The guys are cheering behind us. Someone yells, “Nice rack!”
“Oh, you’re so going to pay for that,” Leo says. He steps closer and maneuvers his car back onto the road. He’s gaining on me and I’m grinning like an idiot as this small silver car races toward the turnaround mark. I cut the wheel early, giving myself a bigger lead.
It’s close, but my car crosses the finish line first, and Ash hugs me and lifts me off the ground.
“Miller! Miller!” he chants.
The guys lift their beers to me, and a few chant along with Ash.
I wait for Leo to call me on not going past the turnaround point, but he doesn’t. Ash puts me on the ground in front of Leo. “Your girl is awesome.”
“She’s also a cheater,” Leo says so only I can hear.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Mhmm.” He takes my hand. Warmth spreads up my arm. “Take a ride with me.”
“Sure you don’t want me to drive?” I ask as he hops into his golf cart.
He laughs and pulls out of the driveway, hops the curb and drives down the grass. There’s a path where I can see others have come this way before. He guides us behind Jack’s property. There’s a lake and several other golf carts are already parked near the bank. A few people are sitting on blankets, others stand. Someone’s playing music, but it’s quieter than at the house.
I’m surprised when Jack is among those here. He’s sitting on the blanket with a pretty girl perched between his legs, her back resting on his chest.
“Is this all Jack’s?” As far as I can see, it’s an open field and the lake is a decent size.
Leo chuckles and leans back in his seat. We’re close enough I can hear the quite murmur of others talking, but far enough away, it feels like we have a little privacy.
“Is this like bougie parking?” I ask when I see a couple making out. “You can’t just take a girl to an abandoned parking lot and make a move, you bring her here.” I wave a hand to the lake. The moon is full and glows down on the water.
“Told you his back yard was better.”
“I don’t know how I feel about hanging around with someone who’s so… together.”
His brows lift.
“I’m serious. My life is a mess.”
“You think I have my life together?” He throws his head back and laughs.
“I’ve seen your house. I watched twenty thousand fans scream their hearts out for you earlier tonight, and you drive a golf cart around your neighborhood.”
“Professionally, yes, I’m in a good spot. But everything else?”
When I don’t buy it, he arches back and unbuttons his jeans.
“Uhh… I don’t think this is the place to show me your penis to prove some point about how you’re below average in some areas.”
He scoffs. “Below average? Please.”
He’s not wrong, and I get butterflies in my stomach remembering just how not average he is. Instead of whipping out said well-above-average dick, he tugs on the band of his underwear. Boxers, cheap cotton with hearts all over them. They look like something someone might have bought him for Valentine’s Day a long time ago. “These were all I could find today.”
Based on the one other time I saw him in his skivvies, I think he prefers boxer briefs.
“Time to do laundry?”
“Seems so.” He stares down at them and grins. “Though these kind of set the mood, am I right?”
“Ridiculous boxers do not mean your life is a mess.”
He thinks for a second. “The milk in my fridge is expired. I can’t remember the last time I changed the air filters in my house, and you just watched me race a remote controlled car down the street.”
I laugh quietly, and he rests a hand on my shoulder, brushing his fingers along my neck. I super dig his hands. They’re big and just look strong somehow. The callouses against my smooth skin send a shiver up my spine. I lean forward.
“You know,” he says as he brings his mouth closer to mine, “I’ve never had to down talk myself to get a girl.”
“Is that what you’re doing? Trying to get a girl?”
“Is that not obvious?” He chuckles. “Fuck, I need to up my game.
21
YOUR DAD LIKES ME
LEO
She rests her arms on my shoulders. “I had fun tonight, but I should get home. It’s late.”
With a hand at her hip, I pull her to me and drop my lips to hers. “Don’t go, dream girl.”
Her laughter spills into my mouth. “You did not call me that.”
“Actually, Ash is who started it, but he’s not wrong. I like you. You’re fun and so sexy.” I slip a hand under her shirt in the back and glide it over her warm skin.
“I should still go.”
I lift her shirt and duck my head to kiss the top of her tits above her bra. I can’t believe she flashed me earlier. Wildcat. It fits her just as well as dream girl.
“If this isn’t going to be another one-night stand, then we should take a beat because Jack made some good points earlier. I don’t want to cause trouble.”
“I’ll be fine. Your dad likes me,” I say automatically, because I’m an inch away from having her nipple between my teeth, and I could care less about the consequences.
She lifts my head. “I just told my parents that I dropped out of college. Maybe I should give them a few days before I drop another bomb on them.”
“So we just can’t see each other?”
“That would probably be the smart decision.”
“Seems pretty dumb to me.”
“Let’s just take a few days. You’re going to be on the road a lot over the next week. When you come back, if you still want to do this, then we’ll talk to my dad.”
I run a hand through my hair. “Okay. If that’s what you want, but Scarlett? A week isn’t going to change my mind.”
She smiles and brings her lips to mine. “Then you better hope my dad likes you as much as you think he does.”
