The Toughest Play

15. Rogan

CHAPTER 15

ROGAN

A utumn spears a piece of French toast with her fork. “Beginning our day with brunch was a phenomenal idea.” Her lips close around the maple-syrup-soaked bread and she hums.

“Are you less grumpy after you eat?” I ask.

“For sure.”

“You’ve been less grumpy lately in general. I like to think I have something to do with that.”

She points her fork at me. “Or it could be that I finally have a job I love.”

“Or maybe it’s because we’ve gotten to know each other.”

She shrugs, saying, “Maybe.” But her green eyes sparkle with amusement. She’s adorable.

“I had a lot of fun with you on the beach. We’ll have to do it again soon.”

“I did too, even though my legs might still be numb from the water.”

“Yeah, it was cold, but it always is. Since I’ve been living there and swimming more, I’ve grown used to the initial shock and then it doesn’t seem so bad.”

“It felt pretty damn cold to me.”

“How often do you go in the water?”

“Never.”

I laugh. “You live near the beach but don’t go in the ocean? How does that work?”

Her shoulder lifts in a half shrug. “I have to be careful of burning, and being in the water always seems to make it worse.”

“You’re not burnt from yesterday.”

“I put industrial strength sunscreen on at home, plus it was later in the day.”

“Do you tan at all?”

She scrunches her nose. “Nope. My freckles just start to connect.”

“I love your freckles. Someday, I’m going to trace over every single one of them with my tongue.”

She chokes on a bite of food and coughs a few times. She clears her throat. “I wasn’t expecting that.”

“I’m sorry for my bad timing but I’m not sorry I said it. You should know that’s one of my new goals.”

“Licking my freckles?”

“Amongst other things.” And the sooner it happens, the better. “How does knowing that make you feel?”

She wipes her mouth with a napkin and sets it back in her lap. “Conflicted.”

“How so?” I push half a slice of bacon between my lips and chew.

“On one hand, I think I’d like it to happen, and on the other, I don’t.” She shakes her head. “No, that’s not true. Why wouldn’t I want you to make me feel good? But just because I want something, it doesn’t mean it’s a solid choice.”

“You have plenty of time to think about it. It’s not like I’m going to splay you out right here and lick your naked body until you’re writhing with need.” Her gaze lowers to the table between us, as if she’s imagining it happening. When her eyes meet mine once more, her cheeks look slightly flushed. “Unless you want me to,” I add, winking.

The waitress stops by to check in on us, putting an end to my teasing. Neither Autumn nor I are in need of anything more, so she leaves the check and heads to another table.

“We’re splitting the bill,” Autumn tells me.

My eyebrows draw together. “Like hell we are. I invited you.”

Her mouth falls open, then closes before she can articulate any words. “But we decided to spend time together as friends. So we should each pay half.”

“Please, let me get this. There’s no chance I’m going to let you pay. It goes against everything my dad taught me about being a gentleman.” Her expression is flat as she scrutinizes me. I can’t tell what she’s thinking or what her answer will be.

“Okay,” she finally agrees.

“Thank you.”

“You haven’t told me anything about your parents. Where do they live?”

“My dad is a professor and he and my mom have been living in Sweden for six or seven years now.”

“Do you go and visit them?”

“I’ve been a few times, most recently this past spring. They came back last Christmas, and I know they’ve been discussing visiting but I’m not sure if they’ve chosen a date yet.”

“You must miss them.”

“Do you miss your parents?” he counters.

“Sometimes. But I guess I’m used to not seeing them much.”

“That’s how it is for me too. Of course I miss them, but it helps that my siblings live close enough to visit. And we talk often.”

“Scarlett might be my sister by choice instead of blood but I’d be lost without her.”

“She doesn’t seem very fond of Brett,” I say.

“Pfft. That’s an understatement.”

“How’s he feel about her?”

“He doesn’t like her either.”

“Why do you think that is? She seems great to me.”

“He was jealous of how close she and I are. He went so far as to try and drive a wedge between us.”

“That’s pathetic.”

“Yeah. He wasn’t happy when she moved here with me after college. He said we were finally going to be alone, but then I ruined that for us.”

“How would your life here have been without her?”

“If I had moved and she’d stayed in Delaware?” she asks, and I nod. “Miserable. Brett was busy with the team from the moment we arrived, and football has always been his top priority. I had a lot of free time on my hands even though I was working a full-time job. Scarlett kept my loneliness at bay, dragging me out when I tried to hide at home.”

“Friends can be good for knowing what we need,” I say.

“She certainly does. But don’t tell her I said that.” She smiles.

