Playing the Player(22)

I swallowed. “I’m not interested in getting skin cancer.”

He took another step toward me, and I caught a whiff of his scent. Was that cologne? Soap? Whatever it was, it smelled really good. My legs suddenly felt wobbly.

“What’s up, BB?” He stood way too close. “What aren’t you telling me? I can tell you’re hiding something. You’re acting weirder than usual.”

A gasp escaped me before I could stop it. “Did you just… Are you calling me Bird Brain to my face?”

He smirked. “Not exactly. But you’re getting the general idea.”

My hand itched to slap him. But the way he was looking at me set off an internal fire, and not an angry one.

“Movie!” Gillian shrieked at the top of her lungs, screeching to a stop right between us.

Max walked calmly into the room, carrying a stuffed pink dinosaur. “Can we have popcorn, Trina? Please?” His voice was a whisper, and he bit his lip.

Was Max scared of me? My heart thudded to my feet. I dropped to my knees and looked into his big brown eyes. “Yes, of course we can, Max. What’s a movie without it?”

He gave me a tentative smile. I reached out to touch his dinosaur. “What’s his name?”

“Her name is Peggy. It’s short for pegasaurus.”

I glanced at Slade, who studied me closely. I turned back to Max, flustered by Slade’s intense gaze. I didn’t want him trying to figure me out.

“I thought pegasauruses had wings?”

Max nodded, his face serious. “Hers haven’t grown in yet.”

“I see. Let’s make some popcorn, okay, kiddo?”

He gave me a tiny smile and nodded.

I stood up and glanced at Slade. “Any idea where the popcorn is?”

He shook his head, those cat eyes of his still fixed on me. He hadn’t been lying before—he knew I was hiding something. Damn him.

“It’s in the pantry,” Max said, tugging me into the kitchen.

Once the popcorn was ready, we all settled on the big couch in the family room.

“I hope it’s not a princess movie,” Gillian said. “Cuz I’m tired of those.” She pulled Spike onto her lap and rubbed his belly.

“I’m too little to watch Jurassic Park,” Max announced. “Even though I really want to. My dad said it’s too scary.”

“He’s right,” Slade said. He reached over to punch Max lightly on the arm. “Maybe when you’re double digits.”

Max frowned and Slade turned to me, laughter in his eyes.

“When you’re ten, buddy,” he explained.

“I’m going to drive a car when I’m ten,” Gillian announced.

Slade and I shared an amused glance, but I looked away quickly and queued up the documentary.

“Before we start,” I said, “I want you to know this movie is very important. After we watch it, I have some coloring worksheets for you, so pay attention.”

A snort of laughter from Slade made the kids jump. “Worksheets? Seriously, BB?”

Gillian looked back and forth between us. “Who’s BB?”

I narrowed my eyes at Slade. “I am.”

He mimicked my expression, narrowing his eyes. “You sure are.”

I wanted to smack that smirk right off his perfect, acne-free face. This wasn’t the guy whose smile had me reaching for more lavender oil. This guy needed to get fired. ASAP.

“What’s the movie, Trina?” Max asked, digging into the bowl of popcorn on my lap.

Turning away from Slade’s mocking expression, I hit play. Everyone sat quietly while music played over a montage of oceans and deserts. Gilly kicked off her shoes and leaned against Slade.

Traitor.

“Even though approximately seventy percent of our planet is covered by water, many parts of the earth still struggle with drought.” The narrator’s smooth voice filled the room.

“It’s not a cartoon,” Gillian said, sounding disappointed.

I could feel Slade’s self-satisfied gloat from across the couch, but I refused to give him the satisfaction of eye contact.

“No, it’s not. But it’s more important than a cartoon.” I passed her the bowl of popcorn. She took a handful, but gave me a sour look.

I darted a glance at Slade. He raised his eyebrows at me and mouthed “Worksheets?” then rolled his eyes.

Just wait ’til I typed up my report on him tonight.

We made it through another ten minutes before Gillian slid off the couch. “This is boring,” she declared, hands on her hips.

Max glanced up at me. “The popcorn’s good, BB. But we like cartoons.”

Oh great. Now the kids were calling me BB?

“Yeah, BB. Let’s watch Despicable Me.” That came from Slade. I glared at him, but he just laughed, tucking his hair behind his ears.

“Yay! Minions! Minions!” Gillian shouted.

Max slid off the couch and joined her in the minion chant. Slade added his own voice, extra low.

I dropped my head to my hands. Once again, I’d been undermined by my supposed partner.

“This is not on the schedule,” I muttered.

Slade leaned in close to me and whispered, his voice tickling my neck, “Live dangerously, BB. I dare you.”