Raven frowned at me. “This guy is making you arrogant. Good thing I’m not in the position to kick your ass. Really good thing.”
Rubbing her stomach, I asked, “Why, Raven, are you preggers? I hadn’t heard.”
“This guy’s a bad influence,” Raven grumbled, but I saw her wanting to smile. “Just be bossy with him in bed the way you are with everyone else everyday.”
Bailey nodded. “Remember to take notes too, so you can tell us all about it.”
“You guys can say all you want to freak me out, but it won’t work. Thanks to Saint, I’m flawless, bitches.”
“Good for you,” Farah said, breastfeeding Lily under a pink blanket. “You should feel confident.”
Bailey and Raven shook their heads in unison. “Kiss ass,” Bailey muttered.
Farah rolled her eyes. “Well your ranting wasn’t helping.”
“I don’t need help,” I pointed out. “Yet I prefer Farah’s support to your jealousy.”
I knew that comment would set off Bailey and I was right. She jumped up and looked around for Nick. When she saw him wiping sweat from his forehead, she pointed.
“My man is hot. Really fucking hot. I have no reason to be fucking jealous,” Bailey bitched then yelled at Nick, “Baby, show off your muscles.”
Nick waved as if he hasn’t heard her. Bailey narrowed her eyes, but he just smiled and returned to playing basketball. Sitting down, she grunted.
“He’s plenty hot. Trust me.”
“I know. I saw him fight at the Thunderdome,” I said and Bailey took the bait.
“Were you checking out my man?”
Laughing, I leaned my head against Winnie who grinned. “It’s like she comes with an instruction manual.”
“Whatever. You’re jealous, not me,” Bailey muttered. “Fuck you anyway.”
When everyone laughed, Bailey joined in, but I knew she was wishing Nick flashed some skin. She was big into showing off his hotness. I always figured she was weird. Except I wanted everyone to see how sexy Rafael was now too. Fortunately, he pulled off his sweaty tee and I no longer cared why the girls were laughing. I only saw him.
An hour later, the game ended and we said our goodbyes. Driving away, I held the keys to the cabin as if they were the keys to my happiness.
“Who won?” I asked Rafael who drove us to the hotel to clean up and pack for the cabin.
“I don’t know. Hell, I think I changed teams more than once. It was chaos.”
I grinned. “You sound like a happy kid.”
Rafael shared my smile. “It was fun once everyone stopped playing ‘whose dick is bigger?’”
“Tawny said some people you knew showed up.”
“They’re contractors like me, looking to settle down and start a security business. You’ll meet them in Houston whenever we’re ready to move.”
“Why didn’t they stay?”
Rafael gave me a look that said he didn’t want to lie, but the truth wasn’t happening. I leaned back and smiled.
“Rumor has it the girl is hot.”
“Met Minka years ago and could have fallen in love, yet I didn’t. Do I have to say more?”
“No. I'm well aware you’re my bitch.”
Rafael laughed in a great way and I couldn’t help laughing too. The rest of the drive involved me teasing him about how I had mind control abilities. I’d made him wear that white tee because it fit him so snug. I was the reason he wanted extra sauce on his burger because I loved watching him lick his lips and fingers. Oh, and I was why he took off his shirt during the game. He was my personal pinup doll.
Rafael endured my teasing, but managed to shut me up by walking out of the bathroom after his shower wearing only a towel around his waist. I imagined us alone at the cabin and my hands exploring his dark skin and hard muscles. When I shivered, he smiled.
“You forced me to do this with your mind.”
“Huh? I was distracted by my drool.”
Still grinning, Rafael grabbed his clothes and returned to the bathroom to get dressed. I put my hormones in neutral and finished packing for the two days we planned to spend at the cabin.
We stopped by the grocery store for supplies like sandwiches, chips, and Gatorade. I was so relaxed, just until we actually pulled up to the cabin and I realized I wasn’t dreaming anymore. This was really happening.
Rafael knew I was nervous since I wasn’t exactly subtle. He carried in the bags and food while I refused to leave the SUV. Once everything was inside, Rafael attempted to open my door, but I locked it. He just smiled and hit the unlock button. I tried to lock it again, but he was too fast.
“It’s good for you to get your panic attack out of the way now rather than when I have you spread eagle on the bed, moaning that Bob is the best lover ever.”
Gripping my seatbelt, I fought both a grin and the urge to cry. “I can’t.”
Rafael wrapped his fingers around the back of my neck and massaged gently. “Am I Playboy? Will I ever make you do something you don’t want to do?”
I shook my head.
“Don’t I love you and want to create a life with you? A life I’d ruin by hurting you.”