Taken by Storm

"What is it?"

"We've been invited to Micah's folks' house on Sunday for a cookout and—"

"And what?" Rafe asked when her words trailed off.

"After we leave Faith and Ethan's I'm not going back to White Plains."

"Where are you going?"

"Franklin Lakes. I've been invited to spend the night with the Sanborns."

Rafe shook his head. "Not without me, Simone. Remember, where you go, I go."

She gave him a facetious smile. "Why did I know you'd say that?"

"Probably because you know that I'm not going to succumb to your seductive wiles."

Her delicate jaw dropped. "What are you talking about?"

"You've got more than half the men here lusting after you. All you have to do is smile and they melt like butter."

With wide eyes, she shot him an incredulous stare. "I'm not interested in any of these men."

"That's a good thing because I'd hate to act a fool every Wednesday night."

Rafe didn't miss the admiring male stares directed at Simone, or the whispered innuendos about her face and body. He wanted to tell them that the woman he'd been assigned to protect was not only forbidden and unobtainable, but also unavailable. What he found objectionable was that most of the men were married.

"You won't have to act a fool much longer because next Wednesday is our last night."

"Good. Now, what's up with Saturday?"

"I'll let Micah know that you're coming, too."

He wanted to ask Simone if they were expected to share a bedroom because if they were, then it would complicate everything. It was one thing to sleep in the same house and quite another to sleep in the same bed.

The next-to-last game of the season ended with Rafe bowling a perfect three hundred and Simone a two thirty-eight, her highest score to date, allowing her team to remain in first place as the only undefeated team in the league.

Simone moved closer to Rafe, her hand cradled protectively in his as they stood in the parking lot talking to Tessa and Micah.

"Are you ready for some football?" Micah crooned singsong.

"I think I should warn you that whenever the Sanborns get together on Sundays there's always a friendly game of football," Tessa said to Rafe. "Do you think you're up to the task?"