Isaac must sense my discomfort because he slowly starts rubbing his thumb over my hand. My nerves immediately begin to calm. He takes my bourbon and sets both of our glasses on the coffee table. When he leans back, he’s closer to me. Slowly, he leans toward me, invading my space. My breath hitches.
“Can I kiss you?”
I nod once before his lips are on mine. The kiss is gentle at first, then I open my mouth slightly and he pushes his tongue inside sending shock waves through me. Instinctively, I wrap my hands around him and rub them up and down his back, feeling every muscle through his shirt. Isaac follows suitwrapping one arm around me, pulling me closer while weaving the other hand into my hair.
Several breathless seconds later he pulls back and rests his forehead against mine.
“That was amazing,” he says. “I haven’t been able to get you out of my head since the first time we met.”
“In the tunnel?” I ask. If that’s what he’s referring to, then he’s been thinking about me as long as I’ve been thinking about him. That thought has me beaming.
“Yes.” Isaac looks away as embarrassment heats his face.
Reaching up, I gently turn his face back to me and look him directly in the eye. “I’ve been thinking about you since that day, too,” I admit.
“Really?” he questions and this confident man, who is one of the biggest names in the NFL, looks like a terrified little kid.
“Yes, really. The first time I saw you, I wanted to find a way to meet you again. When I showed up this morning, I was surprised to find you in my office.”
“When Carter asked me to help, I jumped at the chance. I was disappointed when we first got there, and Hope told us it was going to be a surprise. I’m glad you decided to come into the office today.”
Leaning in, I kiss Isaac this time. Not quite as passionately as he kissed me, but enough to show him how I feel.
“Me, too,” I tell him after breaking the kiss.
We spend the next few hours, drinking bourbon and getting to know each other while holding hands and kissing. It’s a damn good Saturday night. The best one I’ve had in a long time.
TEN
ISAAC
On my last Sunday before the season starts, I open my eyes and smile. Not any smile, a big, goofy grin spreads across my face as I remember where I am and what happened last night. Waking up on Evan’s couch is the best way to start the day. We talked and kissed until after two in the morning, but I feel great as I stretch and roll out my sore muscles then head for the bathroom. The couch is definitely too small for me, but I wasn’t about to take him up on the offer to sleep in the bed while he took the couch, and it’s too early in our relationship for me to share his bed. Relationship? Why the hell did I think that? We don’t even know each other. Sure, we made out most of the night and hands wandered a little the more bourbon we drank, but I stopped myself before it went too far. I’m not one to jump in bed with someone I don’t know. That’s not entirely true. I have no problem with meaningless sex, but I like Evan and don’t want to jeopardize what might happen between us by jumping into the sex part right out the gate.
A few minutes later when I emerge from the bathroom, Evan is in the kitchen with a fresh pot of coffee waiting.
“Good morning,” he says with a smile that matches mine.
“Mornin’,” I return, leaning in for a quick kiss. “Thank you for making coffee.”
Evan pours each of us a mug and points to the cream and sugar he set out on the counter. After adding a little cream, I drop into one of the kitchen chairs.
“Any big plans today?” I ask.
“No. I’m going to force myself to relax. There is plenty of work to do and I probably should go into the office, but I’m trying to make myself take at least one day a week off.”
“Good. You can’t work constantly. You need a break.”
“Do you have practice?”
“Not today. I have a workout session in an hour. After that, I’m free for the rest of the day. Do you want to do something together? I’d love to show you around Miami.”
“Like a date?” He looks at me skeptically.
I think about that for a few seconds, letting the worddatesettle. This is what I want. I hope I’m not moving too fast. “Yes,” I finally say. “I want to take you on a date.”
“I would love that.”
“Great! I’ll be back around eleven to pick you up. We can grab a quick bite at one of the food trucks near the beach.”