by Kendall Ryan
Morgan and Landon are here too, awaiting their turns across the room in some metal folding chairs. They’re passing the time by playing on their phones, oblivious to the drama unfolding.
I find it interesting that Owen and Justin got out of coming today, and I can’t help but think maybe their women sensed this would be a clusterfuck and called a penalty. It’s not outside the realm of possibility.
On the phone beside us, Bailey recounts the situation to Aubree. “This can’t be what you intended.” Her eyes widen as she listens, and then a second later, she disconnects the call, just as Sara is strolling back from her lively talk with the photographer.
“Okay, I guess it is what she intended. Apparently, photos of naked athletes are guaranteed to sell a lot of calendars for charity,” Bailey says, glancing at Asher.
Sara’s expression is stern. “Well, I think the public has seen enough of my man’s private business. His abs will sell calendars just fine as far as I’m concerned.”
Relief washes through me. She’s totally right. As usual.
But Sara’s not done. “I spoke with the photographer, and you guys are free to pose in whatever you’re most comfortable wearing. If that’s your birthday suit, so be it, but if it’s not, the choice is yours, gentlemen.”
Asher grins. “Yo, rookies,” he calls out, and Morgan and Landon both lift their heads from their phones. “This applies to you too.”
For a second, I think maybe they’re about to ask us what’s going on, but Landon salutes us with a thumbs-up, and Morgan nods.
“Awesome. Because my manscaping is nowhere near as on point as TK’s,” Landon calls out.
Morgan only smirks before going back to whatever has him so entertained on his phone.
An easy peal of laughter slips from Bailey’s lips. Then she widens her eyes and mouths toward me, “Sorry.”
Apology accepted.
“Seriously, dude,” Asher says, gesturing toward my crotch. “Ten points for having excellent manscaping.”
“Seriously, would you fuck off?” I grumble as I tug Sara toward me and wrap my arm around her waist.
“That’s fair. Your lawyer girlfriend just got us off the front-page news. Which I appreciate wholeheartedly,” he says with a nod. “So, yes, I will kindly fuck off. For now.”
Damn straight. My hot lawyer girlfriend, I mentally add.
“Are you going to stick around while I get this done?” I ask Sara softly.
She looks up at me and nods. “Of course. Go and show them how hot my boyfriend is.”
Fuck, I love hearing her call me her boyfriend. I lean down and kiss her quickly before heading toward the photographer to get this done so we can get out of here.
After I’m photographed in nothing but a pair of black athletic shorts, it’s Asher’s turn. And when Bailey volunteers to rub oil all over his abs, her face goes as red as a tomato. Gone is the normally confident girl with an easy comeback for any situation.
Sara and I exchange a curious look as I tug my Ice Hawks sweatshirt back over my head.
“You think something could be going on with Bailey and Asher?” I ask, still watching them.
“No,” Sara says too quickly. “Bailey would never date a hockey player.”
“Never?” I ask. And if I sound skeptical, it’s because I am. Hockey players are awesome. Duh.
“Never,” she says again.
“Kinda sounds like someone I once knew.” I give Sara a smirk, and she laughs. “Thanks for coming to my rescue today,” I say, lifting her chin so I can meet her eyes.
“Anytime, handsome.”
I lower my lips to hers, kissing her softly, briefly, before retreating. “You’re the best.” My hands drift from her waist down to her ass, where I give it a firm squeeze.
“Behave,” she says, her eyes flashing with her desire. “I might have told the photographer I was the team’s attorney, and you’re totally going to blow my cover.”
I chuckle. “Wouldn’t want to do that.”
“Exactly,” she says, her eyes lifting to mine with a mischievous look.
We’re interrupted by the sound of Bailey gasping for air as her laughter floats through the air. Asher is cracking up next to her, and she’s clutching his bicep while doubled over.
Okay, what the hell is going on with these two?
“You sure she’s not interested in him?” I ask, cocking a brow at Sara.
“Positive,” she says without hesitation.
“Care to place a bet on that?”
She grins, raising her eyebrows. “How much are we talking, Mister Twelve-million-dollar Contract?”
For a moment, I’m stunned into silence, because Sara and I never talk about money. I guess we don’t need to—we both make plenty of it. “As my lawyer, you know I can’t comment on that.”
She laughs, a deep throaty sound that makes my entire body ache for her.
Leaning down, I whisper near her ear, “That lawyer act you pulled earlier was totally sexy, by the way. All I’m thinking about now is bending you over that chair and plowing into you until you’re moaning my name and coming around my cock.”
“Promises, promises,” she murmurs, staring at me with lust-filled eyes.
“It’s game time when we get home, babe. You and me.”
Sara smiles at me, her expression softening, and my entire body relaxes.
God, I love this girl.
I scored big-time when Sara agreed to be mine. I could score a thousand goals on the ice, but none of them will ever compare to scoring the biggest goal of my life—my sexy-as-hell, fierce partner in crime. I’ve said it once and I’ll continue saying it: I’m the luckiest bastard in the world.
• • •
I hope you enjoyed reading Trying to Score! Up next is Asher and Bailey’s story in Crossing the Line. Check out a little sneak preview on the next page.
Crossing the Line
Hot Jocks, Book Four
Hello, rock? Meet hard place.
Recovering from a pulled groin muscle isn’t exactly how I planned to spend my much-needed summer vacation.
But I’ll admit, being nursed back to health by my gorgeous friend Bailey, who’s just graduated from medical school, doesn’t exactly sound like a hardship.
We spend a week together at my family’s beach house, a week of swimming and barbecues, a week of entertaining my little cousins and sleeping right across the hall from each other. A week of watching Bailey grow closer with my mom and sisters, and my wacky but lovable grandma. A week of enjoying Bailey tending to me—which is saying something, because it involves a lot of shoving ice packs into my underwear and taping up sore muscles.
She’s funny and kind, and after just being myself for the first time in a long time, I find my walls come tumbling down. But when Bailey says she’s not looking for a relationship, I’m bound and determined to be more than just the fun hookup who sprained his groin a second time—this time with her.
Get Your Copy of Crossing the Line here.
Acknowledgments
I’ll keep this short and sweet. Thank you to my entire team. It takes a village to write and release a novel, and I’m so thankful for each of you. And next … I would like to thank my lovely readers for continually trusting me to deliver a satisfying read. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I hope I never let you down.
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About the Author
A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA TODAY best
selling author of more than two dozen titles, Kendall Ryan has sold over 3 million books, and her books have been translated into several languages in countries around the world. Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller list more than seventy times. Kendall has been featured in publications such as USA TODAY, Newsweek, and In Touch Magazine. She lives in Texas with her husband and two sons.
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Other Books by Kendall Ryan
Unravel Me
Filthy Beautiful Lies Series
The Room Mate
The Play Mate
The House Mate
Screwed
The Fix Up
Dirty Little Secret
xo, Zach
Baby Daddy
Bro Code
Love Machine
Flirting with Forever
Finding Alexei
Boyfriend for Hire
The Two-Week Arrangement
For a complete list of Kendall’s books, visit:
www.kendallryanbooks.com/all-books/