Page 64 of Reckless Love

He rolled his eyes. I had teased him for months about being onPeople’slist. He acted embarrassed when I called him that but loved every second of it.

“And yeah, I know what you mean. So rude.” I tried to sound annoyed, but I couldn’t stop laughing.

“If they're so good, you wouldn't need this thing.” He shrugged.

I buried my face in my hands. “You're not wrong,” I said, laughing.

He smirked while I tried to hide it back in my suitcase.

“My little Elle and her hot pink vibrator.” He shook his head. “That is a sight I will never forget. I’ll let you…get to sleep. Don’t worry. These walls are probably soundproof.”

”Get out,” I said, throwing a pillow at him and cracking up.

Of course I was too afraid he’d hear me if I used the vibrator, so I woke up the next morning still keyed up from being near Rhodes again. I was shy when I walked into the kitchen, but Rhodes just gave me the dimpled smile that made me melt and said, “Pancakes?”

“You know it.”

All the shyness faded away as we talked and ate and then went to the beach. He smoothed sunscreen over me and I tried not to think of his length and girth as he did so. It was a losing battle. I hoped I’d meet a man that I didn’tconstantly compare to Rhodes, but he was the gold standard for me. Once every few years—less now than in the beginning of our relationship—I was tempted to tell him how I felt about him.

But how embarrassing would that be? He didn’t feel the same about me. There had been pockets of time when I’d wondered if he did, but he never said anything, never made a move. We’d always been touchy-feely, so I didn’t count the times he played with my hair or even held my hand when we’d go into a restaurant or put his arm around me on the couch…that was just us. I’d wanted to forget the pact and yet, I knew it was what was best for us. He didn’t want to settle down and both of us wanted to keep what we had forever.

That night he took me to a gorgeous restaurant overlooking the water. We were dressed up and it was hard to tear my eyes away from him. Throughout the meal, every time I looked at him, he was staring back.

“You look so beautiful, Elle,” he said softly. “I love your dress.”

I wore a simple white sundress, but it made me feel pretty.

“Thank you.” I looked at his broad shoulders and the way the candlelight made his eyes glow. “You do too.”

His full lips lifted. “Thank you. Want to walk down the beach before we head to the party? We can actually get to the house from out there.”

I nodded and after he paid for the check, we walked onto the deck and down the stairs. I took off my heels and let them dangle from my hand, as he took my other hand. We took our time walking in the sand. He unbuttoned his dress shirt and took it off, revealing a white T-shirtunderneath.

A combination of music came from either side of the beach, the nightlife of Miami just getting started, but the water was completely calm.

“This looks like a good place to dance,” he said.

“Yeah?” I giggled, but then I dropped my shoes onto the sand and he dropped his shirt, and we started moving to the song that was playing the loudest.

I felt dizzy and alive and happier than I’d been in so long. He twirled me around and dipped me back and I laughed, but it quieted when I saw the expression on his face. His gaze lowered to my mouth and when he lifted me back up, one of my hands was on his waist and the other on his head. His hand lifted to my neck, his thumb tracing near my mouth?—

“Rhodes Archer, I didn’t know you had moves like that!” A guy yelled, and we turned in slow motion, the moment dissolving.

Two of Rhodes’ teammates and three girls materialized. We must have been in our own world to miss them walking up. One girl came straight to Rhodes and put her hand on his chest. His hand dropped from me as she pushed into him.

“There you are. I thought you’d be at the party a long time ago,” she said.

“Uh, Elle, this is Crystal.” He held his hand toward the girl and then introduced the rest. “Jordan, Al, Mina, and Leanne.”

They all said hello and Crystal turned to look me over.

“Oh my God, you’re Elle?” She looked up at Rhodes. “I thought Elle was a dude…like short for Louie or Elliot or something. You didn’t say your bestie was a girl!”

“Pretty sure I did,” he said, looking at me.

I couldn’t tell if his expression was an apology or embarrassment, but I tried to laugh it off.

“Not a dude,” I said.