Game For Love: Love Games (Kindle Worlds) Read Online Free PDF Page B

only smiled and nodded, but it was a heck of a lot more than he got in the car.
    Yep, definite progress.
    “Well then, I might as well make a trip to the boys’ room,” Cole said.  
    Declan and Cole trailed after Gino, leaving the women alone.
     
    The women’s eyes followed the men. The second they were out of earshot, Anna turned to Marlee. “What the heck is going on?”
    Marlee didn’t pretend not to know what Anna was talking about. She slouched back against the padded booth, letting her head rest on the back of the seat. “I don’t know? I…I…I don’t know.” She closed her eyes, but her mind was filled with images of Declan, so she quickly opened them again.
    “He’s all over you. Declan Tate is all over you,” Anna exclaimed. “I mean, I could see it even at his house, the way the two of you couldn’t take your eyes off each other, as if you were eating each other up.”
    Marlee had a flash of her mouth fused to Declan’s, and she let out a groan. “I know. It was so weird, Anna, I can’t explain it. And when he shook my hand…” Marlee raised the hand in question to look at it, as if to show Anna the brand that Declan had left on her.
    Across the restaurant, she saw Declan coming out of the kitchen. He started on his way back but was waylaid by nearly every table. The men jumping out of their seats to shake his hand. Declan was polite, stopping and chatting with each group. He met Marlee’s eyes and shrugged in an apologetic way.  
    A memory from two years ago played in her mind, and the truth of her current situation came crashing down on Marlee. “But then I realized he’s a football player,” she said, almost to herself.
    “Well, of course he’s a football player. So what?” Anna asked incredulously. “So is Cole.”
    Marlee shrugged. “There’s no future in it. At least not for me.”
    Anna was quiet, then softly said, “I know you were really burned by a jock before, Marlee. And I know you’re looking for a future at this point in your life. But…”
    Marlee looked away from watching Declan and to Anna. “But what?”
    “But maybe you can postpone your future for a night,” Anna gently said.
    “You mean a one-night stand?”
    “One night. Two nights. A couple of weeks.”
    “It wouldn’t be a couple of weeks, anyway. I leave next week for my meetings in DC, remember?”
    Anna’s face lit up. “All the better. You can have a one-week fling and then go to DC and wow them on the Hill. When you come back you can start looking for Mr. Right. But my God, Marlee, is there a better Mr. Right Now than Declan Tate?”
    Marlee chuckled at her friend’s insistence. “Anna, I don’t do flings.”
    Anna’s smile dropped. “Maybe it’s time you did.”
    “What do you know about him, Anna? Besides his football stats.”
    Anna thought for a moment. “You know, not much, really. His reputation is one for all business when it comes to football. He doesn’t do any endorsements. You never read about him dating an actress or a supermodel. In fact, you don’t read much about his personal life period. He keeps a pretty low profile. The Tate temper is famous, but only on the field.
    “Cole played with him a while ago, and they keep in touch, but I don’t know that Declan has lots of friends. I get the impression from Cole that during the season Declan keeps pretty much to himself.”
    Remembering all those women in Declan’s home made Marlee question that last bit of information. Remembering how those women looked and how young they were made Marlee question her sanity at even considering Anna’s suggestion of a fling.
    As Declan finally made his way past the throng of admirers, Anna said softly, “Think about it, Marlee—when would you ever have this chance again? And let me just add…sex with a pro athlete? All that stamina and muscle? Unbelievable.”
    Marlee knew that firsthand. She just wasn’t sure she was strong enough to again go through all the bullshit that went