Prologue
Nine Months Ago
Justin
“Hey, you down to go to the game tomorrow night?”
That came from my friend Camden. He had season tickets to the Renegades basketball games and I was usually his plus one. Well, unless he got roped into taking a date. Personally, I tried to never date women who were into sports so I could keep those two areas of my life separate.
On one hand you had women: dates, friends with benefits, hook-ups, one-night stands.
And on the other hand you had, well, everything else.
I didn’t factor women into my everyday life. I was a bachelor and I liked it that way.
Camden, unfortunately, had recently found himself caught up in quite the scandal. He took one woman to the last game, broke up with her at halftime, then kissed the woman sitting next to him on the Kiss Cam. Apparently, she tasted like candy because he hasn’t been able to stop talking about her since then.
“You’re not taking the new girl?” I asked before taking a pull from my beer.
“Nah, man, she’s busy.”
I was about to revoke his man card with the sullen tone he used.
“I’m not above taking her leftovers,” I replied with a laugh. It was true. I wasn’t. If he got serious about this girl, I was pretty sure I’d be out of the gravy train that was free awesome tickets to my favorite team’s games twice a week.
“All I’m saying is, if she’s free for a game, she’s got dibs.”
I shook my head and sighed. “Bros before hos, man.”
“I agree,” he said, tapping his beer against mine. “We’re not talking about hos, though. We’re talking about Riley.”
“I get it.” I nodded in understanding. I didn’t necessarily agree, but I understood.
“No hard feelings.”
“It’s cool. Free Renegades tickets couldn’t last forever.” I shrugged and watched as a woman in a short skirt passed by. After giving her a few seconds of appreciation I turned back to Camden. “So, this thing with Riley, is it serious?”
“About as serious as it could be after one real date. I mean, she’s different. I don’t really know how to explain it. It’s never been like this before.”
“Dude.” I laughed, shaking my head. “I’m never going to get my tickets back.”
Camden’s phone buzzed and I turned my attention to the big screen TV in the corner where some sports analysts were talking about how the week’s games were shaking out. We watched in silence for a few minutes, slowly drinking our beers, but then he made a comment about the defense and it started a debate. He and I were both pretty passionate when it came to the Renegades, so it wasn’t surprising that I didn’t notice the woman who approached our table after a while.
She plopped herself down next to Camden without even a second’s hesitation, held her hand out to me over the table, and said, “Hi, I’m Riley. Nice to meet you.”
“Hey. Justin.” I shook her hand and smiled. She was cute, if a little unexpected. Then I watched as Camden kissed her like he was a sophomore in high school in his bedroom with a girl while his parents were out of town. I was unsure if I was supposed to be disturbed or turned on, because I was a little of both.
When they finally came up for air, Camden held her face and said, I kid you not, “I missed your lips.”
Before I could officially swipe his man card out of his hands, I heard a feminine voice behind me say, “Everyone in this bar can tell.”
I turned to see whoever had taken the words right out of my mouth, but I couldn’t speak.
Standing at our table was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. Her long blond hair was pulled back, but cascading down one shoulder, and her eyes were a dark green color, like jade. She had freckles over the bridge of her nose and the sexiest smirk.
The instant I saw her, my brain malfunctioned.
“Justin,” Camden said, pulling me out of my haze. He then used his hand to indicate I had drool on my chin. I wiped at my jaw before I could stop myself and cursed under my breath.
What the hell is wrong with me?
“This is Hadley. Let her in,” Camden said, motioning toward the empty spot next to me in the booth.
It took me a second to realize what was happening, but I finally moved over so she could sit down.
“Had, this is my friend, Justin. Justin, this is Riley’s friend, Hadley.”
“Best friend,” Hadley corrected. She reached her hand out to me and I took it, but I was still left completely useless.
In the past, if I saw an attractive woman I would’ve given her my A game, my best work. But this woman, Hadley, it was like her mere presence left me defenseless. She was like kryptonite to my game.
I had no game.
Camden and Riley immediately started talking exclusively to each other and suddenly it felt as though Hadley and I were the third and fourth wheel.
