Out of Bounds(19)

Ramon grabs his phone, and we smile for the selfie camera.

We eat, then Jason and I wander along the promenade. We pass the movie theater, and I stop in my tracks when I read the marquee. “It’s tonight,” I say, my mind cycling back to Dani and our conversation in the car.

Jason knits his brow in question. “Heaven Can Wait? That old flick?”

“That old flick is a good flick, man.” I check the time. It’s almost seven.

“You and your love of old movies,” he says, shaking his head, like I amuse him.

“Then me and my love of old movies and new movies and any movies are going to catch this showing now so I can still get my beauty sleep. See you later. I’m going in.”

I’ve always loved the cinema. The silver screen had been my escape from the game. Don’t get me wrong, I love football, and I love playing, but the game is both love and work. Movies, though, have just been fun. They’re pure that way; they’ve served as a complete and total break for me, and I find myself getting lost in the story, which I enjoy. That’s what I want right now.

I give Jason a tip of the cap and head for the ticket counter, when he calls out, “I’m going with you.”

I arch an eyebrow. “To see that old flick? I don’t want to cramp your new, flashy style.”

“I’ll just pretend I don’t know you. It’ll be fine.”

“Too bad I was gonna treat. Not so sure I will now,” I say as I slap some bills at the counter and buy the tickets.

He adopts a cheesy grin. “Aww, you did treat after all. See, you love me because I make your money turn into more money.”

“Or because being next to you makes me look even more handsome,” I say as we head into the lobby, the door swinging closed behind us.

“Or maybe you’re both handsome.”

I stop in my tracks, snap my head around, and find myself looking at blond hair, high cheekbones, and full lips.

She looks a lot like Dani, but she’s not her.

Then, the star of my dirty dreams turns around from the popcorn counter, and I’m face-to-face with the woman who jacked me off and finished me with her mouth two weeks ago. Damn, my f*cking brain races straight to the dirty. But, this woman. I stand no chance of not thinking of her that way. Why does she have to be so sinfully sexy? Dani wears a pink sundress and strappy sandals. Her hair falls loosely over her tanned shoulders. She stands next to a blue-eyed, slightly younger version of herself.

“Hey, fourteen,” Dani says, using my number. “Good to see you.”

“And you too.”

Dani gestures to the pretty blonde by her side. “This is my sister, Ally.”

“And you must be the two gentlemen arguing over who’s better-looking,” Ally says with an I-caught-you expression on her face.

Jason flubs his lips as he eyes Dani’s sister. “It’s no contest, clearly. You ladies take the cake and beat us hands down in the good looks department. You’re both lovely angels,” he says, then doffs an imaginary hat, playing the role of perfect gentleman as he checks out Ally.

Dani and I make introductions, and I do my best not to think about her naked. But hell, my best isn’t good enough, and I’ve already pictured her soft, supple flesh beneath that dress and how it would feel to kiss my way down her body and bury my face between her legs.

Keeping my mind clean around her is a losing battle. Good thing is, the thoughts of her don’t chase me around when I’m on the field. They don’t distract me when I’m in the zone, when I need the laser focus.

“This is Dani from the front office,” I say, clearing my throat and trying like hell to sweep away all the filth from the corners of my mind.

Jason snaps his fingers. “Right. Thought you looked familiar. Saw you in a pic from the charity meet and greet.”

Dani nods, her face revealing nothing. This woman must clean up in poker. “That’s fantastic. Are you guys heading to see Heaven Can Wait?”

Jason nods. “We are indeed.” Then, like the idea clearly just occurred to him, even though I bet he concocted it when his eyes roamed along Ally’s figure, he says, “Would you like to sit together?”

Dani swallows and turns to Ally, raising her eyebrows in question. Her sister nods her answer. “Works for me.”

Jason strides up to the counter, picks up the cost of the air-popped, extra-healthy popcorn Dani was buying, and hands the bucket to her, buying another one as well. Jason and Ally chitchat the whole time. Dani and I say nothing, but our eye contact seems to say everything. Mainly, that we’re both entertained at how quickly those two are hitting it off, it seems.

As we enter the movie theater, I drop back, letting Jason and Ally walk in front of us. “That was fast,” I say, nodding to them.

“It was. Tell me he’s a good guy,” she says, her tone deadly serious, her jaw tight.

I hold up my hand in the scout’s honor sign. “He’s like a brother. I trust him with my life.”

“Good. Because I will hurt anyone who hurts my sister. I don’t care if those two just met. If he does her wrong . . .”

I squeeze her shoulder in reassurance. “He’s a good guy. I swear.”

She seems to relax under my touch, and from my words. I lean into Dani, drawing a quick inhale of her sexy, sunshine scent. “By the way, you look amazing,” I whisper, my voice low and just for her. A little compliment like that can’t hurt. Nothing wrong with it. Nothing that crosses a line.