Page 25 of Hard to Fake

“Cool.” I sip my beer, half my attention on the patio.

When she peels off me, pivoting on her heels and making a beeline for… somewhere else, I should feel bad.

I don’t.

Brooke smiles broadly, laughing. When Rookie slides his arm around her waist, it’s like a flashing red light.

The last thing we need is Rookie stirring up trouble on the team.

Jay’s got his hands full with keeping the team in order, so maybe she needs someone looking out for her.

Someone like me.

I make my way through the crowd, bodies moving before I have to move them. I push through the door and out onto the balcony. The cool air hits me like a slap, but I’m too focused on my destination.

“Hey, Miles!” Rookie greets me with a smile.

“Hey,” I say, trying to keep the irritation out of my voice. “You guys having fun?”

“Yeah, we were just talking.”

“About?” I prompt, wedging between them.

“What are you—” Brooke starts.

"Nothing to worry about. Sit tight."

I grab Rookie, drag him inside, and shift him—a little harder than necessary—against the wall.

“Whatever you think that is, it’s not happening.” My voice is pleasant, but the words aren’t.

Rookie snorts as though he’s not sure whether to laugh or defend himself. “What do you mean?”

I let the smile fade. “I mean, you make a move on Jay’s sister, you will not wake up tomorrow morning.” I lift my plastic axe. “We have a title to defend this year. It’s been a bumpy enough start to the season. You don’t fuck with the team, and Brooke is the team.”

“Okay! Jeez, I get it.” His grin remains, but he reaches up and pats my face.“You need to work on your Kenergy, my dude."

* * *

BROOKE

I come up behind Miles and grab a fistful of faux fur, yanking.

The entire vest comes off in my hand.

Cheers go up from people around us, including appreciative noises from the women.

Dammit. I was trying to get Miles’s attention, not strip him in the middle of this party.

“What the hell was that?" I demand.

“Huh?” he says.

He's shirtless, and it's distracting. He’s tanned from a summer spent outside, his body the kind of perfect that makes me want a closer look at every inch.

To get my hormones under control, I stalk back out to the balcony, and he follows.

"I want to know why you were such a prick to Rookie."

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