Protecting Her Heart by Marquita Valentine

Author:Marquita Valentine
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: older brother's best friend, hot romance, contemporary romance, steamy romance, sports romance
Publisher: Marquita Valentine
Published: 2018-01-15T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

Aiden

They say there’s a first time for everything... and judging by the way I’ve been agonizing over what the hell I should wear to dinner with Layton, I’d say whoever they are, they’re right on the money.

“Hey, it’s me. I lost my key,” Sam says as he pounds on the door.

Wrapping the towel around my waist, I stride to the door and yank it open. “You’re not rooming with me...” The words die on my lips when I find Layton standing on the other side.

“Thanks, Sam,” she says with a friendly smile.

“Anytime, cutie.” He winks at her, then tips up his chin at me before walking to the room across the hall and putting his key in the door. “Enjoy dinner, McHugh.”

“Nice outfit.” Her gaze turns hot as it slides down.

While she’s never thought of me as anything more than her brother’s best friend, she sure as shit doesn’t mind letting me know that she’s attracted to me.

“Why are you here?”

Her smile doesn’t falter, but her eyes... her eyes go from blazing hot to lukewarm. “Dinner? Dallas informed me that eating at Kingston’s was a no-go because unless you have special permission, y’all are expected to eat at the hotel even when there’s a home game.”

Note to self, don’t throw a single fucking ball Drake’s way tomorrow. “Wasn’t that thoughtful of him?” My towel starts to slide, and I grab it.

“Don’t get modest on my account,” she says as a mouthwatering smell drifts to me. “Brought your favorite...”

“Lasagna.” Automatically, I rub my hands together. “Garlic bread, Caesar salad, and dessert—doesn’t matter what, but I always have something sweet at the end.”

She gives me a puzzled look. “Dallas said you always ate skinless grilled chicken, unseasoned veggies, and a plain baked potato the night before the game. He also said you eat a fruit salad as your dessert.”

“That’s what he eats.”

“Not tonight. I made—I mean, Paige cooked the most amazing meal and planned everything to perfection. Y’all’s coach and his wife will be there. Along with the owners of the Renegades. Not sure if Finley or Kingston will be there.”

I eye her, taking in the spots of flour on her dark jeans and the faint scent of vanilla and cinnamon. “You made snickerdoodle cake, didn’t you?”

She grins sheepishly. “I might have, just to help out Paige a little.”

Knowing her, she took over the entire thing. “Uh-huh.”

“I might have brought you one, too.” She shakes a large bag covered in a floral print at me. “If you let me inside, I’ll feed it to you.”

Against my better judgment, I step back from the door. “Come on in. I’ll get dressed and then we can go to the—” The door closes with a distinctive sound, almost like it’s sealing my fate with her. “As I was saying, we can take this over to—”

“We’ll stay right here.” She points to the table and two chairs by the windows. “The view’s nice.”

The suite is set up like a home away from home since some of the guys like to have their families come eat with them the night before.

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