Page 68 of Sack

“I’m sure he burns off a ton of calories every day.”

Emerson took another sip of her drink then said, “True. And it helps he’s not exactly a small guy to begin with.”

Ivy chuckled. “That’s also true.”

Emerson put her glass down, leaned into the table, and lowered her voice. “I will admit, all those muscles are hot.”

“Right?” Ivy held her glass aloft again and laughing, Emerson tapped it with hers.

Emerson frowned in thought. “Why do you ask?”

“Oh, no reason.”

“Ivy,” she drew her name out. A clear sign she wasn’t buying her BS answer.

Ivy shrugged. “I just haven’t seen Colt a whole lot lately and wondered if you were having the same problem with Oz.”

A look of concern crossed Emerson’s features before she concealed it with a smile. “I’m sure if I didn’t have food to tempt Oz with, I wouldn’t see him half as much either.”

“Thanks for trying to make me feel better, but you and I both know it’s more than just your hamburgers Oz is interested in.”

Emerson nodded. “Yeah, I have great fries, too.”

Ivy quickly covered her mouth and managed to swallow the sip she’d just taken before spitting it all over the table. Still chuckling, she asked, “So are you saying the old wives’ tale is true—the fastest way to a man’s heart is through his stomach?”

“Not sure about all men, but it seems to be working with Oz.”

“Well, I’m happy for you.”

Emerson reached across the table and squeezed Ivy’s hand. “Colt has an important role on the team. I’m sure once he settles into the season, he’ll have more time.”

Ivy took a sip of her drink to mask the fact she felt like a laserbrain for bringing the subject up in the first place and ruining the fun vibe. She was acting like a jilted girlfriend when, in fact, she had no authority over how Colt spent his time.

Shaking off her morose mood, Ivy raised her glass. “Anyway, who says we need a man to have a good time. I’m having a blast, and what do you know, not a one is in sight.” She took the last swig of her martini and set the glass back down.

Emerson looked around the room. “Well, I see plentyin sightbut that you don’t is telling.”

Yeah, but what was it telling her?

Chapter Fourteen

Colt

Colt watched his offensive line get into formation on their forty-yard line. They were down by six with fifteen seconds left on the clock. They needed to score now if they wanted to win the game.

He signaled to Linc. He knew the play. Get his ass into the endzone and get ready to make a catch—ifColt could keep himself free of the other team’s defense long enough to make the Hail Mary pass.

He lined up behind the center and shouted his cadence. When he said the last hut, the center snapped the ball. Colt never took his eyes off it as it sailed through the air and into his hands, but in his periphery, he saw the defense charge. His offense blocked as Colt did some fancy footwork to buy time for Linc to get into position.

Almost there.

In about another two seconds, he could let the ball fly.

Hauling his arm back, he put all his power behind the throw and watched it sail. It arced high into the sky.

Soaring.

Soaring.

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