Scored(24)

I gasp.

“Are you reading texts from Dallas?” I accuse.

Her cheeks turn bright red. “No.”

“Liar McLiarface!” I all but crawl on top of the table, trying to snatch away her phone. “Let me see.”

Shoving her chair back, she holds the phone high in the air and out of my reach. “He texted me this morning, and it was so sweet and apologetic that I couldn’t say no.”

“No woman can.” I plop down in my seat. “My mother would say yes to him. Which is why I’m saying no.”

“Is that it?” she asks, slowly lowering her phone to her side. “Are you afraid you might really fall for him?”

“I’m not going to dignify that with an answer.” I get up, grabbing my dirty dishes and taking them to the sink. “Besides, I’ve only been on one date.”

“He wants another.”

“Then he can ask me.” I glance over my shoulder at her. “Are you texting him right now?”

She nods. “I told him to call you.”

“He should have called me in the first place.”

Layton moves to stand beside me, placing her bowl and spoon with mine. “I think it’s kind of sweet that he knew to ask your best friend for help.”

“If you think he’s so sweet, then you should go out with him,” I snap, but Layton doesn’t rise to my bait.

“Listen, a guy like Dallas could get any woman he wanted. Also, a guy with an ego like Dallas wouldn’t be interested in a woman who told him she doesn’t enjoy football and he wasn’t her type, and then come back for more, unless he wanted more from you than just to score. Or win a bet.”

“Maybe you’re right, but—”

“No buts.” I can hear my phone ring from my bedroom. “Looks like he’s calling to ask for another date.”

I stand there, unsure of what I should do. “I don’t know.”

“One more date won’t hurt you. Have it here on your turf instead of his,” she suggests.

Why does she have to make the temptation of Dallas seem so good for me? “Okay.” I sprint for my bedroom and scoop up my phone from my nightstand, answering it. “Hello?”

“Morning. This is Dallas.”

“I know.” I hit myself in the forehead with the heel of my hand. Manners, Paige. He’s done nothing to you. “I mean… Good morning.”

He laughs, the sound making my stomach flutter. “I was hoping after you talked with Layton that you might consider giving me another chance to take you out. Make things up to you.”

I lean against the wall, staring out the window at the trees. Leaves fall every so often as the wind blows. That’s what I’m afraid of—falling wherever love leads me like my mother, only to end up dried up on the ground.

“We can go wherever you want. We can do whatever you want, or not do anything at all. Your rules, baby.”

He had to call me baby. The one word that I loathe to admit I loved to be called by a man—well, a man who means it in a good way. “How about I make you dinner?” I ask.

“Really? You want to cook for me? Damn.” He clears his throat. “I’d like that. What time, and can I bring anything?”

“How about five and your favorite dessert?”

“You’re killing me, Paige. I’m trying so hard to be good during the season,” he says on a groan.

How could have I forgotten about his seven-percent body fat goals? “Then just bring yourself and I’ll cook something without carbs, or bad carbs… I’ll figure it out.”

“Can’t wait to see you again.” The low timbre of his voice washes over me, and I shiver a little.

In an enjoyable way.

“Me, too,” I say honestly, because I do want to see him again.

After we end our call, I sit on the edge of the bed and fight the urge to call Finley to confess everything. Except she would not only talk me out of it, but she would also find a way to punish Dallas for asking me out in the first place.

Her worry comes from a mostly good place, but I don’t want to deal with our past… or our mother’s penchant for falling in love with men like Dallas Drake.

Only, the past never stays where it should.





CHAPTER 10




Dallas


The way to a woman’s heart is through her best friend. And thanks to Layton, I have dinner plans with Paige.

A second chance to make another play.

Or at least to get a first down before she throws a flag.

The fact Paige invited me over so she can have the home-field advantage doesn’t bother me in the least. In fact, I plan to be on my best behavior and keep my favorite lines to myself.

But I can’t help but text her before I go inside to have lunch with my brother and his wife.

Me: Do you like flowers?

Paige: Yes.

Me: What kind?

Paige: Ask your new BFF.

I laugh, then make a mental note to shoot off a text to Layton later. Hey, Paige might have the sarcasm dialed up a bit, but I’m not so prideful that I won’t hit up her best friend again when I need some support…

Hell, I’m glad she has that kind of support and yeah, I probably wouldn’t feel so warm and fuzzy toward Layton if she hadn’t put in a good word for me. But seriously, we all need someone like that to watch our back.