“Aw, don’t give them a hard time, Jim. When you’re in love, you get impatient and want to make everything happen now.” Charlie sent them a look. “Once the season is over, you two should go to the big island and use our vacation home. A belated honeymoon would do you both some good, I’m sure. Consider it a wedding gift.”
Bogus. Like Charlie would send them to Hawaii for a late honeymoon. His hands were just as dirty as theirs in this fake marriage business.
“That sounds amazing.” Sheridan smiled, the sight of it going straight to his head. “Doesn’t that sound like fun, honey? I’ve never been to Hawaii before.”
He immediately wanted to go with her. Show her everything she hadn’t the good fortune to see yet. Plus, Sheridan in a bikini? That sounded like a winner. “Then I’ll have to take you.”
Her gaze met his, those pretty golden eyes shining with all sorts of mysterious emotions. What was she thinking? Did she find this whole situation bizarre? Or had she fallen right into it with ease? “Promise?” She stroked his neck again, her fingers tangling in his hair, the look on her face downright flirtatious.
“Anything you want, Mrs. Quinn.” He let his fingers drift down her side, memorizing her curves. Forgetting that the owner and head coach of the Hawks were standing right there, watching them. He was lost in the glow of Sheridan’s eyes, he’d barely noticed that the two men shuffled away after offering quick good-byes.
“Think they bought it?” she asked, dragging her nails lightly across his nape.
He shivered. Damn it. “Bought what?”
The smile that stretched across her face was full of pure feminine power. “Do you think your coach and Charlie believed we’re a real couple?”
“Oh, yeah.” Hell, he could almost believe they were a real couple.
“You’re still going to try and seduce me with words?”
Jared smiled, leaning in, his face almost touching her neck, inhaling the sweet, exotic scent of her. ?
??I haven’t given up if that’s what you’re asking.”
Her laugh alone was complete seduction. “I’m going to get in way over my head with you, aren’t I?”
Pulling away slightly, he stared into her eyes, drifting his knuckles down the side of her soft cheek. “You’ll enjoy it every step of the way, I promise.”
She parted her lips, as if she were about to say something, but then she clamped them shut. The glow in her eyes died a little bit. He wondered at the change, the shrouding of her emotions. “We’re three days into our marriage and you’re trying to break every rule we’ve established. Why?”
“Just wanting to make this as interesting as possible. Don’t tell me you’re not attracted to me.” He cupped the back of her head, drawing her close. The scent of her drove him crazy. Fuck, he wanted her. “Because I know you’d be lying.”
“You’re the most arrogant man I’ve ever met.” She frowned.
He smiled. “I haven’t even introduced you to the rest of the team yet.”
“Flynn was very nice.”
“Flynn is nice to everyone.” He scowled. The last thing he needed was Sheridan crushing on Foley. Everyone freaking crushed on Foley. “He’s an exception to the rule.”
She glanced over her shoulder, right at Foley who was talking animatedly to another player, the biggest, baddest running back in all the NFL. Only Foley could have that guy smiling.
“Is it true what they say?” Sheridan asked when she returned her focus to Jared. “The rumors about Flynn being a…”
“I have no idea.” Jared grimaced and shook his head. Like he cared about Foley’s sex life. But if it were true and he really was a virgin…
Then he was crazy. Jared couldn’t imagine it. The kid was twenty-five years old. When Jared had been twenty-five, he’d indulged in as many women as he could get his hands on. Foley, on the other hand, was squeaky clean. A good boy the mamas could love along with their daughters.
And he was Jared’s replacement. Damn if that didn’t set a bug up his ass every time he remembered it, which was on a daily, weekly, hourly basis.
“How old were you?”
“How old was I what?”
Tilting her head, she placed her mouth right at his ear, her soft, fragrant hair brushing against the side of his face. “When you lost your virginity?”
“You don’t want to know.” And he didn’t want to admit it. Painfully young. He’d been a teen completely out of control and looking for attention any way he could get it, since his dad was always busy working. “How old were you?”