Code Name - Rook (Jameson Force Security 6)

I’ve been gazed upon with lust, attraction, and affection by other men, but nothing like the way Cage seems to drink me in.

He greeted me with a softly gloved hand to the nape of my neck, pulling me up on my tiptoes for a short kiss. We then walked into the stadium hand in hand.

Stocked up on hot dogs for him, cheese nachos for me and beer for us both, we make our way to our seats. We’re in the top section, only four rows from the very top of the stadium. Nosebleeds, they call it, but I love it up here. It’s all my family could afford when we came to Steeler games. Honestly, though, the view from up here is the best. It’s easy to see everything so much better when watching from above.

“I assume your sister is here,” Cage says as he starts to unwrap his hot dog.

“Yeah… not sure where, though. We’re going to meet up at halftime if that’s okay with you.”

“Totally okay with me,” he replies, opening his mouth and chomping at least a third of the hot dog in one bite. He has two more to eat after that. He’s a big guy so big appetite. “So, are you going to introduce me as a friend, a date, or a former one-night stand turned into a two-night stand so far?”

I snort, dipping a chip in cheese while giving him a side glance. “I’m just going to introduce you as Cage. I’ve already told her about you.”

Cage stops chewing, his face freezing as he stares at me. He swallows, and it looks almost painful. “You already told a family member about me?”

His tone is one of curiosity, not displeasure.

Grinning, I shrug. “Well, I told my sister about you. We’re tight, and we sort of share everything. We’re definitely not at the point I’d tell my parents or anything.”

“Of course not,” Cage agrees dramatically. “We’ve only had sex two times.”

“Way more than two times,” I correct in a censuring tone. “But on two separate evenings.”

And last evening was even better than the first. We didn’t have the haze of alcohol, but that didn’t lower inhibitions.

Cage bursts out laughing, then leans into me to plant a kiss on my temple. It’s a sweet gesture, making me feel young and giddy. And he almost looks surprised by his own action, as if that spontaneous act of affection was out of his norm.

I lean toward him, bumping my shoulder against his as if to say, your kiss was sweet, and I really liked it. Don’t be embarrassed by it.

Cage gives me a nudge back, smiling down at his dog.

?

Come halftime, we make our way down to the outer ring that circles the middle of the stadium leading to the lower seating in the 200 and 100 sections. Laney texted where to meet her, and it’s quite the haul as our seats are on the opposite side of the stadium.

I try to see through the crowd of people rushing to use the bathroom and buy more refreshments. Cage stands a good head taller than me. He says, “I think I see her.”

“How do you know?” I ask as he grabs my hand and starts pulling me on a diagonal path to the right, cutting in and out of people walking in the opposite direction. I feel almost like a salmon swimming upstream.

“Does she have hair like yours?” he asks over his shoulder as I’m about half a step behind him.

“Yup.”

“Same crystal blue eyes that can crush a man’s soul?”

I bark out a laugh. “You’ve definitely located her.”

The crowd seems to part, and I spot Laney with a group of friends. She sees me, face lighting up with joy. Despite the fact we live in the same city, we don’t get to see each other as often as we like. She’s busy with school and her friends, and I’m busy with work and my friends.

She comes flying at me, causing Cage to release my hand just before she slams into me, arms wrapping around my neck in a stranglehold. I squeeze her back around the waist even tighter, and no words need to be said. We love each other and miss each other even more.

When we finally break apart, I reach out toward Cage. Nabbing his arm, I pull him closer. “Laney… this is Cage.”

Laney finally stops to take him in, her eyes going wide. She’s seeing what I saw the first time in the bar. An exceptionally hot man—the type who makes most women turn for a second look when he walks by. Laney, not being as tactful as I am in all my five years of seniority, checks him out unabashedly, running her gaze down and then up again.

“Damn, Jaime,” she drawls, giving an appreciative nod as she stares at Cage. “You weren’t exaggerating.”