Scored(32)

The food-delivery service guy shows up about five minutes before Paige is supposed to arrive, giving me time to make things a little more presentable for her around the house. I’m not a slob by any means, but I’m not OCD about leaving my shoes in the hallway or a ball cap on the coffee table. Plus, my cleaning service comes three times a week, so I’m guaranteed that everything is above board when it comes to beds, kitchen, and bathrooms.

My security system alerts me to Paige’s presence, and I press the button to open the gates to my drive. Next time she comes over, and there will be a next time, I’ll make sure she has the code to get in.

I jog outside, hoping to catch her before she gets out so I can walk with her inside. This craving to be with her every second of every day is getting bad. We were together last night. While I’m not opposed to multiple dates, in the past, I could take or leave when I saw a woman again.

And I sure as shit didn’t text them as soon as I was done for the day. Yeah, I’m guilty of booty texting, but the women who responded to said texts were in complete agreement with the terms of our relationship.

The door to Paige’s car opens and one long leg at a time appears, making me run faster. I get to her car just as she starts to stand and hold out my hand.

“Hey, gorgeous.” I lift her up, not giving a damn that her grip is putting pressure on my banged-up hand. “Can I carry anything inside for you?”

“Hi.” She hoists a large bag onto her shoulder, smiling. “I’m fine.” Her sunshine-colored hair glows in the waning light of the sun. Maybe I should tell her that. It’s pretty damn close to poetry.

“Your hair is glowing, like a light bulb.” Shit. That did not come out right. Probably because I’ve never used that line before, and I didn’t have time to rehearse. “That sounded a lot different and better in my head.”

She blinks up at me, her head tilting to one side. “Thanks for trying to give me poetry.”

“I’d say any time, but I’m pretty sure I suck at it.” I let my gaze travel down her curves, taking in the matching sweater set and form-fitting black pants she’s wearing. “If the librarians at any of the schools I attended looked like you, I would have read a lot more books.”

Paige laughs. “That probably sounds exactly like you said it in your head.”

“Didn’t say that in my head first,” I mutter, then shrug. She doesn’t seem offended, so I’ll put this one in the approved-for-Paige-only column. “Hope you brought your appetite, because I had Pan-Mako deliver.”

“The Asian bistro?” she asks, her eyes lighting up when I nod. “It’s one of my favorite places to go on payday.”

“Only on payday?”

“It’s either eat there once, or go without groceries for a week.” She tips her head toward the house. “Are you going to tease me with food, or are we allowed to go inside and actually eat?”

I place my hand on the small of her back, guiding her to the side entrance that I prefer to use. “Whatever my girl wants, she gets.” Looks like I need to make sure she has Pan-Mako more often than once or twice a month.

“Your girl?”

“I consider date three to be pretty serious.”

She rolls her eyes. “Do you propose on date six?”

“Nah, I save that for number seven, when I hope to get lucky.”

To my surprise, annoyance flashes in her eyes. She doesn’t even try to hide it. “Is seven your lucky number?” she asks tightly.

Son of a bitch. I’d forgotten about her mom calling Paige and her siblings her lucky sevens. I must have sounded like an asshole.

“My lucky number is the one on the back of my jersey.”

“Remind me of your lucky number.”

“Seventy-eight.”

She eyes me.

I eye her back, then open the door. “If you want to have a staring contest, I’m down, but our food will get cold if we play out here.”

Paige sighs, then rubs her temples. “Forgive my hangriness. I thought you were making a joke at the expense of my family.”

“No matter what you think about me, I don’t crap on anyone’s family.” I bend my knees a little so she can see up close and personal that I’m serious. “Your sister busts my balls, and she has good reason to at times, but even with all that going on, I wouldn’t be disrespectful.”

“Oh, Dallas, that’s the type of non-line that deserves a kiss.” Her blue eyes glint with mischief. “Don’t worry, I’ll do all the work since you’re too fucking sore.”

“No rules about mixing business with pleasure?” I risk the question, but I know she’s going to reward me—no matter what. It’s written all over her beautiful face.

“Should I start having one?” Her breasts brush against my chest, and my cock salutes her like she’s holding the flag during the national anthem.

I dip my head lower so she doesn’t have to rise so far. “I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from breaking them if you did.”

“Can’t have that, then.”

She touches her lips to mine, in the second sweetest kiss I’ve been given by her.

Sweet… that’s the only way to describe how she does it. She likes to take her time and enjoy the moment.