Page 24 of Rookie Move

“You guys looked great out there tonight,” Sophia said. “Now you just have to keep winning.”

Finn chuckled. “That’s the plan. And yeah, I think Nessie and I make a great pair.”

“I’m still going to miss singing ‘Under the Sea’ like I did when you were paired with Fishy, but I’ll find something else,” Baz said, popping up next to Rylie.

“Would it kill you to drop the Nessie nonsense?” Desmond asked.

Baz shrugged. “Probably.”

“Rylie, you should sit with us in the family suite for the next game,” Sophia said.

“I’m not a WAG. Isn’t it for the players’ family members?” she asked.

Desmond heard a slight pause in her response. They made eye contact for a split second before she looked back at Sophia.

“Oh, whatever. You’re Bugsy’s daughter and it’s a family suite, so you have to join us. We have really good snacks,” Darcy said. “Plus, we let Ally up there, and she’s not officially dating anyone.”

“Please stop,” Ally grumbled, and Desmond wondered what that was about. He’d heard a rumor about Ally and Dom, but Dom never talked about it.

“Maybe,” Rylie said, taking a sip of her beer.

The image of her wearing his jersey and yelling for him from the stands fired in his brain. If she was going to be a WAG, it was going to be because she was with him and no one else.

He shouldn’t want that as much as he did, but here they were. He was tired of ignoring the tension between them, or the smiles she sent him before she turned away, the blush staining her cheeks when he caught her looking at him for too long.

She wanted him as much as he wanted her. He just had to convince her that it wouldn’t be a complete disaster, even if he wasn’t sure of that at all.

“Great. We should do a girls’ night too. Go dancing or grab drinks. When the guys are on the road this weekend,” Sophia said.

“You better not on game night,” Finn said.

“Relax. We would never not watch your games. You need our support to win,” Sophia said with a laugh.

“Damn straight. Plus, if you’re out dancing, I want to be there,” Finn said, snuggling up close to his girlfriend and leaning down to whisper in her ear. Sophia blushed and then planted a kiss on the man’s lips.

All Desmond could think about was dancing with Rylie. Pressing close to her. Feeling every indrawn breath she made.

Fucking hell. He needed to tone it down or anyone who looked at him would see how turned on he was.

A hand brushed his hip. He met her gaze and held back his groan when she nibbled her lower lip for a second and then took in a deep breath.

Maybe convincing her wouldn’t be as hard as he’d expected.

He leaned in close, setting his empty glass on the bar.

“Are you trying to drive me crazy?” he asked, and she stiffened.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, her gaze darting to the floor before she peeked up at him under lowered lashes.

“I will kiss you right here and now,” he taunted, and her pupils dilated.

“You wouldn’t dare,” she said, then took a sip of her beer, her pink tongue darting out to catch a wayward drop.

It took everything he had not to groan out loud and pull her against him. “Try me,” he said, unsure of where this bravado had come from. There was no chance in hell he was going to let his teammates see how much he wanted her. The gossip would be endless.

And that should stop him from craving her, but it didn’t.

“Desmond, please.”

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