Consider Me (Playing For Keeps, #1)

by Becka Mack

“Oh, Mr. Beckett. You are as naïve as you are pretty.” She lays her palm on my chest, giving it a patronizing pat. “The very last place I’m going is home with you.”

“Has anyone ever been able to tell you no?” she asks on a whisper. My chest puffs with pride. “Never.” A wide grin blooms on her face. “Well, I guess there’s a first time for everything.”

“I wish I’d recorded that,” Cara wheezes, swiping at the tears freefalling down her cheeks. “Carter, I bet that’s the first time you’ve sent a girl running for the hills like that. Holy fuck.”

“I wouldn’t dream of rushing you. All I wanna do is take my time with you, Olivia.”

Carter watches as heat floods my cheeks just for him. I can pretend to be aloof all I want but the man’s not stupid. He knows I like what I see, and what I see is him, standing there like a sexy giant in his equipment, grinning like a goofy idiot, those striking emerald eyes sparkling with mirth and a whole lot of arrogance.

With a wink and the shimmy of his hips, he skates backward and drops to his knees, spreading his legs as he stretches his groin and blows a big, pink bubble, all without taking his eyes off me.

A soft smile touches her face. “But then he does stuff like this.” She tosses a piece of popcorn over the glass, and Carter catches it on his tongue, pink glob of bubble gum nowhere to be found before he singsongs his thank you, then promptly collides with Emmett in some sort of bear hug. The two of them go tumbling to the ice together, and when they finally make it to their feet, Carter whacks him on the butt with his stick.

His stick lifts in slow motion, pointing. At me. Carter Beckett points his damn stick right at me. And he winks. He fucking winks. For you, his perfect lips mouth to me.

“Not all of us thrive on attention, Carter. Some of us actively avoid it.”

Extreme gestures are kinda my thing, and, uh…” He slips his fingers below his toque, scratching at his head. “I don’t have a fucking clue what I’m doing here.”

“You’re about to spiral, Ollie. I don’t have to know everything about you to see that you’re the type of person whose brain is always racing, overthinking.”

“You know, for someone who puts his foot in his mouth more often than not, you sure know how to be sweet sometimes.” “Just another one of my God-given talents.”

You can have anybody you want, Carter.” His laugh is hollow, long fingers skimming the sharp angle of his jaw. “I can’t, clearly.” He gestures at me with a sweeping hand. “Because what I want is you.”

“Dere are wots of girls,” I mumble around my bite, then swallow. “You know how I feel about variety.” “Carter, for heaven’s sake. Swallow before you speak, and you know damn well which girl I’m talking about.”

“You’ve never done that before, dedicate a goal to a girl.” “Untrue.” I point at the only two ladies in my life, even if I’m considering adding another one to the mix. Why? They’re fucking complicated; these two right here prove exactly that. “I’ve dedicated plenty of goals to you two.” Mom snaps a tea towel at me when I reach for another cookie. “You’re really getting on my nerves lately, Carter Beckett.”

Jennie comes up behind me and tugs my ear. “Would you get a girlfriend already? Quit breaking Mom’s heart. I’m sure there’s someone out there that will look past all your humongous fuckboy-sized faults.” “Oh, Jennie.” Mom presses a hand to her forehead. “Would you quit calling your brother a fuckboy?”

Drunk me realizes whatever I’m feeling for Carter is much more than an attraction to all his sexy bits, and I don’t really know what to do with that. Logic tells me to run, to shut it down before it becomes more, because this man will break me. Illogic says Eh, fuck it, let’s give it a shot.

“Of course I like him, Cara. He’s charming and funny and makes me smile in this irritating sort of way and I’m losing my damn mind because I’m totally falling for Carter Beckett.”

Olivia bounces with the weight of Emmett’s body when it hits the mattress. The two of them snuggle up as he holds his phone above their heads, snapping a picture while they snicker like a couple of fools. I kinda wanna crawl in there.

“In a relationship, the only person ever in control is the woman. She always—always, always, always—has the power. She owns you and those dangly things between your legs.”

“Who the hell raised you?” “Mama Beckett would take offense to that, Olivia.”

“We’re going skating? Here?” “You got it, princess. You said you grew up doing this back home, so I figured this might be a nice way to bring a bit of home to you.”

“What if I fall in love with you?” “Then I’ll fall with you, too, Ollie girl.”

But Carter’s been the exception to every rule, every familiarity. He’s the axis that spins my entire world, and it’s dizzying and unnerving for one man to hold so much power over me.

“Carter’s still coming to terms with the fact that he loves someone more than himself and Oreos. Ollie’s struggling to admit to herself that she’s in love with the world’s most arrogant, controlling, annoying man. It would be impossible for anybody to wrap their head around such a mind-blowing scenario.”

“I’ve made so many mistakes in my life. So many. But you, Ollie? You’re the first thing I’ve done right.”

“Is there actually chocolate in that box, or is the present your dick? Did you cut a hole in the box so you could stick your dick through it, Carter?” His smile falls. “No. Fuck. Why didn’t I think of that?” He looks down at the box, contemplating for only a moment. “And fuck you! This box is way too small to house my dick and you know it!”

“And, look!” I press a button on the inside of the door and a side step appears. Olivia’s jaw drops. “There was a step this whole time? And you made me climb in?” I shrug. “It was fun to watch. Plus, I got to touch your butt.” Her little fist pummels into my shoulder. “You’re a jerk.” “A perfectly flawed, superhuman jerk.”

“Carter! We’re not giving her tips on how to land in the penalty box.”

“I thanked him for bringing me another family, trusting me with loving them. I thanked him for raising the man I love, and for bringing him to me.” Her hand glides along my jaw. “I thanked him for you, Carter.”

“You know what they say about giant feet?” I whisper, kissing the corner of her mouth. “Giant ego.” “Giant dick,” Hank and I say together, earning an outraged gasp from my lovely lady.

“I love you because you’re funny and snarky, sarcastic as all hell, and the night we met, you told me to go fuck myself.” He ignores the way Cara shrieks his name. “You’re also kind and soft, sensitive and sweet, the best auntie, and a teacher I would’ve died to have in high school. You’re not just my girlfriend; you’re my biggest cheerleader and my best friend.”

“I’m hoping to call you something else when I’m done doing what I need to do here.”

“You’re all the best parts, the cozy snuggles, the quiet conversations while we’re lying in bed, the sleepy mornings. The way my whole body comes alive when I see you for the first time after coming home, the way your face lights up and you jump into my arms and hold me like you need me as much as I need you.” “I do need you,” I tell him quietly, stroking down the side of his face. “Everything fell into place the moment I gave in to what my heart was telling me I needed. I love you, Carter, even if I was afraid to in the beginning.”

“You’re not playing shy right now, are you? Not Carter Beckett. Not possible.” He grins down at me as his arms pull me in. “I wanted you to feel like you were home.”