Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 58992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
“I was.” I dart my gaze around the arcade and drop my voice. “Then you walked over, looking like all my dirty dreams.” But she’s so much more than my bedroom fantasies. Gazing into her pretty brown eyes, I add, “And my daydreams.”
Her breath catches. “Same for you,” she whispers.
My body says kiss her. My heart says to do that too.
The way I feel for her can’t be wrong. It blots out everything—the game, the rules, the team’s image. It erases all the reasons I need to be cautious.
I inch toward her, and her eyes widen to saucer size. I freeze as she raises her chin, and mouths, “Smile for the camera.”
In a split second, I turn and flash a grin at the photographer. Brooke smiles too, and the guy gives us a thumbs-up before he heads off to another group.
“Whew,” she says. “That was close. I’m pretty sure you were trying to kiss me.”
She doesn’t sound mad.
She sounds…enchanted.
“I shouldn’t have. But honey,” I say, meeting her soft gaze, “I’ve got it bad for you.”
Her smile is radiant, full of passion and possibility. “Drew,” she says softly.
“And I really want to find a way for us.”
“A way to what?” she asks, that cautious side of her in full swing.
“You and me,” I mouth.
“You do want that?” she asks, hopeful.
“I do.” I’m about to dive in, right there, and discuss what it’ll take—when Stephen swoops in and shakes my hand. “Great night. Great event. Couldn’t be more pleased. You?”
I nod. “Everything is fantastic.”
The older man glances from Brooke to me and back. Something inquisitive passes through his eyes, and I feel a flurry of nerves, like when I can’t find a receiver and I’m about to get sacked.
Maybe I was getting ahead of myself with my feelings’ confession.
But Stephen’s tone is relaxed as he says, “There’s a soccer player who’s keen for a round of Skee-Ball with the quarterback. She’s eight and very competitive.”
“It is on,” I say, then head to the Skee-Ball games.
A serious blonde in a soccer jersey hands me a ball. “You go first,” Phoebe says with a tone loaded with gravitas.
“Nope. Ladies first,” I say, and with a small smile, Phoebe agrees, taking the ball.
“I’ve been practicing. I go after soccer games. If I don’t become a pro soccer player, I’m going to play Skee-Ball.”
“Those are some excellent goals,” I say.
We play a few rounds, and I do my best to keep it fair. But it’s hard to check my competitive nature at the door.
Then, I play a round with Brooke, and I clobber her. That’s kind of weirdly satisfying. But afterward, she gestures to the exit. “I have a late call with a supplier I need to take from home. But it was good to see you,” she says, and briefly a look passes between us—one that says it was so good to see you tonight.
When she leaves, I watch her go longer than I should. As my gaze lingers, Stephen returns to me with the head of Every Kid.
We chat for a while about some of the work his organization has done to expand sports access, and when we’re done, Stephen pulls me aside.
“We have a press tour coming up to show some of the bloggers and podcasters around the stadium—those who don’t usually come in person to cover the games. We’re showcasing the new food booths, do a tour, then some photos. Any chance you’d want to join in? It’d be great to see you there,” he says, ending on an upbeat tone.
My calendar is getting full, but I should be able to fit in a tour and some pics. Besides, it’s the right thing to do, especially with the way the Mercenaries are treating me.
“Absolutely,” I say.
I play a few more rounds with the kids, and soon, the stars are winking in the sky.
When the event winds down, I find my phone blinking with a note.
Brooke: Want to come over? I made this.
There’s a mouthwatering photo of chicken and cauliflower drizzled in cheese, with brussels sprouts on the side, and I want to lick the phone.
Drew: Your food porn worked. The answer is yes. But where’s the pic of your legs?
Brooke: I knew the food porn would be enough to lure you here.
Drew: You were wrong. I’m coming for you. But also, the food.
Brooke: I was right.
I grab a Lyft and go, ready to try my sex hack and perhaps devise a romance one too.
18
HIS SEX HACK
Brooke
My call was over in all of five minutes, so I used the unexpected free time to whip up a quick dish, then Rachel stopped by on her way home from work.
She lives a few blocks away, and I’ve caught her up on all the man things in my life.
Now, she cinches a necklace at the back of my neck. “There,” she says as I let my hair fall and then spin around to face her in the kitchen. “So cute. Do you like it, Brooke?”