Rookie Move (Playing for Keeps #1)(53)

My skin tingled where he touched it, and warmth spread through my chest, a far more dangerous sensation than the orgasm I’d just had. Because I fucking liked the tenderness in it, liked how his smile had become drowsy as he gazed at me.

“I…” Couldn’t get enough of him, wanted to watch him make coffee in the mornings, and then follow him to the weight room, wanted the jokes and snide remarks, and busting each other’s balls. I was in trouble. First rule of FWB club was you didn’t admit feelings. Fuck it, no. The first rule of FWB club was you didn’t catch them in the first place and, Jesus, had I come in hot on the front end with that one. When Ramsey lifted an expectant brow, I rerouted, blurting out, “I’m supposed to go look at a bunch of houses this afternoon with Houston. You should come. I mean, what else have you got to do?”

“Besides cleaning the mirror?” We both looked at it and busted up laughing. Ramsey rolled to a stand and extended a hand to pull me up. “Yeah, I’ll come. Gotta make sure you don’t drive the realtor crazy with dumb requests like secret passageways or a slide instead of stairs.”

“Because I’m Scooby-Doo now?”

“If the shoe fits.”

“Okay, Raggy.” I rolled my eyes, then grinned. “Secret passageways would be cool, though. Don’t even pretend otherwise.”

“Get your ass in the shower. You stink.”

“I didn’t hear any complaints two minutes ago.”

“You couldn’t hear shit because you were yowling like a cat.”

“You liked it.”

Ramsey waggled his brows. “I did. Not gonna lie.”





By the time we’d seen two McMansions and three ridiculously extravagant, ridiculously overpriced downtown lofts, I was starting to think gigantic and flashy wasn’t exactly what I wanted like I thought I did. Houston’s loft, while being spacious, in a great part of town, and nice, still managed to have a homey vibe. It felt like him.

Laura, our realtor, looked expectantly at me as we stood in the lobby of the most recent apartment, an ultramodern 3500 sq. ft. penthouse that had felt way too space-station sleek for me. Every appliance and electronic fed into a smart-home hub, and all of it talked. I hadn’t known there was such a thing as too much tech, but there was.

“Do you have anything…smaller?”

Ramsey barked out a laugh behind me. “Guarantee you that’s the first time he’s ever said that.”

“It is.” I shot him a smirk as Houston groaned and rubbed his forehead. He’d chuckled and rolled his eyes when Ramsey showed up with me at the real estate agency, but four hours of the two of us was probably starting to get to him.

Laura laughed nervously, then looked at her phone. “I do have some other things… Give me five minutes. I’ll make a few calls.” She excused herself, stepping outside and leaving us in the lobby.

Houston leaned against a wall. “What was wrong with the first place? I liked it.”

“Dunno, just wasn’t feeling it.” I glanced over at Ramsey. He was watching out the window as an older gentleman strolled down the street with his dog. Laura was running a hand through her hair as she spoke rapidly into the phone nearby. “Maybe she’s saving the best for last. She did mention some stuff in Cedar Grove.” That got Ramsey’s attention. I grinned to myself. “House next to yours, actually,” I lied. “Can you imagine how convenient that’d be?” Disappointingly, Ramsey didn’t look as horrified as I’d imagined. I need to up the ante. “I could pop over for a cup of sugar anytime I needed.”

He snorted as I waggled my brows.

Houston stared at us. “You two speaking in code right now?”

“I like baking.”

“Bullshit.” Ramsey laughed. “What’s your specialty? Cherry pie?”

“You’d know, Cherry.”

Houston pushed off the wall. “Damn, I thought you two pestering each other before was bad, but now that you’re…” He gestured vaguely. “Whatever the fuck you two are doing, it’s even worse. Jesus, now that I think about it, it’s been, like, years of foreplay between you two.”

“Definitely not the case.” Antagonizing Ramsey had always been one of my favorite pastimes, a way to distract myself. I assumed him clapping back was just him playing along, but the way he met my eyes right then was so considering, it threw me.

“C’mon,” Houston said, shattering my thoughts. “Let’s go see what else she’s come up with.”

We followed him outside, tugging our coats tighter against the chill that nipped at our cheeks.

Laura waved her phone victoriously. “I’ve got a couple more things that could be promising, if you’re up for a ride?”

“Always.” The sidelong wink I shot at Ramsey earned another shake of his head.

“I’ve got a thing in an hour, so I’m going to bail.” Houston managed to make his expression seem apologetic. “Pap at two o’clock, by the way.”

We all followed his sightline, and sure enough, a guy halfway down the block was snapping photos. I was still getting used to the visibility that came with playing pro, so it caught me off guard sometimes. I waved to the guy as Laura fluffed her hair. “I’ve got an idea.”