Scored(50)

Taking a chance, I press my breasts against his mouthwatering chest. “Then tell them the truth. That you are dating someone, but she values her privacy. And if push comes to shove, you can say my name is Amelia—that’s my middle name.”

“You’d do that for me?” He shakes his head in amazement. “Do I actually mean that much to you that you’re willing to go a little public?”

I’m not in love with him. I’m so not, but this feels a lot like what someone in love would do. I can’t admit that, though. I don’t even know if it’s true or it’s the fact that Dallas isn’t a lying, cheating asshole that makes him entirely loveable.

But not the real deal.

Not true love.

We’re not Elizabeth and Darcy. I’m not prideful, and he’s not prejudiced against me.

I run my fingers across his stubble-roughened jaw. “I’d do almost anything for my boyfriend.”





CHAPTER 19




Dallas


My brother is floating in the heated pool in my backyard when I walk outside. Catherine is swimming with him while a home-care nurse keeps a watchful eye.

Since I just got out of the shower and spent most of the day running drills and new plays, I sit my ass down in the nearest chair and stretch out my legs, then check my texts.

Northing from Paige.

Am I disappointed? Fuck, yes.

Will I text her to see what’s up? Fuck yes to that, too.

Me: How’s your day going?

“If you want to take a break, I’ll keep watch,” I tell Gus after I tap send. “Food service just delivered so help yourself.”

He nods. “Thanks. I won’t be long.” After he lets Catherine and Mikey know what he’s doing, he goes inside.

“Dallas,” Catherine shouts, waving to me. “Thanks for letting us use your pool.”

“Until your heater gets fixed, consider my pool your pool.”

Catherine’s eyes crinkle at the corners. “You’re such a good little brother.”

“Mikey, tell your wife to stop flirting with me.”

Catherine sticks out her tongue.

“No. Way.” He shakes his head, sending his dark, wet hair flying back from his face. “I can’t. Control her.”

“Whipped.” I flick my wrist and make a cracking sound. “So whipped, dude.”

“Where’s your new girlfriend?” Catherine asks, grinning at Mikey. He grins, too. Swear to God it’s always been like this with them, even before Mikey’s accident. Things got dark for a while afterward, but Catherine pulled him through. She’s always been the talker.

“She’s with her best friend doing wedding stuff.”

Their faces turn into twin looks of confusion.

“You’re. Engaged?” Mikey rasps.

“No, her best friend is getting married. Paige is the maid of honor.”

“Are you in the wedding, too?” Catherine asks.

“I don’t know the bride or groom well enough, but I’m considering stepping in for the best man.” I swipe at my jaw. “Paige has a list that requires her to make out with him.”

Catherine starts laughing and Mikey does as well, only his damaged vocal chords make it sound more like a smoker’s cough.

“You love her,” Catherine says in a singsong voice, swimming to the edge of the pool and pulling Mikey along with her. “You want to marry her.”

“She says she’s not the marrying kind right now.”

Mikey mumbles something that sounds a lot like pussy under his breath.

“Hey, if I were in love with her, I’d marry her tomorrow. Fly everyone back to Wyandotte and get hitched at St. Michaels. Father Bernard would officiate.”

“Wow, Dallas. That’s a lot of detail.” Catherine nudges Mikey. “Are you ready to get out?”

“Y-yes.”

I jump up from my seat, toss my phone on the nearby table, and jog over to the zero-entry side just in case Catherine needs help getting him back into his wheelchair. It’s already half submerged, brakes locked. The power chair is equipped with a coating on the metal parts, so it won’t rust, and it’s perfectly submergible.

“I got it. I got it.” Catherine efficiently helps my brother into his chair and uses the joystick to propel them forward. “We didn’t only come over for the pool. We came over to celebrate.”

Catherine looks so happy and Mikey looks so damned pleased that I whisper, “You guys having a baby?” It’s not impossible for that to happen since my brother banked some sperm before he had his first round of chemo, but since the accident, they’ve put babies on hold even longer.

“No.” Mikey glares at me, rolling his good eye expertly. “I got a job.”

“Where I work!” Catherine chirps. My sister-in-law gave up her career as a science teacher to stay at home with Mikey so she could help care for him, but after a while, it became clear she needed an outlet and time for herself. So with a little encouragement from my parents and me, Catherine got a part-time job at a local coffee shop with very understanding owners. I also hired two full-time home care nurses so she can have time for herself outside of work, too.

“No shit?”

“Michael will be helping bus tables,” Catherine explains proudly.