fleeting smile tore at my insides. I could hardly stand to see him, yet I couldn’t seem to deprive myself of it either.
I soaked in his tight fitted jeans and T-shirt with his team’s logo in the corner.
Sweeping a hand into his hair, he stepped deeper into the room. “You’re glowing.”
The word glow spiked thorns, but I took the compliment with a smile, my attention focused on folding the rest of the washed clothes in front of me. “So are you. Lots of time in the sun?”
He huffed, lowering to the ground beside me and leaning back against the wall. The scent of his cologne seemed more potent. It enveloped me like a cloud, making me dizzy. “The team’s finished now.”
“I saw. Sorry about the loss.” They’d made it to the semifinals, which he’d flown back for. I’d watched it on TV last week.
Aiden bent his knees, clasping his hands around them. “We had a good run. Besides…” Humor roughened his voice. “I think I spent most of the game, hell, any game, pinching myself, so it definitely could’ve been better.”
“Pinching yourself?”
His head rolled to face me. “It still trips me out. That I actually get to play with and against some of the best players in the world.”
Lost in the swirling dark depths of his eyes, the curl and dip of his lashes, and the dream-like quality to his voice, I was held immobile. I shook my head, refocusing on the clothes. “You deserve to be there, and you know it.”
“Yeah, I guess I’m just lucky they’re giving me another shot.” He fell quiet, and I felt his warm gaze as I sorted the washed from the unwashed, then started ripping off more tags. “I’ve missed you.”
I hesitated, wanting to say I’d missed him too, wanting to say so many things, but my tongue grew two sizes bigger, and then his phone rang.
He pulled it from his pocket. “Hey, Dad.”
He sipped from the milkshake that’d been sitting beside him, then handed it to me as he smiled at something his dad said.
I took it, almost moaning. Vanilla heaven rolled over my tongue, sliding down my throat.
I drank while he talked, and was about to get up when he said, “She’s good. I’m at her place now.” His tone turned irritated. “Fine.”
A rich, gruff voice sounded. “Stevie?”
My eyes widened, and I looked from Aiden’s smirk to the voice in his hand. “Uh, hi, Mr. Prince.”
“Cooper. Aiden tells me you’re having a baby boy. Just putting it out there, Cooper’s a fantastic name.”
I laughed. “I’ll take note of that, thanks.”
“Welcome. So I’ll be in town next Friday, and I’m taking you both out to dinner at that new restaurant. One of my clients owns it.”
My heart thundered as I threw a helpless glance at Aiden. His grin said there’d be no saving me from this. “Sure. You do remember we’re not actually together anymore, right?”
“Like I give a shit. Meet me at seven. I need to go; some asshole just dumped bad news on my desk.”
The line disconnected, and Aiden put his phone away as he stood. “Your dad seems, um…”
“Forceful? Entitled? I know.” He held his hand out.
I ignored it. “Aiden, I can’t do this.”
He lowered to the floor, crouching in front of me and searching my eyes. “It’s just dinner. My dad’s been wanting to meet you for the better part of a year now. Appease him, or I’ll probably never hear the end of it.” He pouted. “Please. For me?”
I grumbled. “Those puppy dog eyes should be illegal.”
“Quit busting my balls. Let him spoil you with all the fancy food you could dream of.”
He offered his hand again, and after a second, I let him haul me up off the floor. “Well, damn, Petal.” His throat bounced as he gazed down at my stomach.
I flattened my hand over it, my white lace summer dress clinging to the soccer ball-sized bulge. “Gets bigger every time I wake up.”
“I’ll say.”
I slapped him, and he snickered, bringing my hand to his lips.
As his smooth mouth encountered my skin, we both paused. The skin on my arms prickled, and my stomach dipped.
He released me, clearing his throat. “Anyway, I need to head home and unpack. Only just got in this morning.”
I nodded, my hands bunching at my sides as he strode from the room, and I heard his booted steps fade down the hall.
“Now raise them to the sky. That’s it. Breathe in…. and release.”