Page 15 of Change Your Play

“The campus tour is finished,” I announced.

A touch of amusement crossed her face. “Is it?”

“Yes, campus tour’s over. Return the headphones, the whole thing.” I tapped the dashboard and motioned off towards the empty campus, completely devoid of life on a lazy summer evening. “But I have a part two. It’s thirty minutes out.”

“Thirty minutes?” Cleo hesitated.

“Thirty minutes there, thirty minutes back, but we won’t be standing there. You won't be getting back until late.”

“See, I have…some reports to finish….”

Damn.

“I understand.”

“It’s not like that, I promise. I actually have stuff to finish before Ryan joins in with video calls tomorrow.” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Our team captain is horrible with computers.”

“I’ll drop you off.”

“Let me think—”

My heart sank, but I tried not to let it show. “I don't want to keep you from anything.”

“You know what? I work…I work damn hard for Marrs.”

Hands still on the steering wheel, I didn’t know what to say to that. How do you tell a woman you’re incredibly impressed with her everyday work ethic and that it’s incredibly sexy? The kind of power suit before a business meeting touch, the one that Cleo slipped into effortlessly.

I nodded. “You’re fucking right you do.”

“I work fucking hard for them!”

“You do.”

“And I love it, I do, but I deserve a break.”

I had replies, but they weren’t the kind that you offer to a girl after only knowing her for a couple of days.

Stay the weekend at my house and I’ll wash every damn dish.

Let me take care of you.

All of it wanted to come out. I could feel it, grinding away at the back of my teeth. I wanted Cleo spread out on my bed, enjoying the peace and quiet from everyone who took up her schedule.

Didn’t she give them enough? Why couldn’t they get off her ass?

I’d known this woman for less than a week and I would gladly take up a spot as her top advocate.

“Miles?” Cleo’s eyes blazed. “I haven’t had a date intwoyears. Two years! I keep denying them because there’s so much to do, and I’m so tired of it. I had to tell two of your teammates no yesterday. I should be celebrating and not—”

“Hold on.” I jerked over. “Two of my guys asked you out?”

“Oh—yeah—”

“Which ones?”

She paused. “Which ones?”

“Yes,” I replied instantly before I reconsidered. “Eh. I’ll find out.”

---