“So, how do you know Camden?” she asked, giving me a bright smile.
God, she was gorgeous.
“Uh.” I reached up to loosen my tie. “We work together. Got hired onto the same law firm around the same time.”
“Aha, so you’re the guy who usually goes to the games with him. He mentioned something about that.”
“Yeah.” That was all I had. One word. Quick, think of something to say to her. “How’d you meet Riley?” Fucking lame question.
“We were roommates freshman year in college. She hasn’t managed to get rid of me yet.” She took a drink of her beer and leaned close to me, her voice a low whisper. “I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot of each other if these two continue the way they are.” She nodded her head toward Camden and Riley.
For the first time since I was old enough to appreciate women, I was completely all right with seeing a lot of one. Of Hadley, in particular. In fact, there was a strong feeling of wanting to see her continuously. I was curious about her, wanted to know where she lived, what she did for a living, if she had siblings, a boyfriend.
Before I could rally my nerves and turn the charm back on, she and Riley were standing from the booths and getting ready to go. It all happened so fast.
“I’ll walk you out,” Camden said, following behind her. “I’ll be right back,” he said to me as he stood.
“See you later.” Hadley waved delicate fingers at me, smirking like she knew something I didn’t.
“Later,” I replied, giving her a nod. I wanted to say so much more, find out more about her—anything about her—but they were already turning to leave. “It was nice to meet you, Riley. Enjoy my seat at the Renegades games.” I was only half joking.
“See you around,” she replied, smiling.
Then they were gone.
What the fuck just happened?
I brought my beer to my lips, paused for a moment, then took a sip. My entire body was confused. My brain was scrambled, my heart was racing, and my dick…well…it was the least confused out of the whole lot. It knew what it wanted, and it wanted Hadley.
“I think I left my keys.”
I heard her voice and looked up. There she was again, staring right at me.
“Do you mind if I…? I think they may have fallen out of my purse.” Her eyes darted down to where I was sitting.
“Oh, uh, no. Let me…” The last word escaped me as I scooted out of the booth and stood up. She hadn’t backed up enough so when I finally made it out of the booth she was just inches from me. I was taller than her by a good six inches, and maybe that surprised her because when I stood up straight her eyes traveled from my toes all the way up my body until her gaze reached my eyes. And, maybe it was wishful thinking, but I could have sworn she liked what she saw.
“You’re huge,” she said, her words low and breathy. “You, uh, I mean, you look taller now that you’re not sitting.” She gave her head a little shake and laughed. “Can I…?” She pointed to the booth and I realized I was still in her way.
“Yeah. Sorry,” I mumbled and moved out of the way, but not before trying to catch the scent of her.
“Thanks.” She smiled again and I resisted the urge to rearrange my dick. Then she did the worst thing she possibly could have. She bent at the waist to look for her keys and my eyes went straight to her ass.
Holy.
Fucking.
Shit.
Hadley, this woman I’d only met minutes before, had the best fucking ass I’d ever seen in my life.
My head tilted and my eyes narrowed in on her.
“Hmmm, they must be here somewhere.”
She kept looking, and so did I, and I swear on everything holy she gave her ass a little shake, as if she knew I was looking. As if she liked my eyes on her and wanted to give me a show.
Luckily, the way we were situated, I was blocking her body so no one else in the bar would have been able to see. I knew if I thought any other men could be ogling her ass, I would’ve probably punched them in the fucking throat.
She was mine.
She just didn’t know it yet.
“Oh, here they are,” she finally said, standing slowly and flipping her ponytail over her shoulder. She grinned at me, then fucking winked. Spinning the keys around her finger, she started to walk away.
“Wait,” I managed to say, gently gripping her elbow. “Can I get your number? Maybe we could go out sometime.”
Her eyes lazily slid up and down my body again and she didn’t even try to hide her appraisal.
“I won’t be hard to find. I’m sure you’ll see me around soon.” Her tongue darted out and wet her top lip, then she fucking smiled again before she walked out of the bar.
I blew out a breath and loosened my tie a little more as I watched her saunter outside, swaying her hips the entire way.
I was in a lot of fucking trouble.