Page 9 of Change Your Play

But why…?

Instinctively, my fingers reached out to tug a red curl, and he nodded.

“That’s right, Cleo. Red for my vixen.”

The blush seared on my skin.

“What—?”

“Who’d you think I brought flowers for?”

“Coach Lawson?” I said slowly, realizing how ridiculous that sounded in real-time.

I shook my head. Explanations didn’t matter, we couldn’t have a conversation like this in front of outsiders. And the front desk employee was looking a little too interested. Striding over, I almost grabbed Miles’s arm but thought better of it. Instead, I ushered him to the lobby couches, separated by dividers.

“Mr. Locke, this is—this is inappropriate.”

“I was just dropping them off. I didn’t think you’d come downstairs.”

“That wasn’t—I came down for coffee.”

“I’m sure you think so.”

I scoffed, but even that sounded tame. The smile on my face wouldn’t go away, no matter how much I tried to hold it back. “It’s the truth.”

“No, I think you sensed me down here.”

The way he slid the line into the conversation, a lone card in a game I didn’t know we were playing, had me burning bright red again. Stumbling through my sentences, I could barely recognize my own voice. “Mr. Locke, you—I appreciate the flowers, but Iampart of the scouting—”

“I don’t care about Marrs.”

I stared at him. “This isn’t about…?”

“No offense, I couldn’t give less of a shit about your university.”

“But…?”

Miles took a step towards me, the kind of step that forces you to curve up to meet them. The kind that cuts the distance between you…damn, hewasaddicting. Whatever sleepiness I felt evaporated into thin air. He wasn’t a cup of coffee. Miles was a shot of caffeine straight to my veins.

“Cleo,” he murmured. “I wanted to apologize for my teammate.”

“You already apologized?”

“It wasn’t a good enough apology. Do you like the flowers?”

“They’re beautiful, but—”

“You wouldn’t believe how much I had to pay to get the florist to open at this hour. All red too. We ripped the bouquets apart.”

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“Yeah, I did. See how good they look, paired with you?” he murmured. “You are beautiful, Cleo Bennight. But I have to say, you look even better with gifts.” His smirk didn’t just cross his face, it brightened his eyes. “Thankfully, I offer my services. All for you.”

A few inches closer, I found myself shaking my head. “You’re trouble.”

“That’s me.”

“I’m notlookingfor trouble.”

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