Chapter 28
Trinity
“I can’t believe we actually won.” I unclipped my seat belt. “That was the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”
“You had fun? You sprained your ankle and got blasted in the face.”
Preston’s voice dripped with frustration, and I clenched my legs when my mind replayed the way he stormed toward Gregory after the hit. He was mad and for some odd reason, that was… hot.
“I’m fine.” I waved a hand. “It was a rubber ball.”
“Don’t move,” he ordered before he jumped out of the truck.
His tall frame rounded the hood before he opened my door, offering me a hand.
“Thanks.” I placed my palm in his, and the electric shock it sent up my arm was impossible to ignore.
Let’s be real. Everything about the man was impossible to ignore.
“Come inside.” He turned, tugging me behind him.
“I should probably get home…” I trailed off as we made it to the front door.
“I just want to check your injuries,” he insisted as he pushed through the opening.
Nerves clambered up my throat as I crossed the threshold. I had never been in his space before, and just the scent of him clinging to the air had me immediately regretting this decision.
For a former NFL player, he lived modestly. The neighborhood was above average, but a far cry from a million-dollar estate.
“Nice place,” I commented as we entered a large living room.
A leather sectional was placed in front of a massive fireplace, the mantle a beautiful shade of weathered wood. The space was all neutral tones, earthy and masculine. So, Preston.
“Thanks.” He dropped my hand and motioned to his dining table. “Take a seat.”
A light flipped on overhead as he strode into the open-concept kitchen. My gaze drifted to the far wall of the dining room, where an assortment of family photos was displayed.
I slowly walked over, zeroing in on a young Preston. He must have been about fifteen. He had the same sparkling blue eyes but lacked the muscle and confidence he held now. Next to him was a young blonde girl. She possessed the same alluring blue eyes.
“Is this your sister?” I asked, peering over my shoulder as he made his way toward me.
“Yeah. That’s Liv.” His smile was genuine. It was clear the love he harbored for her.
“She’s beautiful.” I looked back at a more recent picture.
“She’s the best.” He pulled out a dining chair. “I think you two would get along.”
It was lonely growing up as an only child. I begged for a sibling, but my mom had no intention of having any more. I was an accident she didn’t plan for to begin with and motherhood was not her strong suit. Obviously.
“Where does she live?” I walked over to the open chair and took a seat to appease him.
“She lives in Dallas.” He motioned a hand for my ankle as he spun the chair next to me before dropping down. “It’s too late now, but she’s usually on the six o’clock news.”
“Oh, is she a reporter?” I lifted my leg, allowing him to slip off my tennis shoe.
The roughness of his hand had goose bumps peppering the skin on my bare calf.
His eyes flickered up to mine. “She’s an interpreter. She does ASL for the hearing impaired.”
“That’s an incredible career.” I swallowed as his fingertips danced down my skin, tilting my ankle to the left.
“She’s done well for herself. I couldn’t be prouder.” He ran a thumb over the spot above my ankle bone. “Any tenderness?”
I shook my head. “No.” It came out in a whisper because that thumb remained gently stroking the spot as he locked eyes with me.
“It doesn’t look swollen.”
Another stroke.
“It was just a tweak,” I added, the air all of a sudden thick.
He placed my ankle back on the floor, then reached out to grip the edge of my chair. He easily tugged it across the tile floor.
The movement put me right between his parted thighs, and I almost stopped breathing when his fingertips casually pinched my chin between them. “Let’s see that cheek.”
My head turned, revealing to him what I’d assume was a red welt at this point. It didn’t necessarily hurt, but it didn’t feel great either.
“I’m sorry he hurt you.” His eyes held mine, the conviction in them so pure.
Like it was his fault.
“It’s a risk of the game, Preston.”
“Don’t care. Shouldn’t have happened.”
“I’m fine. Won’t even leave a mark.”
The silence made itself known, the moment charged with something I could neither ignore nor name.
His strong fingers on my chin shifted, aiming my gaze back to him before those fingertips trailed over to my jaw. He slowly adjusted his placement until he cupped my face in his large palm.
“Angel…” The word was quiet, a simple word that held so much meaning.
My core reacted, along with my awareness that we were both close to crossing lines that couldn’t be uncrossed. Especially for him.
Like an invisible tether was bound to us both, we leaned in a fraction.
He searched my face, and I tried to keep the silent plea a blank expression, but I feared it screamed what I really wanted.
Kiss me. His tongue swiped across his bottom lip, the action so effortlessly sexy I almost closed the distance.
But right as he traveled another dangerous inch, his phone rang, crashing a heap of warning over us both.
The cell phone buzzed next to us on the dining table, the sound like an atomic bomb.
Liv was flashing across the screen.
He leaned back, sucking in a sharp breath. “I need to take this. It could be about Ray.”
I nodded, disappointment and relief washing over me as I quickly stood to my feet.
“Will you…” He pushed to his full height, which towered over me. “Just…give me a sec? Don’t go?” With that, he placed the phone to his ear, then slipped out onto the back patio.
What are you doing, Trinity?
I glanced down at my shoeless foot, shaking my head at what I almost allowed to happen. I knew better. This was nothing but a train wreck waiting to happen, and even though I wanted to stay, I did what I had to do. I scooped up my shoe, shoved my foot inside, then I left.