Page 29 of Holiday Power Play

"You're not going to win this," she states.

"Oh, I'm going to win this. Because of the two of us here, who's the professional Lana, and who's the one who has to resort to coaching?"

She gets up from the couch and stalks over to the back door.

"I'm going to pretend I didn't just hear you say that."

Jackpot. I got her.

"Those who can't do… teach," I say with a shrug.

She opened the door, but the moment the words leave my lips she slams it shut and walks over to me. With a shove at the corner of my shoulder she says, "I'm not resorting to coaching. Ichosecoaching, you dick. Because guys like you only know how to help yourselves and would never reach a hand back to guide a young girl who wants a seat at your table. So I'm coaching to do that and to make sure they know exactly how to put up with assholes in their field."

"So I'm an asshole. I'm a dick. All because I'm a professional in sports."

"Professional is a stretch," she scoffs.

I stand there staring at her.

"I wonder what would happen if you'd stop considering me the enemy just because I'm a man… and would treat me like an equal."

"Are you kidding me right now? An equal? Am I an equal to you?"

"No," I say sternly.

"Wooow. See? And you wonder why I hate you."

"No," I say stepping closer to her, closing the distance between us. "I'm not your equal. You are by far more intelligent. More skilled. And most definitelywaymore sexy," I say, lowering my voice as I stand face-to-face with her.

"Don't do that," she says in a near whisper.

"Do what?" I cock my head at her.

"Don't try to win me over."

I take a step closer to her and notice how her chest rapidly rises and falls.

"I'm not trying anything," I say. "I'm just telling you the truth. I think you got me all wrong, little grinch. I'm not who you think I am."

"And who's that?" she asks, eyeing me suspiciously.

"I'm not whoever hurt you. I'm not the one who left you. I'm just Trevor. And I know we just met, but I already know—I'm your biggest fan."

"You just insulted me, and now you're saying this. I don't need you to be my biggest fan; I need you to just stay away," she nearly barks at me.

Then she sidesteps me and leaves out the back door, shutting it abruptly behind her and making the pictures on the walls shake.

Well, that went very well.

Normally I'd cut my loses and take a hint… but there's something about my teammate's sister that makes me want to try harder.

I'm going to break her. I'm going to have her begging for me.

And I'll be a happy man if it's the only thing I get for Christmas.

The game is on.

Chapter 7

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