Читать книгу Hard Knocks: An Ultimate Novella - Lori Foster - Страница 8

CHAPTER TWO

COULD A MAN look sexier? No. Dumb question. Harper sighed. At twenty-five, she knew what she wanted. Whether or not she could have it, that was the big question.

Or rather, could she have it for the long haul.

“Is that for me?” She nodded at the rise in his jeans.

Without changing expressions, Gage nodded. “Yeah.” And then, “After that kiss, you have to ask?”

Sweet. “So you like my plan?”

Looking far too serious, his mellow brown gaze held hers. “If your plan is to turn me on, yeah, I like it.”

As part of her plan, she forced a laugh. She had to keep Gage from knowing how badly he’d broken her heart.

Talk about pathetic.

Gage was two years older, which, while they’d been in school, had made him the older, awesome star athlete, popular guy that every girl had wanted. Her included.

Back then, she hadn’t stood a chance. He’d dated prom queen, cheerleader, class president material, not collect-for-the-homeless Goody Two-shoes material.

So she’d wrapped herself in her pride and whenever they’d crossed paths, she’d treated him like any other jock—meaning she’d been nice but uninterested.

And damn him, he’d been A-okay with that, the big jerk.

They lived in the same small neighborhood. Not like Warfield, Ohio, left a lot of room for anonymity. Everyone knew everyone, especially those who went through school together.

It wasn’t until they both started hanging out in the rec center, her to help out, him to train, that he seemed to really tune in to her. Course, she hadn’t been real subtle with him, so not noticing her would have required a deliberate snub.

She was comfortable with guys. Actually, she was comfortable with everyone. Her best friend claimed she was one of those nauseatingly happy people who enjoyed life a little too much. But whatever. She believed in making the most of every day.