Chapter 14
I’ve had tougher defenses.
Gage
I smile down at Addy. I want to kiss her. I want to taste her lush mouth, her wild taste. But I am keenly aware of the groupies observing us from the other side of the glass wall.
The owner of the resort promised us privacy from paparazzi. But he couldn’t make promises about the other hotel guests. Everyone’s been respectful but it doesn’t stop the women – married or not – from congregating in the hallway outside the gym every morning.
“Let’s hit the beach.”
Her nose wrinkles. “I didn’t bring my bathing suit.”
“They have a boutique here. I’ll buy you one.”
“Stop throwing money at me.”
“Sorry, songbird. I have money. I’m not going to apologize for it. I won’t buy you furs or diamonds but you can’t complain about a swimsuit.”
She raises her eyebrows. “I can’t?”
I chuckle. “Let me rephrase. Please don’t complain about a swimsuit. ”
She chews on her bottom lip while she contemplates her answer. I want to push her to accept my offer. If she goes home to get her things, I’ll lose her. It was hard enough convincing her to enjoy a day off. My songbird is a workaholic.
“Fine. But only because I feel bad about Rogue throwing up on you yesterday.”
Rogue can throw up on me every-damn-day if it means she’ll accept a present from me. I can’t imagine how hard she is to buy for at Christmas. But I want to find out.
I grasp her hand and lead her out of the gym toward the boutique. “Let’s go shopping.”
“One item, Mr. Yard-getter.”
“Have you been checking me out on social media?” I waggle my eyebrows.
She slaps my stomach. “I had to make sure RunItGage was you.”
I flex my bicep. “Who else would it be?”
“Another delusional football player.”
“You say delusional. I say realistic.”
She snorts. “Thanks for proving you’re delusional.”
We reach the boutique and I usher her inside. She makes her way to the bathing suits and I follow. I pick out a green bikini. “This would look good on you.”
“Dream on, RunItGage. I don’t wear bikinis.”
“But we’re on an island on the beach.” I stick out my bottom lip in a pout.
“Bikinis are for women under twenty-five who don’t have an obsession with Siren’s Snap cookies. ”
I rake my gaze over her curves. Her round hips and high breasts. My mouth nearly waters with my desire to taste and touch her.
“Skinny women are boring.”
She turns away. “I guess you’d know,” she mutters.
“I’m not a player, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“Not only is he delusional and can get yards but he’s also a mind reader.”
I’m not a mind reader but I’m not an idiot either. I know when a woman is jealous. I don’t want Addy to be jealous. I want her to be secure with me. Other women pale in comparison to her. No woman has ever captured my attention the way she does.
“I also have a crystal ball.”
She barks out a laugh. “Do you wear a gold turban and tell fortunes?”
“Nah. Gold isn’t my color.”
“Afraid of field goals and wearing the color gold. You should add those attributes to your dating profile.”
I don’t want a dating profile. I want her. My songbird, whose taste I can’t get out of my mind.
She waves a swimsuit at me. “I’m going to try this one on.”
I follow her to the changing rooms. She wags her finger at me. “No running backs allowed.”
I motion to the sofa. “Can I sit here, or is this reserved for tight ends?”
“You’re okay. You have a tight end.” She winks before disappearing into the changing room .
I adjust my half-hard cock before sitting on the sofa. I dig out my phone and settle in. In my experience, women need a long time to try on clothes. But Addy appears after I’ve read only a single email.
I stand. “And?”
“It’ll do.”
I place my hand on her back and lead her to the cashier.
“Hey, Terri,” she greets. “What are you doing here?”
“The shop girl needed a bathroom break and I happened to be walking by.”
“Have you met Gage?” Terri shakes her head. “Gage, this is Terri. Terri, Gage.”
Terri narrows her eyes at him. “Are you a teammate of Nolan’s?”
“Yep.”
“I feel sorry for you.”
“What happened?” Addy asks.
Terri wrinkles her nose. “I made a mistake.”
“Mistakes happen. You’ll move on and forget about it soon enough.”
“Can’t forget this mistake,” she mutters.
“Do you need to talk? I’m off today.”
She waves a hand in dismissal. “Nah. I’m okay. And I’ve got a big wedding this weekend to finish preparing.”
Addy hesitates. “If you’re sure?”
“I am. Get out of here. Go show this man how sexy your new swimsuit is.”
Addy’s cheeks darken as she waves goodbye to Terri. I grasp her hand and we stroll out of the boutique toward the beach.
“I reserved a cabana for us.”
“A cabana? We don’t need a cabana. It’s a waste of money. We can place our beach towels on the sand.”
I roll my shoulders. “Not after this morning’s back workout.”
She studies me. “Fine. I don’t want you to have a sore back.”
“You are a pain in the ass to spend money on, you know that?”
She grins. “I do. And I thank you.”
I chuckle as we arrive at the cabana. “I can close the curtains, so you can change in private.”
“No need.” She whips off her t-shirt to reveal her swimsuit. My jaw drops open. Her breasts are barely contained by the plunging neckline.
“Yoohoo!” Tanner waves from the cabana next to ours, where he’s lounging with Nolan. Brock and Corbin are in the cabana on the other side of us.
“Did you assholes follow us?”
Tanner bats his eyelashes. “How could we follow you? We were here first.”
Addy giggles. “He has a point.”
“Trust me. Tanner never has a point.” I offer her my hand to help her onto the daybed.
“Ah,” Tanner coos. “Did you two make up?”
“Be nice, or I’ll tell everyone what you and Alaia did last night,” Addy warns .
He clutches his chest. “You wouldn’t!”
“Try me.”
Nolan chuckles. “I like her.”
“As you should. I’m awesome.”
“Can I go now?” Brock asks.
Tanner scowls. “No, Mr. Grumpy, you may not go.”
“Be nice, goofball,” Addy scolds Tanner. “Not everyone has the energy to bounce around like a puppy all day long.”
Tanner sticks out his chest. “I am not a puppy.”
She snorts. “Whatever you need to tell yourself.”
“I’m hungry,” Brock grumbles. “Let’s order nachos.”
“He says us, but if you’re hungry, order your own food. He won’t let you touch his,” Corbin says.
“Thanks.” Addy smiles at Corbin. “But I’m not hungry.”
“What do you want to drink?” I ask her. “I promised you a fruity drink with an umbrella.”
“Thanks, but I’m not much into fruity drinks. Can I have a beer instead?”
“You can have whatever you want.” And I do mean whatever she wants.
“I’ll have a beer,” Corbin says.
“Me too.”
“Me too.”
“Beer and nachos go well together.”
“Order six beers, Mr. Yard-Getter. We don’t want anyone going thirsty.”
“No one’s going thirsty,” I mutter. “There are bottles of water in the mini-refrigerators in each cabana. ”
“Go order the beers.” She nudges me. “And don’t be grumpy. Apparently, Brock is the grumpy one in your group.”
I kiss her nose. “As you wish.”
“Let’s have a cannonball contest,” Tanner suggests.
“Dude, you don’t want to compete with me. I grew up on the beach.” Addy’s eyes fill with excitement.
“Challenge accepted.”
“It’s your funeral.”
I wander to the bar to order our beers and some finger food because my songbird might not be hungry, but I’m starving. I perch myself on a barstool to watch Addy interact with my friends.
She fits in. This is what I’ve always wanted in a woman. Someone my friends accept. Someone who fits in my life.
And Addy fits. She’s it for me. I just need to convince her to let me out of the friendzone.