Power Play (Nashville Assassins Next Generation 2)

“Not even kinda. Don’t you dare skip one meal,” he says sternly. “I love everything about you.”

My lips quirk. “Love, eh?”

His eyes meet mine, and they’re so dark. “I mean, I could lie and say, no, I just like your ass and thighs. But that is a damn lie. I love them. I do. I don’t care what that means or what it says about me. I think you’re so damn hot.”

Now I’m the one leaning in, kissing him. He drops his spoon onto his plate, and his rough beard urges me to skip all my meetings and never leave this bed. I’d never do that, though, and he wouldn’t let me. “No one has ever said that to me. While my mom never said anything about my weight or how I was always thicker than Shelli, everyone else did. I was always the bigger twin, even though we’re not actually twins.”

He makes a face as he leans back, eating a full piece of waffle. “That’s bullshit. You’re a ball of muscle and look nothing like Shelli. She looks like a pixie. You’re more a queen.”

Jesus. “Well, damn. Do you even like my sister?”

He nods earnestly. “I love Shelli. She’s great. But you two are completely different. You have a full, round face, and she’s all angular. I think you’re hotter.”

I curve my lips. “Well, that’s good since I’m in your bed, in your boxers.”

He makes a face, truly upset I’m clothed. “Again, don’t know why we needed clothes to eat.”

I snort. “I didn’t want to get anything on me!”

“I would have licked it off.”

I grin. “Exactly. And I gotta go to meetings soon.”

“So rude, life getting in the way.”

“Right? Don’t they know we’ve got things to do?”

He holds out his hand to me. “Exactly!”

I grin as he chuckles softly. “Anyway, you know how it is. If a girl isn’t lean, she’s fat. It’s annoying as hell.”

He shakes his head. “My mom calls me husky, and I’m good with it. I love food, and I love my body. It’s strong and kicks ass on the ice—excluding on the power play,” he teases, and I smile.

I run my hands up his thighs. “Well, I think you are insanely gorgeous.” I lean in, and he meets me halfway. His eyes are dark and intent on mine as our lips move together. “And yes, your power play needs help.”

He laughs before kissing me again. I love how he smiles against my lips. How his nose touches mine and his beard tickles my jaw. When I pull back, he reaches for the syrup, drowning his waffle. I haven’t had real syrup in months, and I should be embarrassed by how much I put on my waffles, but Boon doesn’t seem to care about my sugar intake. Or his, for that matter. “Can I ask something?”

“Yeah. What’s up?”

“How old are you?”

He runs his tongue along his teeth. “Why? Think I’m robbing the cradle?”

I laugh. “No. If I remember correctly, you’re twenty-eight.”

“Yes, you’re right. But you are also such a stalker, Posey Rose Adler.”

I laugh, squeezing his leg. “Who’s the stalker? You know my middle name.”

“Hey, I can google just as well as you can.”

“Yes, we both can, Boon Zachariah Hoenes.”

His eyes widen. “Super stalker.”

“It’s in the personnel file,” I tease, and he laughs.

“Jesus!”

“I’m gonna call you Zach.”

“Don’t you dare.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. I don’t like it. Julia’s mom never called me Boon, only Zachariah. I think she thought my name was trailer-parkish.”

I make a face. “It’s a strong name.”

“I think so.”

“Fine, I’ll call you my boo.”

He splutters with laughter, and then we’re just grinning at each other for almost a full minute. When he leans in, sliding his hand up my thigh, I find I’m holding my breath. “So, how are we doing this?”

I look up from where I am cutting one of my waffles. “What do you mean?”

“Us.”

“Us?”

“Yes. Us. Me and you. We aren’t telling anyone, correct?”

I press my lips together as I swallow nervously. “Correct. I think we should wait. Maybe after the season is over. I gotta figure out a way to tell my dad I’m dating.”

He makes a face. “Huh?”

I shake my head. “He has ‘daughters-dating-induced angina.’ It’s really annoying, and with Shelli getting married, he isn’t handling things well.”

He laughs. “That’s funny.”

“Sure, when you’re not on the receiving end of it. That’s probably another reason why guys never wanted to be with me. Everyone is terrified of my dad.”

“Well, he is Shea Adler.”

I roll my eyes. “Don’t get me wrong. I know this, but he’s amazing as all get-out.”

“Yeah, he is—and scary. But don’t worry. Give me the green light, and I’ll face him.”

I pause in the middle of putting a piece of bacon into my mouth. “Really?”

“Really.”

“He could lose his temper and kick your ass.”

He shrugs. “You’re worth it, lovely.” Okay. So, he’s coming guns blazing with some truth, huh? “Problem is, I don’t want to fuck up your career. I don’t want anyone to feel like you’re favoring me. You aren’t going to let up and just put me on the power play. I’ll have to work for it.”