Blind Pass (Carolina Comets)

“That woman is exhausting.” I flop down into my chair and reach for my champagne glass, gulping back half of it in one go. “Remind me to never get married.”

“Again.” He tugs my hand into his lap, rubbing his fingertips over the gold band that still sits around my finger. He tried replacing it once with a big diamond set, but I refused. I love it too much. “Unless you want to. Have the big celebration and all that, I mean.”

One weekend when the Comets were facing Vegas, Rhodes and I snuck off after the game and made our marriage official.

This time, we didn’t share our elopement with the world. Just with Harper and Collin, the way it should have been from the beginning.

Surprisingly, Grams and Rhodes’ parents were fine with it. I think they were all just happy we found a way to fall in love after the whole lying-to-the-world-and-it-blowing-up-in-our-faces fiasco.

Every now and then, Rhodes will ask if I want to do it the “right way,” but I always give him the same answer.

“I already have everything I want.” I trace the rose he has tattooed on his ring finger. He surprised me with it after the Comets ended their season early, losing in the second round of the playoffs. He said even though they lost, this way he’d always remember everything good that happened that season.

His lips twitch, fighting a smile. “Everything?”

“Well, I mean, I would like to get out of here, maybe have an orgasm or two. But beyond that, yes, everything.”

He leans into me, his lips brushing against mine. “I think I could make that happen.” He captures my mouth in a kiss, his tongue quickly pushing past my lips, ramping up the heat.

I’m lost in the moment, completely captivated by the way he commands my mouth, his tongue sliding over mine as his hand slides up my face and into my long blonde curls, pulling me closer.

I have no idea how much time passes before I hear a throat clearing.

“Excuse me, Ryan.” Harper’s mother practically hisses my name. I’m not sure if it’s because she’s never been a big fan of me or because I’m currently making out with my husband in the middle of her daughter’s wedding. “I could really use your help with the—”

“Caterer? We have it covered, Mom.” Harper places her hand on her mother’s shoulder, pulling her attention. “Why don’t you go dance with Uncle Randy? I’m sure Aunt Blythe would love for you to take him off her hands for a bit. She looks tired.”

Her mother glances over at the fun, older couple swinging around the dance floor. They both look like they’re having a complete blast, but I know what Harper is trying to do—save me.

“Oh, all right then,” her mother says. “Randy always was a handful.”

Harper’s mother sends me one last disapproving look before scurrying away.

“God, that woman is exhausting.” Harper shakes her head, grabbing Rhodes’ glass of champagne and downing it all at once.

“That’s exactly what I said!”

“It’s no wonder my sister moved here after her divorce. I mean, can you imagine having to deal with a cheating ex-husband and my mother?” Harper shudders, her lacy gray dress shaking around her. When she first suggested a gray dress, I thought she was out of her mind, but the beautiful ball gown-style garment fits her perfectly. “Speaking of my sister, have you seen her around here?”

“Actually, I think I saw her and Lowell step outside for a moment,” Rhodes answers. “They seem to be getting along, which I suppose is good considering…”

He trails off, but we all know what he’s alluding to. Hollis and Lowell meeting did not go as everyone had planned.

“Well, I’m glad. I was worried.” Harper waves her hand. “Anyway, you two get back to Frenching. I’m going to find my husband.” She giggles, bouncing on the heels of her black glitter Converse. “Husband—oh my gosh, I have one of those!” She claps her hands and takes off in pursuit of him.

I peer around the decorated venue and still can’t believe it myself. With the black curtains and tablecloths, spooky décor, and low lighting, these two managed to have a beautiful dark-themed wedding in the middle of July and pull it off spectacularly.

I wave at Grams, who is currently rocking back and forth with Miller, her date for the evening. How she’s managed to wrap the entire team around her finger in the last year, I have no clue, but it’s adorable to see the grown men fussing over her. They’re always rotating in and out of her apartment, helping to hang or move something, or just there to visit. I think most of them just miss their own grandparents, and since Grams is more than willing to have the company, they take as much advantage of it as she does.

She shoots me a wink and a thumbs-up. I shake my head, grinning.

My eyes drift over to Harper and Collin, who are now wrapped around each other in the middle of the dance floor. They look like picturesque newlyweds, heads bent together, smiles plastered on their faces. It’s hard to believe there was ever a time when Harper was so reluctant to love Collin.

