Page 73 of Hard to Take

Miles.

There’s no mistaking the dark, wavy hair, the broad shoulders in that perfectly cut tux, or the sound of his laugh amongst the small group of non-Kodiaks he’s entertaining.

Unlike my brother, he gets it. This is about the community, not the team.

I’m filled with gratitude, and pride.

As if feeling my attention, he turns. His gaze lands squarely on me.

In an instant, he excuses himself from the conversation he’s in. He stalks toward me, leaving the ballroom for the hallway even as I take a step back.

“Princess.” His eyes are a thousand feet deep right up until his attention drops to the bin in my arms. “You giving away my clothes so you can take the entire closet?”

“Close. Setting up auction items in the next room.”

He nods, and I hand him the bin.

“Nice game the other night,” Chloe says.

He blinks when he realizes she’s there. “Thanks, Chlo.”

“You’ve been working hard. Except for the media stuff about houseplants. Don’t go off script like that tonight.”

“No promises,” he deadpans. “I’ve been known to say some crazy shit.”

“Yeah, no more houseplants stuff. Keep the gardening private.”

I narrowly avoid tripping on the carpet.

Chloe looks at Miles, then me, then shake her head, sending her shiny black hair sliding over her shoulders.

We walk to the next room, a smaller ballroom setup with auction items. The Kodiaks do a significant amount of charity work, and tonight is one of their major initiatives in support of the Kodiaks Camp for children.

Miles sets the bin where Chloe directs him.

“I have to get to James. The owner’s been blowing up my phone for half an hour,” she says.

“I’ll finish putting these out,” I promise.

“Really? You’re the best.” She squeezes my arm with a grateful smile.

Suddenly Miles and I are alone, or as alone as we can be with tuxedo-clad staff bustling around the beautiful hotel.

His gaze lowers to my outfit. “You look beautiful.”

My fingers slip on my task. “Thank you. You look all right yourself.” He’s in a navy suit that highlights the blue of his eyes.

I set out the jerseys, fussing with them so they’re displayed to their best advantage.

“You okay? I was worried when you didn’t come home last night.”

Home.

Is it crazy that part of me wishes it was? That a temporary landing spot feels more and more like the kind of sanctuary I never realized I wanted?

“Jay came over to my mom’s last night.”

I spend a little extra time on Miles’s jersey, feeling the fabric between my fingers. Someone’s going to buy it tonight just to have a piece of him.

---