed their talking and he stood up to follow her, reaching her at the door.
    “I’ll walk you to your truck,” he said.
    “Okay,” she said, walking through the door and out into the night. It was dark out, the lights from the garden providing very little illumination. She took the lead with Stephen following closely, his hand in the small of her back as they walked, both of them quiet. Reaching her truck she turned to face him. He stood closer to her than she’d thought.
    “Thanks for walking me out.” Before she could lose her nerve she blurted out an invitation. “Would you like to come over for dinner Saturday night?” He didn’t answer, just stepped in closer to her, so close that she could see the new growth of hair on his chin. He placed both of his hands at her waist and slid them upward to rest just under her breasts. His eyes remained locked with hers and his thumbs begin to graze the undersides of them, a slow movement back and forth. Slowly he moved in and tugged her lower lip in between his teeth before settling his lips on hers, kissing her softly. She opened for him and his tongue marched in. She felt like one of those cartoons that turned into a pool of liquid and slid into a puddle on the floor. Slowly he relinquished her mouth, but he still held her.
    “I would love to come to your house for dinner.”
    R eye gazed into his eyes, her mind a blank canvas as she tried to gather her thoughts. They’d packed a bag, destination unknown.
    “What time?” he asked, as she continued to stare back at him. Stephen gave her a small shake and asked her again, now grinning, “What time Saturday evening?”
    “Seven? Do you remember where I live?”
    “I remember where you live, and I have your number that you programmed into my phone in case I get lost.” He removed his hands from her body and backed