“She won’t hear it from me. What does she think of you and me kissing?” I take a sip of water.

“What? I don’t kiss and tell.”

I laugh, setting down the glass. “Right. You expect me to believe you didn’t discuss us kissing on the way home last night?”

“Okay, fine. I told her.”

I knew it.

I smirk at her. “What did you say?”

“That it was mind-blowing but we’re just going to be friends for now.”

“And what was her reply?”

“That my plan is never going to work. She thinks I’ll want more, especially if we keep kissing each other. She also mentioned that I’m going to give you blue balls.”

“Are you worried for me?” I tease.

She shakes her head. “Not at all.”

We settle into silence as the two of us finish eating our breakfast.

“I hope you don’t have anything big planned after this. I might need a nap first,” she says on a chuckle.

I turn into a parking lot and pull into a spot.

She glances over at me. “Miniature golf, huh?”

I smile. “Yep. You’re not a fan?”

“I was. I haven’t played since I was a child.”

“Me either. Let’s go act like a couple of kids.” I grin at her, and her lips curve into a responding smile.

“Sure. Why not?”

“Stay there,” I tell her as I get out of the driver’s side. I jog around the Jeep to open her door and lend a hand to help her get out.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I’ve never been here but it’s indoor mini golf, so you won’t have to worry about getting burned, and it’s air conditioned.”

“Thank you, Jesus,” she says.

It’s a scorching hot day, so that ruled out all of the outdoor possibilities. I didn’t want to go from sitting in a restaurant to sitting in a movie theater or some other sedentary activity.

I grab her hand and we head toward the entrance. Once we’re inside the lobby, we stop at the counter to pay.

“Let me get this,” Autumn says when I release her hand to fish my wallet from my back pocket.

I raise an eyebrow. “Really? We just talked about this.”

She holds up her palms. “What can I say? I’m stubborn.”

I hand the money over to the clerk. She hands us each a golf club and ball, then opens the door for us. We enter the dark room.

“Whoa.” Autumn glances around, her wide eyes filled with a mix of amusement and interest.

It takes a few seconds for my eyes to adjust to the change and then I take in all the neon colors and whimsical props of our undersea surroundings. “The website said it was the ultimate black light 3D mini golf experience.”

“Your shirt is glowing,” she points out.

I look down. “Would you look at that.”

She cants her head. “You wore white on purpose, didn’t you?”

I grin. “Maybe.”

She snorts. “Your teeth are glowing too. You look like Ross in that episode of Friends .”

I laugh. “I hope our date goes better than his did.”

“Who said this is a date?”

“Me. I’m saying it. We’re on a date whether you want to admit it or not.”

“Are we here to play, O’Rourke, or what?” she challenges.

“Shall we place a wager on the outcome of this game?” I ask.

She takes her time answering. “I feel as though you have an unfair physical advantage since you’re a professional athlete. How can I compete with that?”

“True, but you’re sexy and distracting. How am I supposed to concentrate when all I can think about is how sweet your lips taste and how perfectly you fit in my arms?” She gapes at me. “Yes to a wager or no?” I ask.

Her eyes narrow as she weighs out the choice. “What the hell. Let’s bet on this.”

I grin, and her eyes go to my teeth. Now I’m going to be paranoid she’s thinking about Ross every time I smile. I tap my golf club against hers. “What’s the prize? Winner gets oral sex?”

She shakes her head. “Like I’d agree to that.”

“I’m not wagering a kiss because I’m planning to get my lips on yours anyway. Any suggestions?”

She glances up at the ceiling. “Uhm, if I win, you have to plant some flowers in front of your house.”

“Okay, but why?”

“Because it would look nice. It’s a beach house, for God’s sake. There needs to be some colorful flowers.”

“I wasn’t aware of that. Are there any other beach house rules I need to know?”

“You need some hydrangeas too.”

“More flowers?”

“No, those are flowering shrubs. They’re actually my favorite.”

“We can plant them together when you move in,” I joke. Kind of.

“Sure.” Boy, she sure conveys sarcasm when she wants to.

“If I win, I want you to sleep at my house tonight.”

“Not happening,” she quickly replies.

“Hear me out. I mean a real sleepover. With no sex and your clothes stay on—unless you don’t want them to.”

“Okay. I’ll agree to that.”

“Should we shake on it?” I hold out my hand, and when she places her palm against mine, I yank her to me. My lips land on hers in a smacking kiss. “That’s how I seal my bets.”

She raises her eyebrows. “How does that work when you’re betting with your teammates?”

“It’s okay for the most part, but Cooper tries to slip me the tongue.”

She laughs. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Let’s get started. I’ve got a bet to win.”