Final Play (Matchplay Series) by Dakota Madison Read Free Book Online Page A

distance and took her into my arms. I knew it was too soon—for ever ything. We barely knew each other. But at that moment, all I wanted was to feel Ella next to me, in my arms.
    As she exhaled, she melted into my chest. I breathed in the floral scent of her shampoo and her hair tickled my nose a bit. I relished the moment as she nestled close to me. I didn’t want it to end.
    When my stomach rumbled again, Ella commented, “We really need to get you some food.”
    How could I possibly tell her that I wanted to hold her much more than I wanted to eat? It sounded pathetic. But now that she was in my arms, I just didn’t want to let her go. Maybe part of me was afraid that she might not want to get this close to me again.
    She took a step back and grabbed my hand. “Come on. Let’s get something to eat.”

 
    Three
    I had to laugh when we found ourselves at the Chinese restaurant near campus that Rainy and Aaron frequented. They loved to eat there and talked about it constantly.
    “I haven’t been here in a while but I used to come here a lot with Rainy.”
    “Do you still love her?” Ella asked.
    After Rainy and Aaron got engaged, I tried really hard to get over my feelings for Rainy. It wasn’t easy and I wasn’t sure I was completely over her until I met Ella. My feelings for Rainy were strong but my feelings for Ella were all-consuming. It was like the difference between a solid surfing wave and a tsunami.
    “I think a part of me will always love Rainy,” I admitted. “But now it feels more like the love I have for my sister. Maybe it’s better to call in fondness. It’s definitely not passionate.”
    Ella nodded. I wanted to tell her the things I felt for her were already much more intense than anything I had ever felt for Rainy but I knew it was way too soon. I didn’t want to scare her away.
    By the time we were seated it was already past the lunch hour rush so the place was deserted. I didn’t mind, though. It felt more intimate to have the restaurant to ourselves.
    Ella ordered Beef Fried Noodles and I ordered Szechwan Chicken. After the waiter took our menus and left, Ella placed her index finger on my hand and started outlining my knuckles with her finger. She seemed to really like to outline things with her index finger. Maybe it was a nervous habit. I certainly didn’t mind having her touch my hand like that.
    “I’m going to have to have a talk with Steel,” she said.
    I exhaled. I knew that was inevitable but part of me didn’t want her to ever talk to him again and I had no idea where that part of me was coming from. I was an educated professional. An engineer. Some would say I was a geek. I wasn’t some possessive alpha male. Even with all these rationalizations, I still didn’t want her to see him again.
    “I’ll talk to him,” I blurted before I could stop myself.
    “Really?” She seemed surprised.
    “Of course.” I tried to sound nonchalant about it but inside I was scared to death. The guy was big and scary and I just volunteered to tell him not the sleep with Ella again. Oh, God, was I turning into a possessive alpha male after all?
    After the waiter brought our lemonades, Ella leaned close and said, “ I have to be honest. I’ve been afraid to tell Steel that he can’t stay at my place anymore.”
    A little alarm bell went off in my head. “How long have you been afraid to tell him?”
    She swallowed and started to fidget uncomfortably. There were times when I couldn’t read Ella at all and other times, I knew exactly when she was thinking. She definitely kept me on my toes.
    “A while,” she finally admitted.
    I had to control the anger that starting to bubble up inside me. She was having sex with a guy because she was afraid to tell him that she didn’t want to. That was not acceptable. There were so many things I wanted to say but sitting in a Chinese restaurant, albeit an empty one, didn’t see like the appropriate venue.
    I took her hand in mine and looked