Page 142 of Love Me Dangerous

Sawyer whips out his phone and opens a map of the trails. While he rattles off trail names and their high notes, connecting them into an itinerary, I let my gaze drift across the deck, where Sofie is talking with Kirilee. She bursts out laughing about something Kirilee says, which makes me smile, even though I’m not part of the conversation. I love seeing her happy.

As if she feels my eyes on her, she glances up. Our eyes lock, and ourconnection quickly turns heated. She turns back to Kirilee, but I can see her blush from here.

I realize Sawyer’s waiting for my answer and give him a fist bump. “I’ve never been on any of those. I’ll go wherever you want.”

Sawyer’s brown eyes sparkle with a playful gleam. “You worked there and never went riding?”

“Nope.” Though I never asked. Going mountain biking for fun wasn’t exactly something I had the energy for. “Stu must like you. Those guest passes are like gold.”

“He’s trying to woo me,” Sawyer says in his tough guy voice, puffing out his chest.

I grin. “Told you.”

He shakes the ice cubes in his glass before taking a quick sip of his lemonade, then shrugs, but I know him too well. He’s finally taking me seriously about joining me here in Finn River.

“Who’s that with Sofie?” Sawyer asks in a low tone, his eyes on Kirilee.

“Kirilee St. Claire,” I say. “One of Sofie’s best friends. Her dad owns Finn River Ranch.”

Sawyer’s eyes widen. “Seriously?”

“You want me to introduce you?” I’m torn between razzing him about his interest in Finn River’s one and only princess and being a supportive friend. “She’s probably the nicest person I’ve ever met. And really talented. It’s too bad…”

“And who’s that?” Sawyer interrupts as a guy with a narrow face in a flashy suit comes over to Kirilee and places his hand on her lower back as if trying to steer her away.

“Uh, that’s her dad’s latest attempt to marry her off to someone richer than him so their two families can combine forces and rule the universe.”

“For real?” He scowls at the guy, who looks seriously constipated, or maybe it’s his resting snob face. “Every time he gets close to her, she turns into a statue. Does she want to get married?”

He’s noticed it, too, huh? “I don’t think she’s being given a choice.”

He shakes his head. “That’s wrong.”

“For real.”

After the party and my Alaska entourage retire to their vacation rental, I drive Sofie and William to our little bungalow up on the hill. It’s a few blocks from the high school, so William can walk there when I’m on shift early, and though Sofie’s only partly moved in because she’s also at school until June, I’ve come to think of it as our first house.

William’s first game is tomorrow, so he gives me a final hug goodnight before climbing the stairs to his room.

I step into the little kitchen to set up the coffee for the morning. Sofie follows, her heels a soft tap on the hardwood floor behind me. She wraps her arms around my middle while I work. I close the coffeemaker and pull her arms tighter so her body is molded to mine, and sigh.

“You ready to get out of this uniform?” she asks in a low tone.

I glance back at her. “You want to help?”

Her eyes sparkle, and she smiles.

I spin around and kiss her gently. And then I sweep her into my arms and carry her down the hall.

I driveWilliam to the athletic entrance next to the stadium. He’s quiet, but it’s not awkward.

“Remember to take a moment tonight. Soak it all in,” I say as he slips from the car and lifts his gear from the backseat.

William’s only a freshman, but he’s the reserve quarterback tonight because the junior who normally takes that role is sidelined with a knee sprain.

The JV coach spent extra time with him this week in case he gets called onto the field tonight.

I know William’s nervous as hell, but I also know he’s worked hard. He’s ready for this.

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