For fuck’s sake.
Covering her face from the image of her grandmother and her friends touching and examining Phillip while he stood there with a shit-eating grin, she groaned out, “He is not my boyfriend.”
“No?” her grandmother, Madeline, asked.
“No,” they said together.
“We’re friends,” he said. She looked up to find him smiling at her. “I love Bingo. I used to play with my grandmother back home before she passed, and Reese invited me because I made a comment about wanting to play.”
“Oh you sweet thang,” Ms. Selena said as she took a hold of Phillip’s arm, leading him to their table. All the women clucked over him as Reese just shook her head. She knew this was going to happen and really didn’t want to bring him because of it, but he was just so damn hot. So sweet and good lord, he could kiss like a dream. Her kitten was still purring in her jeans, begging for a little more action, which she fully intended on getting once they left the bingo hall. It surprised her how much, even though she didn’t want to listen to her grandmother and her friends’ comments, she was glad he was there.
It had been a long couple of days since she had seen him when they got caught by Shea in the Assassins’ showers. God, what a time they had. It was so hot, a sensual overload. Every. Single. Moment. She loved the kisses, his mouth, his hands, his body, the setting, and the hot showers. Everything was perfect, amazing even. They had talked and texted, but it wasn’t the same. Her mind would drift to thoughts about him, pinning her against the hot marble of the shower, and that breathless feeling would overcome her. God, she couldn’t wait till later.
Falling into the seat next to him, she reached for her cards, ignoring the fact that he was staring at her. But ignoring him was short-lived when his hand slid onto her thigh. She looked over, and he smiled. It was the kind of smile that knocked you on your ass. The one that left you completely and utterly destroyed inside. Or at least that was how she felt. She wanted to be mad, she wanted to tell him she told him so about everyone assuming they were together but, instead, she smiled back. Fully. Because she wanted to and because he made her feel so good. Leaning into him, playfully, she reached for her dobber and started the game.
She ignored the knowing looks from onlookers.
Reese had been to Bingo many Wednesdays before this one but, for some reason, this one was the best. Phillip was a nut and had her laughing the whole freaking time. He was slow and would laugh when her grandma or one of her friends would come over and play his cards for him. He made jokes and had everyone laughing in the hall, ignoring the Bingo caller. He talked like he had known these women his whole life and at the same time, always took the time to make her feel that he was there only for her.
And that made her feel good. The only problem was that everyone assumed they were together. Even though, yes, they did have amazingly, awesome, hot sex, they were not together, nor would they ever be. But before she could correct anyone, Phillip was there, always denying it before sending her the carefree grin she enjoyed so much. He never let anyone say anything about them. Anytime they tried—and they did, all the time—he would change the subject, asking about their children or their grandchildren. He was amazing. He was a charmer and soon, everyone gathered around them, all wanting a piece of Phillip Anderson. He talked about his career and about Claire, about anything and everything that kept the subject off of them.
The ladies seemed to never want him to stop talking… and Reese felt the same way.
And that was bad.