Caspian (Carolina Reapers 8)

“Oh, God.” Her eyes squeezed shut.

“But if it makes you feel any better, I’m pretty sure he’s oblivious. Max has never been the most…observant of guys.”

She sucked in a stuttered breath and opened her eyes. “Are you sure?”

“He’s my best friend. If he knew, I’d know. Trust me.”

“This is so embarrassing.” She tugged her bottom lip between her teeth.

“Why?” I shrugged. “You could always make a move, you know. Pretty sure he’d notice if you sat in his lap.”

She scoffed. “If there aren’t already two women there.”

I glanced toward the table, but there were no women there, just Reapers. “He’s just with the guys.”

“Seriously, Caz?” She rolled her eyes. “I don’t mean right now. I mean…all the time. Not sure if you’ve noticed, but I’m not exactly the kind of girl he goes for. You could add up the dress sizes of all the women he slept with last week and still not reach mine.” She let out a self-deprecating laugh. “Pretty sure all those models were size zero.”

“Evie, look at me.”

She dragged her gaze back to mine. “You know it’s true.”

My heart sank, thinking of the endless stream of women Maxim kept in his bed, like he was trying to prove something. The guy had some seriously unresolved issues with his father.

“You’re beautiful.”

She scoffed.

“You’re. Beautiful.” I meant it. She had crystal blue eyes, flawless skin, and the kind of curves that turned men’s heads when she wasn’t doing everything in her power to cover them up. “I mean it. Plus, you have the kindest soul of anyone I’ve ever met. Maxim would be lucky to have you, and if he’s too blind to see it, then it’s his loss.”

“Thanks, Caz. But I think I’ll stick to books for a while. Besides, the fantasy of what-if is always better than the reality, no matter what it turns out to be.” A slight smile tilted her lips as the song came to an end.

“No guts, no glory. Remember that.”

I looked up to see Ryleigh making her way across the floor as couples changed up.

“And that’s my cue,” Evie said as she followed my line of sight. “Thanks for the dance, Caz.” She squeezed my hand and disappeared into the crowd.

“Have room on your dance card for me?” Ryleigh asked as a new song started up.

“Always.” I took her into my arms as Ed Sheeran started singing about the perfect love he’d found.

Her arms looped around my neck, her fingers playing with the ends of my hair as we swayed, our bodies pressed against each other. There was no respectful distance like there had been while I danced with Evie, I wanted Ryleigh as close as possible…for as long as possible.

“She looks happy,” Ryleigh said with a sigh, watching London spin in Sterling’s arms.

“Love does that to you.” My hands splayed over Ryleigh’s lower back just as Ed sang about not giving up the woman he loved. But this…this wasn’t love, was it?

I cared for Ryleigh, felt connected to her in a way I never had to any other woman. Were there things I loved about her? Absolutely. The way she fit perfectly in my arms, her smile, her laugh, her stubbornness. I loved how she never did what was expected of her, and yet…that’s exactly how we’d ended up right where we were right now, because she’d been chasing the life she thought she was expected to have. That was the unexpected part—Ryleigh settling for less than what she deserved.

But love? That was something that took time, wasn’t it? Maybe not in the case of Jansen and London…or Briggs and Bristol. Hell, half the guys on my team had fallen hard and fast.

“So are you packed yet?” Ryleigh asked, sadness seeping its way into those gorgeous green eyes of hers.

“No.” Was that why I hadn’t packed yet? Was I falling hard and fast just like my friends had? Or was this just a frenzy of lust and…what? Like?

“What time is your flight?” Her fingers stroked down the back of my neck, sending tendrils of pleasure down my spine.

Just like that, I wanted her again. I wanted her in every position possible, her eyes hazy with pleasure as I worshipped her body with my hands and mouth. Lust.

“Nine,” I answered softly. But what if it was more than lust? What if we had the possibility to be something real? Leaving would cut it short.

The fantasy of what-if is always better than the reality. That’s what Evie had said.

But what if it wasn’t? What-ifs weren’t better…they were bullshit.

“I’m sorry our plan failed,” I whispered, brushing my lips over her forehead. I hadn’t even bothered to look for Chuck all night. The plan had gone to shit the first second I’d put my hands on Ryleigh.

“I’m not,” she replied, her hands sliding to my cheeks. “And if it makes you feel better, he did go into a jealous little rage, though it was nothing compared to the brawls I’ve seen erupt at your temper on the ice.”