We have five games on the road over the next week and a half. We fly to Los Angeles for two games, then to Canada, cross back into the states and hit New Jersey, and our last game is in Pittsburgh.
I don’t mind traveling. A lot of the guys get cranky being away for so long, but it doesn’t bother me.
We’re in the hotel in Winnipeg with some downtime before the game tonight. I’m working on an assignment for class while Ash and Tyler play video games in our room.
My phone lights up on the desk in front of me. Scarlett’s name flashes with a text, Good luck tonight!
I’ve been giving her space, but this text opens the door, and I jump right through.
4 days, dream girl, I fire back.
Until what?
Oh, she wants to play it like that. Until I take you out on a real date.
Is that a request or a command? I swear I can almost hear the sass in her text.
Which one do you want it to be? And then I add, Will you go out with me?
It’s several minutes before she responds, Ask me again when you get back.
We win three of the five games on the road. The amount of interviews and game wrap-ups I have to do now that I’m an alternate captain has increased, but Blythe has prepped me, and I focus on saying as little as possible while still answering their questions.
We’re heading back to Minnesota, pretty happy with how we’re playing but dog tired.
Even though it’s late when we touch down Wednesday night. I text Scarlett as soon as we land, Just got back. Wanna go out tomorrow night? Or I’m free in fifteen.
I have no ability to play it cool with this girl.
Coach stands at the front of the plane. “Rest up tomorrow. I’ll see you all back Friday morning. We have St. Louis at home Saturday.”
Ash catches me in the parking lot. “Tyler and I are thinking about heading up to the lake. Spend tomorrow on the water, breathe in a little lake air. You in?”
“M
aybe. I’ll text you.”
Inside my car, I check my phone. Scarlett’s responded. It’s almost midnight. I’m in bed.
I hit the call button as I drive.
“Helloooo?” she draws out the word.
“Hi, dream girl.”
Her sweet laughter crackles over the speakers.
“Entertain me. I’m driving home, and I am beat.”
“And yet you wanted to go out tonight.”
“Still do if you’ve changed your mind. I will tap into those energy reserves for you, dream girl.”
“You have got to stop calling me that.”
Which, of course, only makes me want to call her that even more. “What are you doing tomorrow? Do you have to go to the arena?”
She yawns. “No. Dad is taking a rare day off. But, I need to practice taking some photos outside for an engagement shoot I’m doing next week, and I should probably continue the job hunt. Anna will be back soon.”
“Come to the lake with me. Ash has a place on Laurie Lake. A nice house right on the water.”
“I don’t know.”
“Bring your camera. You can get some great shots there. I will personally guarantee it.”
She hesitates for a few seconds longer. “Okay.”
I pump my fist. “Awesome. I’ll pick you up at six.”
“In the morning?!” She screeches. “What about nine or ten? I need sleep. You won’t like me uncaffeinated and tired. I am not a pleasant morning person.”
“Nothing I haven’t seen before. I’ll take my chances. Night, dream girl.”
I pull up outside of the Miller’s residence at six on the dot. Coach’s Tahoe sits in the driveway next to Scarlett’s car.
Outside, I text her as I watch for any movement at the door or windows. I did not think this through. Are we telling Coach? Because I’m not sure rolling up at the break of dawn after a long road trip to tell him I’m dating his daughter was my best-laid plan.
And if we’re not telling him, what are the chances he’s up and looks outside? Will he know it’s me based on my car? It isn’t as flashy as Declan’s Ferrari or Jack’s Lambo, but my Jaguar has a custom paint job and sick wheels that are just memorable enough he might know it’s me without seeing through the tinted windows.
Luckily, when the front door opens, it’s Scarlett that steps out. Alone. Her hair is pulled up in a high ponytail that swings around her head with every groggy step. I laugh at the grimace on her face as she approaches the car with a small bag slung over her shoulder.
I hop out to open her door. I’m nervous about getting caught, but I’m still a fucking gentleman.
“Are you crazy? My dad is up. He could see you.”
Okay, so not telling him right now. Got it.
“Morning,” I say, biting back a huge grin at how adorably grumpy she looks. She thought this would scare me off? The opposite actually. It just made my whole day, and it’s just getting started.
She slides into the passenger seat, and I shut her in before rounding the car to hop back in.
“Coffee is in the cup holder, Sleeping Beauty.”
She grunts but grabs it and holds it between her hands, closes her eyes, and leans her head back on the seat.
“Does your dad know?”
Her eyes open. “I’m not telling him until I decide I like you fully-clothed.”
I bark out a laugh and pull away from her house. “Fair enough.”
22
THIS IS HAPPENING
SCARLETT
The drive to Lake Laurie takes two hours. Enough time for me to feel human. The coffee helped. So did breakfast about an hour back.
Leo has one hand on the wheel, the other drums along his thigh absently to the beat of the music. He pulls into the driveway of a brick home. It’s serene. Trees line the property, and I can imagine how green and pretty it must be in the summertime with all the landscaping.
“This is nice,” I say as I step out.
Leo comes around and takes my bag. I hold tight to my camera equipment.
“He stays here during the offseason.”
