Page 176 of Vegas Heat

“Since your injury?” I guess, filling in the blank, and he nods as he glances away from me. “Well? How did it feel?”

He blows out a breath then pulls off his helmet and runs a hand through his hair. He doesn’t meet my eyes for a few beats, and then he turns toward me. “You know how in life you sometimes put off doing something because you think you’re only going to hurt yourself by doing it?”

My brows knit together as I wait for him to finish.

He sets his helmet down and tosses his gloves on top of it. He moves toward the gate and lets himself out, and when he’s standing in front of me, he shakes his head a little. “It wasn’t like that at all. It was pure fucking magic. I feel likeI’m back. I feel like I’mmyselfagain. And I’m not sure I could’ve opened those doors without you by my side.”

My hand flies to my heart. “Withoutme?”

His eyes soften as he gazes at me. “I wasn’t happy my last year playing. There were a lot of factors that led to that, and they seem to keep uncovering themselves at every turn lately. But one thing is for sure.” He takes a few steps toward me as he talks. “When I’m out there on that field this year, I’m going to be happy, and it’s not just because I get to play the game I love. It’snot just because I’m leading a brand new expansion team. It’s not just because I’m back on third where I was born to be.” He takes another step toward me, closing the small gap between us, and he lifts his fingertips to my jaw before they curl around my neck. “But it’s because I know you’re cheering for me somewhere out there, and that’s more than enough for me to give it my all.”

“Wow,” I breathe, and he chuckles as his lips drop to mine.

I fold myself into him, wrapping my arms around him as he leads the kiss from slow and tender toward urgent and passionate, needy and fiery.

It’s full of everything I want, everything Ineed, and if three of his friends weren’t milling around here somewhere, if other players and staff members and grounds crew and interns weren’t just on the other side of those doors, I’d let him take me right here. I’d give in to every carnal desire I feel.

But we can’t. It’s not just unprofessional, but it’s risky. We’re trying to hold onto this secret that seems to keep getting bigger and bigger, and while neither of us feels ready to tell my dad, I know the time is inching in on us when we’re going tohaveto.

And nothing drives that point home more than when I finally pull myself away from him, knowing our time here is limited in this space.

A throat clears behind us, and Cooper’s eyes move over my shoulder as I spin around, my heart leaping up into my throat.

“So you’re not just Daddy’s little girl. Apparently you’re also Cooper’s little girl,” Mackenzie says with a snarl. “One more advantage for you, one more strike against the rest of us.” She folds her arms over her chest.

“Mackenzie, I can explain,” I begin, but I can’t. I can’t explain that she’s probably right. Cooper has been on the judging panel of most of our challenges, and I’ve come out victorious. It doesn’t look fair even though he has assured me it absolutely is, that he’s simply voting for the best presentation.

“How many others on the judges’ panel are you kissing in not-so-private hallways?” she demands.

I purse my lips. “It’s not like that,” I begin, my tone one of begging and apology at the same time.

“Oh, it’s exactly like that,” she says. “You won’t get away with this.”

She spins on her heels and bolts out the door, and I’m left to wonder what the hell I’m supposed to do now…and what the hell she’s off to do now.

I don’t have much time to think about it because a text comes through from my dad.

Dad:Do you have dinner plans tonight?

It’s a Friday night, and my only plan was to curl up in bed with Cooper.

Me:Not yet.

Dad:Desmonds at eight?

Me:I’ll be there.

Cooper pulls his phone from his pocket and flashes the screen at me. He got the same text from my dad.

My eyes widen as guilt slices through me. “Do you think he knows?” I whisper.

“There’s no way Mackenzie works that fast,” Cooper points out. “I don’t even think your dad is here right now.”

I nod, my mouth going dry as nerves kick in. “We really need to tell him. I can’t risk him finding out from someone else. It wouldn’t be right.”

Cooper nods, and he slings an arm around me. “You’re right. We’ll tell him at dinner tonight.”

“Okay.” I nod, and thus begins the nerve-racking countdown to eight o’clock tonight.

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