Free Fair Catch - A Football Romance by Emerson Rose Page B

you were determined, weren’t you?”
    “I wasn’t taking any chances, but since you brought it up, why were you going to cancel?”
    “I don’t know. The guilt, I guess.”
    “Guilt about eating dinner?”
    I swat at his arm. “Hey, just because I’m a dancer doesn’t mean I have an eating disorder,” I say with a laugh.
    “I wasn’t insinuating that you did. I just can’t imagine what you would have to feel guilty about.”
    “When I’m not practicing, I’m teaching, and when I’m not doing either of those things, I am sleeping or preparing to practice or teach.”
    “Sounds unbalanced.”
    “Is that a nice way of saying it sounds boring?”
    “You said it, not me.”
    I consider it for a moment. My life is boring, but River is just the thing to shake it up a bit.
    “Well, like I said, I’m glad I decided to come.”
    “Me too. All work and no play make Angel a dull girl.”
    “You think I’m dull?”
    “Absolutely not. I think you’re fascinating, but from the sounds of it, you’re a workaholic.”
    “I am. Let’s change that tonight.”
    “Deal. I’d say we’re off to a good start after that roadside kiss,” he says and glances at me.
    “That was a pretty awesome kiss, Mr. Kelly. You took me by surprise.”
    “Surprise kisses are the best. You’d better watch out. Now that I know how good you taste, there might be a few thousand sneak attack kisses in your future.”
    “I think I’m going to be okay with that.”

Chapter 12
    R iver
    I swing into Poppy’s parking lot and drive around back to the private lot for employees. I slide in next to my sister’s Lexus and a brick wall, where I know my baby will be safe from rude door dingers.
    “We can avoid the crowd and go in the back.”
    “Perks of knowing the owner,” she says.
    “You know it.”
    I round the car and open her door. I offer her my hand and help her out, and she glides to her feet like only a dancer can. I’m constantly in awe of her grace and poise. Every move she makes is purely balletic.
    I place her arm around mine and lead her to the door that opens into Olivia’s office. The moment we are inside, the warm air from the kitchen hits my face, and the smell of fresh seafood fills my nose.
    “This way.” I lead her past Olivia’s antique mahogany desk and out the open office door into the busy kitchen. We skirt along the side, careful to stay out of the way. There are servers rushing in and out of swinging doors. The sous chef and the executive chef move between multiple burners, preparing several dishes at once.
    Emilio, the executive chef, looks up and notices me trying to sneak through.
    “Hey, Football Boy, what are you doing in my kitchen?”
    “Just passing through, trying to dodge the crowd out front. What’s good tonight?”
    He throws his arms out wide and grins ear to ear.
    “Everything is good, my boy. Everything.”
    “Excellent. I may have to order one of everything, then.”
    “Don’t be greedy now. Save some for the pretty lady,” he says, waving a knife as big as my forearm toward Angel.
    “Yes, sir. Will do.”
    I guide Angel with my hand on the small of her back. The simple, innocent gesture is made intimate by her low-cut dress that is exposing her entire back. An inch lower, and my hand would be on her ass, which I’m now imagining is bare under this dress. I’m starting to get hard thinking about her slipping her straps off her shoulders and watching that dress pool around her feet.
    Lost in my imagination, I almost pass our table, but Angel stops short when she sees the only empty table in the room, and my cock brushes against her hip. She looks at me with wide eyes, and I almost laugh, but my sister is all over us before I can react.
    “It’s about time. Hurry, sit, sit. I feel like I’m holding fifty-yard-line seats at a Sparks game, for crying out loud. I’m Olivia, River’s favorite sister. You must be Angel.”
    “Yes, it’s nice to meet you,” Angel says.
    Olivia