“You don’t have a matching one down the street?”
His lips curl up. “Not yet. Wanna help me pick one out?”
This guy. He’s too freaking much.
I follow him to the front door where he knocks and waits a beat before going right in. “They’re probably out back.”
He sets my bag on the couch in the living room and leads me out the back door, where we’re throwing distance to the lake. It’s overcast and windy, but it’s still breathtaking.
“You made it,” Ash calls. He and Tyler are sitting at a table with plates of food in front of them.
“There’s more inside if you’re hungry,” Ash says, around a mouthful.
“We ate on the way up.” Leo pulls out two chairs, and we sit with them.
“You missed a hell of a run this morning. I took Tyler down our summer trail.”
These two already went for a run on their day off? Upon closer inspection, they’re in workout clothes and sweaty.
“I got a quick five in before we hit the road.” Leo leans back and laces his fingers together at his waist.
“You did?” I need some of his energy. He couldn’t have slept more than four or five hours tops.
“He’s a morning person,” Ash says and lifts his brows like it’s an awful thing to be. He’s not wrong.
“Gross. Really?”
“I’m a morning person, a day person, a night person. I don’t need a lot of sleep.”
“Wow. It just gets worse and worse. Well, thanks for a great time.” I place my hands on the table like I’m going to stand.
“Okay wise-ass,” Leo says. His foot finds mine under the table. He looks to Ash. “Are you taking the fishing boat out today?”
“Yeah. We already got the cooler and gear loaded up. Do you fish?” Ash asks me.
“I have before.”
“Not an outdoorswoman, eh?”
“I like the outdoors just fine, but I prefer activities where I can photograph along the way.”
“You can do that from the boat,” he says.
“The four of us won’t fit in that boat,” Leo says. “Not comfortably anyway.”
“It’ll be cozy.”
Leo looks to me. “We can go on the boat or walk around and explore. What do you say?”
I do enjoy being out on the water, even if fishing isn’t my favorite thing, but spending time with Leo alone is far more enticing.
“I’d like to take some photos along the water and maybe some in the wooded area.” The weather isn’t the best for pictures, but I need to practice in all conditions.
Ash and Tyler stand with their empty plates. “We’ll be back in a few hours. Hopefully we can have fish for lunch.”
Once we’re alone, Leo leans closer. “Are you ready? Need to grab anything?”
“Just my camera.”
He dons a hat and sunglasses, and I get my camera before we head out. Leo guides us from Ash’s house down to the beach. The lake is quiet today. The wind comes in gusts that make me thankful we’re not on the choppy water. I do not need to spend the morning with my head hanging over the side puking.
“What’d you get up to while I was gone?” he asks as we walk along at a slow pace.
“I worked another promotion for Mike, hung out with Jade. I even sang some Backstreet for you at karaoke last weekend.”
He holds both hands over his heart. “Dream girl.”
I roll my eyes, but secretly love it when he calls me that.
We come up on a wooded area that has a path heading away from the lake. The trees help shield us from the wind, but my nose and fingers are cold.
I snap a few pictures looking back at the water, and then we move off the path, and I play around, shooting all the various fall colors displayed proudly on the leaves. Even with the clouds, the trees this time of year are beautiful and vibrant shades of yellow, orange, and red.
>
Leo is quiet beside me.
“Sorry. I’m not very good at shooting and talking.”
“I don’t mind.” He pulls his hoodie over his head and holds it out to me. He has only a T-shirt on underneath.
“I’m fine.”
“Your cheeks match the color of that tree,” he says, pointing toward a nearby tree with reddish-orange leaves.
I place a hand to my face, but my fingers are cold too.
“Now you’ll be cold.”
“Nah, I’m used to it. I spend a lot of time in the cold.” He continues to hold out the sweatshirt toward me.
“Thank you.” His scent and warmth envelop me as I put it on. He comes forward and lifts the hood up over my head. Nobody looks sexy in a hoodie. Nobody. But the way he looks at me, the butterflies in my stomach refuse to believe that.
We walk the path and then backtrack along the beach again. I’m not sure how much time has gone by, but I can see a lone boat out in the distance.
“Is that Ash?”
“Yeah, looks like it. There’ll be more people out this afternoon when it warms up a little.”
“You’ve been here a lot then?”
We sit together on the grass just beyond the beach.
“Yeah.” He shrugs. “I guess I have. Ash and I go way back. We both went to college in the northeast and played against each other, then came to the Wildcats.”
“And now you’re BFFs who buy homes in the same neighborhood and vacation together?”
That sexy smile graces his face. “Jack started it. He bought a house in that neighborhood first.”
“It is a nice neighborhood. Neighbors are questionable.” I aim my camera at him and snap.
“Oh no.” He holds up a hand. “You don’t want to break that thing.”
I look at the picture on the display. His eyes are half-closed. Laughing, I show him.
“I told you. I have never taken a good picture.”
“Never?”
“I mean, they’re varying degrees of bad. From acceptable to flat-out awful.”
I turn the camera around to take a selfie. He grimaces.
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