Page 48 of The Wrong Move

“Like champagne, and probably the same cost, but without the desired effect.” I can’t help but smirk at Byron. “You’re so fancy. I’ll stick to basic spring water.”

“It’s not being fancy. It’s healthy, Gigi.”

“I know.” I pat his thigh, all solid muscle. He frowns at me. “I understand.” I lean in close. “You don’t get legs of steel from being complacent like me.”

His lips quirk. “Do you want to feel them later?” he whispers.

I do.

“Depends on what time we finish here,” I whisper. “I have to be up early to paint.”

“Okay, it was great seeing you two.” Byron pushes up from his chair.

“Stop it.” I slap his rear, and my fingers sting. In six years, Byron has transformed to having a freaking superhero body. It’s like having my own Thor.

He sits and leans in to kiss my neck. “I love your neck.”

I giggle. “Why?”

“Because it leads me here.” With one finger, he turns my face and kisses my lips. “And here…” His head lowers, and before he gets a chance, I nudge him to behave.

“Do not give this man anything other than water, please,” I say to Mason. He grins, shaking his head at his friend. Paige is staring at Byron wide-eyed. “He’s a breast man,” I whisper.

“I believe so. You two best get a room.”

“Yes, we will,” Byron says in his low, sexy voice.

“Okay.” I push Byron’s cheek so he is looking forward. “What are we all going to eat? And I mean food.”

Mason and Byron groan as though I’m a fun-killer.

“I forgot to mention that we’re planning a trip to The Bahamas,” Mason announces. “Why don’t the two of you join us?”

Byron rubs the side of his jaw. “Unless it’s in the offseason, I can’t go anywhere.”

“If it’s between my trips to Italy, I might be able to meet you both there for a couple of days.”

“I would like that,” Paige adds. “Maybe we could do it around Byron’s schedule when he plays Miami in Florida. Get a few days off to meet us?”

Byron stiffens beside me. It’s hard for anyone to understand the level of commitment it takes to be an elite player in the NBA.

Mason is aware. “It sounds like fun, but Byron can’t drop everything just for us in the middle of the season,” he says gently to Paige.

Eyes wide, she mouths,Oh.

“While you’re at the top of my list of importance…” Byron begins, “… my list differs from Coach’s. His list includes my shooting consistency, which relies on extra trainings outside of team trainings, my ball handling drills, and my defensive drills so I’m one of the best point guards in the league. He wants other teams to fear me so we have an upper hand on game day.”

“Do they… fear you?” The words are out before Paige can recover.

“Do you fear me?” he asks in a serious voice.

Paige giggles. “No, because I know you. You’re a big softie.”

Opposite the table to Byron, I watch Mason’s eyes round.

Byron remains quiet. All his life, he has worked to be respected on the court, and that does not include being known as a big softie.

“What we know and yet cannot see behind his handsome face and big heart is an undeniable determination larger than Mont Blanc. Byron is unstoppable, and that should be feared.”

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