Page 14 of The Love You Win

One auburn eyebrow rises, and Isla’s lips twist to the side. She’s pissed about that. Well, too bad. She opens her mouth, and I can’t wait to hear how she pleads her case.

“The earth is round.”

Not what I was expecting. “Sorry, what?”

Her eyes flash with fire and damn me, but my cock hardens at the sight. “Oh, this isn’t the state random obvious facts part of the date? My bad, I must have misread that.”

Well, shit. I shift in my seat. “Look, no need to be offended. I only wanted to make sure we were both on the same page about this evening. I know you paid a lot for this date, and I’m well aware of how appealing it might be to date someone famous…”

The laugh she throws at me is so sharp I should probably excuse myself to the bathroom and check for hidden stab wounds. “Oh, don’t worry. I don’t think we’re on the same page about much, but we are definitely on the same page about that. We will most certainly not be having sex.”

So many emotions flicker across her delicate features, I might as well be watching a silent film. Irritation, anger, indignation so potent it’s like I’m being sucker-punched. But there and gone before she can mask it is something else that makes my stomach twist with a brief pang of guilt. Hurt. She covers it quickly enough with a neutral expression, but I catch it. This is at least the third time I’ve hurt her tonight.

Her brows furrow and those pretty blue eyes grow unfocused for a moment. I’m bracing myself for another snarky comment. Instead, she mutters something about how she told them this was a stupid idea and that they should know her better than this. None of it makes any sense to me, but I wish I hadn’t opened my big mouth.

“Excuse me,” Isla says after she shakes her head. She picks up her purse and pushes back from the table. Her blue eyes flicker to the doors leading out of the restaurant. “I need to use the ladies’ room.”

She’s going to bolt again. Shit.

“Wait.” I stand, holding my hands out like she’s an animal about to spook. I need her to stay. There must be something she wants besides a chance to be the future Mrs. Graves. Jewelry? A date with one of the other guys on the team? She’s hot enough that I’m sure I could convince one of them to take her out. “Please stay. I’ll make it worth your while.”

Her eyes go wide. “Excuse me?”

“Listen, I’m going to be perfectly honest with you. I didn’t want to do this. The team forced me, and if you leave now before the reporter shows up at nine o’clock to take our photo, I’m in deep trouble.”

“Not sure why you think that’s my problem.” She scoffs. “I’m not the one being a jerk.”

I rub my jaw. “I know, and I’m sorry.” Her expression tells me she’s not buying it. “Look, if you stay and make it sound like you had a great time tonight, I’ll give you whatever you want.”

She cocks her head to the side and I feel the need to qualify that offer. “Within reason, of course. I won’t go off and marry you or something. But I can buy you jewelry, get you season tickets, introduce you to the rest of the guys on the team… almost anything.”

She looks so offended for a moment that I think I’ve well and truly lost her. But then her eyes spark, and a smile curves across her lips. “Anything?”

“Within reason.” Crap. This is going to bite me in the ass. The look on her face is downright devious.

“And you swear you’ll follow through? Because if you promise this and then back out…”

“If I back out, you can take the story to the press and skewer me.” I hold her gaze. “But I always keep my word. Always.”

I don’t fidget under Isla’s narrowed eyes. She’s probably calculating how much a diamond necklace will cost. But Coach is right. If she can help me reform my image, maybe it would help me close that energy drink sponsorship my agent’s been negotiating for me.

Her smile is so wide I worry I’ve gotten myself in too deep. “Okay then, Maddox. Here’s what I want from you.”

six

ISLA

I consider throwing a glass of water in Maddox’s face when he offers to pay me to stay and claim our date went well. Honestly, it’s still on the table. But then my mind wanders to my students and the hardships they face. They overcome so many challenges just to show up each day. And wasn’t I just wishing I could do something for them? Something that would encourage them to keep going? Something to lift their spirits?

Well, Maddox Graves just handed me a blank check full of possibilities, and I’d sit through this miserable dinner a thousand times over if he agrees to what I’m about to ask.

And it doesn’t hurt that he looks incredibly nervous. I swear I can hear him audibly gulp from across the table. For the first time since I walked into this restaurant, I’m starting to have fun.

I can’t help it. I grin wickedly at him, lean back in my chair, and chuckle. “You’re sweating in your skates, aren’t you?”

He doesn’t look amused. “I highly doubt you’ll ask for anything I haven’t heard before. Just know, there will be a monetary limit to what I’m willing to buy for you.”

God, he’s an ass. He honestly thinks I want him to buy me jewelry or something? As if I’d want to wear a reminder of this date on my body. And also, rude. I’m a grown woman. I can buy my own jewelry.

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