“Good, Mom and Dad took him for the weekend before I leave. They said we need time together.”

Piper laughed beside him.

“We miss him like crazy,” she admitted with a grin.

“Yeah, we do,” Erik said with a nod. “We are going to go steal him back tomorrow.”

“They are right though. Y’all do need time together,” Reese added.

Piper shrugged her shoulder as she leaned into Erik. It was so great to see them together and not screaming at each other. Piper had always seemed like such a sweet girl, but Phillip had seen firsthand Piper beat the shit out of an innocent TV and Xbox. That girl was dangerous. Lucky for Erik, she was completely and utterly in love with him, as he was with her. They were good for each other. Even though it wasn’t something that Phillip wanted for himself right now, since he had Claire to worry about, he was happy for Erik. He deserved someone special like Piper and, while he enjoyed the joys of being married, Phillip decided that it was time for him to enjoy the company of the female variety. Looking across the table, he wished he could enjoy Reese’s company, but she was completely off limits.

Right?

As the night went on, the drinks kept coming and the limits that Phillip was supposed to be abiding by were becoming a little fuzzy. He was having a great time. Erik and Piper were great company but, if he was honest, it was Reese that was making it such a great time. It seemed that the foursome had divided into a twosome, and the conversation was stimulating. He never really cared what girls talked about, usually it was shallow and stupid, but with Reese, it was different. She was smart, quick, and he enjoyed the way her lips moved. It was as if he had tunnel vision, and she was the center of it. They talked about everything, the city, the people they knew, and the places they loved to go, but he wanted to know more.

A lot more.

“Claire loves dancing with you.”

“She’s amazing, Phillip, honestly. I’ve never been so impressed by a girl in my life. You should be proud.”

Phillip nodded. “I am.”

“I think Claire likes it that you are there.”

He scoffs, looking over at her over his whiskey cup. “She won’t let me watch her.”

“She will,” she said, her eyes never leaving his. It was as if she knew that he meant not only about dance, but in general.

“I hope you’re right.”

“Don’t worry, I am,” she said with a wink. He smiled as he leaned towards her.

“How long have you been dancing?”

“A very long time, since I was three. How long have you played hockey?”

“Since I was around eight.”

“You’re good. I’ve seen you play.”

“You spying on me?” he teased.

She laughed before saying, “I watch my brother-in-laws, and you are part of the package.”

“Liar, I bet you watched me the whole time.”

“You wish,” she laughed, smacking his arm. His arm tingled and, when he looked up at her, he knew she felt it, too.

With their gazes locked on each other, Phillip let out the breath he was holding as he said, “Admit it, you think I’m the best out there, and I turn you on with my sick moves.”

That broke their intense stare down as she snorted with laughter. Soon, he was laughing just as hard.

“You did not just snort,” he laughed as she fell into him, giggling.

Sitting up, she looked up at him, trying not to laugh as she said, “I am sorry, but I do not get turned on by hockey. I need a man touching me, using his mouth in the most inappropriate way, to turn me on.”

Phillip mouth picked up at the side as he leaned towards her, his face only inches from hers. His c**k was straining against the zipper of his jeans as he asked, “Is that right?”

She smiled as she said, “Yes, it’s all about the eye contact, the way a man makes me feel, that turns me on. It doesn’t happen easily.”

Giving her a confident grin, he said, “I bet I could turn you on.”

She shrugged her shoulders, playfully, a devious look in her eyes as she said, “Maybe.”

The simple word hung between them as her eyes darkened with lust, and his c**k became so hard that it was hard to breath. Her chest was rising and falling with each breath she took, as her eyes never left his. He wanted to look down, admire her br**sts, but her eyes held his captive. When she licked her lips, he almost groaned. Soon, he was leaning towards her because he was going to f**king kiss her. He had to… fuck limits, f**k why this was a bad idea—he needed her. She must have known what he was about to do because her mouth parted, ready for him, but before he could even make it to those luscious lips, Piper interrupted them, asking, “Y’all wanna come dance?”

Taking in a deep breath, moving away from her, he nodded.

Yes... yes, he did.

Taking in deep breaths, Reese could only blink at her sister while her body wailed for the man that was about to kiss her. It was such a surprise when she turned and saw him standing there watching her. He was in a pair of fitted jeans and a blue Henley that made his eyes shine and showed each muscle in his arms. When she saw that he was sporting a hard-on, she knew she was in trouble. It had already been a feat not to attack him at the studio when he would drop Claire off, but now, being in close proximity of him, she knew there was no doubt that something was going to happen. What, she wasn’t sure, but her body hoped it would involve them being naked, while her mind told her to run away. He was a bad idea, too much was tied to him, and she couldn’t risk f**king any of that up.