“I can’t believe they’re married.”

“I can’t believe we’re married,” Rhodes says. “It feels like just yesterday we were waking up hungover in Vegas, the sins of the night before hanging over us.”

Some days it does feel like just yesterday.

Some days it feels like a lifetime ago.

But every day with Rhodes…every day feels just right.

Unable to stop myself, I lean over and press my lips to his.

He grins against my mouth. “What was that for, cupcake?”

“Cupcake?”

He shrugs. “Trying it out. Not a fan?”

“No. Not a fan, buttercup.” His face pulls into the scowl I’m all too familiar with, and I laugh. “Not a fan?”

“Not even a little.”

A quick shutter noise catches our attention.

“Sorry. Couldn’t resist.” The photographer grins at me. “Thanks again for recommending me for this job, Ryan. Photographing a Carolina Comets player’s wedding…” He shakes his head in disbelief. “This is going to be such a bright spot in my portfolio.”

“I’m glad you could fit them into your schedule, Winston. Who knows, with the way this team seems to be pairing off, you might have more projects in your future.”

“Grams and Miller do seem pretty cozy,” Rhodes remarks.

Winston laughs. “Speaking of cozy, I really don’t want to miss this moment.” He takes off to grab a few shots as Miller drops Grams down into a dip, her mouth falling open in shock.

“That kid is way too smooth for his own good.” Rhodes shakes his head then rises from his chair and holds his hand out to me. “All right, let’s go show them up.”

“You want to dance?”

“What? I dance.”

I lift a brow. “Since when?”

He leans down, lips against my ear. “Don’t pretend you don’t remember our evening in Vegas. I distinctly remember someone asking to be spanked as we danced.” My cheeks flame red, and he chuckles darkly. “That’s what I thought.”

He straightens and extends his palm once more with a cocky grin pulling at his lips. I place my hand in his, letting him pull me to my feet.

We make our way out onto the floor, and Rhodes spins me into his arms, tugging me close. My body lines up against his like we were made to do this together, pressing against one another in all the right places.

The song that’s playing isn’t even slow, but we don’t care, swaying leisurely anyway.

“Can I ask you something?” he asks quietly.

“Of course.”

“Do you remember why we decided to get married? The first time,” he amends.

I shake my head. “No. That night is still fuzzy.”

He nods. “For me too. I can remember feeling safe with you, feeling comfortable. And happy—though that could have been the alcohol.” I laugh. “But I can’t remember the moment we said fuck it and did it.”

“I can’t either. Sometimes I wish I could, but other times…I don’t know. I kind of like the magic of it. They say you tell the truth when you’re drunk, and maybe our truth was this.”

“I had a crush on you, you know.”

I pull my head back, looking up at him. “What? You did not.”

“I did. That first time I saw you, under the arena lights, I thought you were gorgeous, and I had a crush on you. I mean, I didn’t realize it then, but I do now. I think a big reason I was always extra grumpy to you was because you intimidated me.”

“I intimidated you? I’m sorry, but have you seen your scowl?”

He laughs. “I’m being serious.”

“I am too! You’re scary when you’re all…growly.”

“Growly?”

“Yeah. You know…beastly.”

“I’ve always hated that nickname.”

“I can imagine why.”

“But I don’t hate it anymore.”

“No? What changed?”

“I found my beauty.”

I grin. “That was cheesy. Like romantic comedy cheesy.”

“You loved it.”

“I love you.”

He captures my lips in a searing kiss, so quick and hot that I’m lucky he’s holding me up right now because my knees can’t take it.

“Do you think anyone will notice if we sneak away?”

“I sure as hell hope not.” He grabs my wrist, hauling me off the dance floor in an instant.

“Rhodes!” I admonish. “What are you doing?”

“Kidnapping you.”

“Taking me to your big, dark castle.”

“Later. But for now…” He wrenches a door open, peering inside. “This will have to do.”

“I am not going into a storage closet with you.”

“You are too.”

“Am not.”

He takes a threatening step toward me, and I have to tip my head back to meet his heated stare. “Has anyone ever told you that you argue too much, Ryan? Someone really ought to spank you for it.”

His words from our night in Vegas send a spark through me, and I arch a challenging brow. “Are you offering?”

“Yes.” He takes another step, his lips ghosting along my ear. “Now, get in the closet…wife.”

He doesn’t have to say it again.