When she turned to look at Garrett, her long brown hair brushed his skin and their shoulders pressed against one another.
“Of course I like all football. Why do you ask?”
His brother smiled at her. “A woman after my own heart.”
She turned back toward the field as the whistle blew, ending the first half of the game.
They all stood up to stretch out as the opposing team’s band began to get ready to take the field for a halftime show.
“I love when they do this,” Gia said as she placed her hands on Teddy’s shoulders while he stretched. He leaned back and smiled at her.
“I know you do. You’ve always loved football, even as a kid.”
“Really? I bet Gia was a cute kid,” one of Teddy’s friends from the Houston PD said as he looked her over while she stretched.
Her shirt lifted slightly, revealing her firm abs and hip bones. Was that a tattoo Gunner saw? He didn’t like the way those guys were flirting with her one bit and nor did his brother, and Garrett made a move.
He took Gia’s hand.
“Want to go grab a drink real quick at the snack stand?” She glanced at Teddy and he winked at her. She shook her head but smiled up at Garrett, making Gunner think that perhaps they were making progress with her.
“I’ll go, too. Save our seats, guys,” Gunner said and they headed up the bleachers to the snack stand.
* * * *
Gia felt her heart racing. It was so stupid to feel this way, but every time Garrett, Gunner, or Wes was near her, never mind touching her, she would panic and get all sweaty and nervous. It was beyond just a fear of getting close to anyone. She was starting to feel an attraction to them, which completely freaked her out. There were three of them. Three extra-large, intimidatingly handsome men with looks that made heads turn wherever they went. Like now, as they stood in line at the snack stand and a few women said hello to Gunner and Garrett, and two in particular let their hands slide down their arms. Gia felt a shocking reaction inside.
Get your hands off them. Oh, God, I’m jealous. How the hell can I be jealous? Am I actually considering this? Am I considering getting to know them better and engaging in this type of relationship after what Antonio tried to force me to do?
She felt the tears sting her eyes and then she felt Gunner’s hand on her shoulders. Her first instinct was to bolt, or counter move. She didn’t like to be approached from behind. She had issues with being in this position. It was why she avoided crowds and…Mmm, God, he has great hands. They’re so big and strong. He was working her tight muscles and she found herself leaning back against his wide, hard body.
“You’re all tense, baby,” he whispered next to her ear.
She closed her eyes a moment as she imagined what he looked like standing behind her. He wore a pair of dark jeans that hung off the hips and cowboy boots. The tight brown Bulls T-shirt stretched across his bulging muscles, making her mouth water. Then she opened her eyes and stared at Garrett’s back. Wide shoulders, crew-cut hair, and he stood with perfect posture. Damn, these men were too good-looking. She would have never thought a man’s posture would be a turn-on for her. When he turned toward her she snapped back to reality.
“What would you like to have, Gia?” Garrett asked.
She had to stand up straighter. She was actually leaning back against Gunner. She felt his hands on her waist, too. What the hell am I doing? Oh God, Garrett’s dimples are so sexy.
He raised his eyebrows at her as if knowing she was staring and she felt her cheeks blush. “Water, just a bottle of water.”
He turned back to the pimply-faced kid behind the counter who wore the opposing team colors of blue and gold.
As they took their bottles of water and a basket of fries and headed back she felt Garrett’s hand on her hip as they maneuvered through the crowd. Gunner led the way, giving her the opportunity to check out the man’s superb body. Wide shoulders, trim waist, and he had to be about six feet four inches tall wi
th dark crew-cut hair. The man was gorgeous.
The sound of the band beginning their halftime show could be heard as they climbed the bleachers to head back to their seats. Gia looked down toward the field. She could remember high school like it was yesterday. There was something so amazing about the fans during a sporting event but especially during high school football games. She could remember them having a bonfire the night before the big games against rival schools and of course the championship games. The innocence of a kiss shared between her and one of the players, Robbie Greene. Oh boy, did she think he was so cute. He had dimples, too. She glanced up at Garrett, who was watching her closely. Garrett’s dimples were way cuter. Despite his very rugged, hard expressions most of the time, when he did smile, those dimples practically attacked her body.
He licked his lower lip then leaned closer to her.
“I’d love to know what you were just thinking about,” he said and instead of thinking first, she just whispered back.
“Your dimples and one of my first kisses back in high school.”
He seemed to be embarrassed a little. God, is he actually oblivious to their appeal? No way, the man has to know that they are lethal.
She also knew that she came across as flirtatious, so she turned away from him as she took a sip of her water. She crossed her legs and began to watch the halftime show continue. Garrett leaned closer, his shoulder warm against hers He made a point of letting his thigh touch her thigh and simultaneously, as the warm, sexual sensations filled her body and wreaked havoc on her control to ignore this attraction, Gunner placed his hand on her knee.