Page 100 of Out of Bounds

“So, Mr. Cross.” One of the donors motioned towards me. “You know, you’re always welcome to our home, and we’d love to see you make it one of your regular places, because I could’veswornyour arms were bigger last year.”

Kassie frowned. Her eyes narrowed. “I think he looks fine as is.”

“Oh. I didn’t mean—” The donor flushed. “See—”

I know where this is going.

Before Kassie could clench my hand any harder, I touched her knee, leaning in. “Art girl, she owns a line of gyms. It’s just small talk before a sponsorship.”

Immediately, my little protector relaxed her shoulders and a blush made its rounds. It was so goddamn sexy. A grin crossed my face watching her as she apologized to the table and they took it in stride.

“You should’ve known better.” Another donor chortled. “That’s the same girl who told reporters to—” He burst into laughter. “She told them to eatshitwhen they pushed if Ryan uses steroids!”

His wife admonished him but I just grinned harder.

“I…apologized for that.” Kassie blushed.

And I was the one who walked her through the apology but that didn’t change the fact that every time Kassie snapped at someone for me, it was an instant erection.

As the next tune played over the speakers, I could see Miles and Cleo across the room. Cleo tapped the wristwatch on her right hand. She was trying to get our attention. Next to her, Miles was motioning towards us, helping her out as much as he could.

I straightened my suit. "We’ve got to start the next quarter of the game, art girl."

"Quarter?"

Still holding her hand, I nodded back to the dance floor.

Kassie inched to the side. "Is this a joke?"

"No."

She laughed but not in a way that landed me the funniest remark. Her laugh was slow and dumbfounded.

"Ryan, let’s talk this out."

"We’re going to miss the song."

"I—I don’t dance." She made a noise at the back of her throat that I didn’t recognize. "That wasn’t part of the soul contract."

"It’s a series of movements, coordinated together. Not that hard."

Kassie’s nervous.

That surprised me. I couldn’t understand why she was nervous. It wasn’t like we were blocking on the field with four seconds on the clock. New excuses were offered but I was firm. I was determined to dance with her.

With a sigh, Kassie stole another look at the dance floor. "I don’t know. Shit…Cleo and Miles…"

"That’s our cue."

"Shit."

"I won’t drop you," I promised. "I won’t let you fall. I swear to…whatever you want me to swear to."

"On your car’s radio?"

"On my car’s radio."

With all the reluctance in the world, Kassie pushed from her chair. "Okay.Onedance."

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