Sterling (Carolina Reapers 6)

“Then pick something without kids.” He shrugged. “They’re small and breakable and say weird shit that I never know how to respond to, and then it’s just awkward for everyone involved. I’ll do whatever you have coming up next that’s adult-only.”

“Great, so if a charity opportunity pops up at the senior center, you’re our guy,” Langley muttered, rolling her eyes.

ME: That black dress looks delicious on you.

London shook her head at the message, but a smile tugged at her lips.

LONDON: Pay attention and stop flirting.

ME: The dress will look even better on my floor tonight.

Her gaze popped up to meet mine, her blush rising all the way to her hairline. Then she put her phone into the pocket of her blazer and picked up an agenda, clearly doing her best to dismiss me.

I grinned. As much as I wanted to stand on top of this table and shout that London was mine, even I could admit that there were certain perks of keeping our relationship quiet. Flustering her in public was the biggest perk of them all.

“London?” Langley gave her the floor, and my girl stepped into the center position.

“Right, so you’ll all note that there’s a special event coming up over New Year’s Eve.”

The team groaned collectively.

“I know, I know,” she waved us off. “But it’s a part of the promotion we’re doing for the Ronald McDonald house. I know that we have a bye that weekend, but I’m going to need at least half of the team there since that’s how we’re advertising for the tickets. And you don’t have to tell me right now.” She looked poignantly at Caspian. “And you’re going.”

He scoffed. “Am I, really?”

“I just got called little Foster, so yeah, you’re number one on the list, buddy. Tux it up.” She lifted her brows at him and smiled.

“Fine,” he relented.

“Count me in, too,” Maxim added, giving her a slow smirk. “If it’s important to you, I’m there.”

My stomach twisted painfully, and it only intensified when he glanced at me to see if I’d rise to the bait. I didn’t. London knew I’d be there for her, and that was good enough for me.

The meeting came to an end, and we all filed out. As I passed London, who was pressed against the wall, close to the door, she stroked her hand across my stomach when no one was looking. My abs clenched at the touch, and my body temp rose a degree. “Five-thirty,” she whispered.

I nodded and managed to keep my eyes off hers as I walked into the hallway, where Briggs was waiting with an arched eyebrow.

“Man, you have got to be more subtle than that,” he lectured quietly as we walked toward the parking lot.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I shrugged.

“She called you by your first name.” He shook his head.

I blinked. “What?” We walked into the sunlight, and the team scattered, headed toward their various cars.

“She called every other player by their last name, except you.” He pulled out his remote and clicked the unlock button on his G-wagon.

“So?” I unlocked my Audi.

He glanced across the lot at Caspian before continuing. “So, in my years on this team, everyone has only ever called you Sterling. And at that table, she called every other player by his last name…except you. If you two are going to keep whatever you’re doing a secret, then you have got to cover your tracks a little better than that.” He stared me down.

Shit.

I couldn’t confirm or deny, not without breaking my promise to London that we’d keep this quiet, so I simply nodded and got into my car as quickly as possible. We’d have to be more careful at the arena, but at least I’d get her to myself tonight.

Two hours later, I held London’s hand as we entered a cornfield maze.

She tensed as we turned a corner and were surrounded by corn stalks in every line of sight.

“If it gets to be too much, maybe look up?” I suggested, pointing to the clear blue sky above our heads. We still had a good two hours of daylight, so we’d be out of here long before it turned inky black.

“Good idea.” She took a deep breath as we came to a T juncture. “Which way?”

“You choose.” I lifted her hand to my lips and kissed the back of it. I’d learned that London did much better in confined spaces if it was her choice to begin with. In fact, the only area in her life where she liked to give up control was in bed with me.

There, she didn’t care if I was above her, behind her, or had her pressed against a wall. She was all in, and damn did I love that about her. I loved a lot of things about her, which was making it increasingly difficult to act like we were only acquaintances at the rink.