Page 90 of Love Game

“Sorry. No mascara.”

Poking her lower lip out, she sulked. “So not fair.” She relaxed against him, letting him support a little more of her weight. “Would you let me?”

“Let you what?”

“Put mascara on those inch-long eyelashes.”

“No,” he said firmly, but his hesitation indicated a willingness to let her do just about anything she wanted to him.

Turning her face into his neck, she brushed a kiss to the corner of his jaw. “You’d look so pretty.”

“You’re a cruel woman.”

Another crew member rushed past them, waving some kind of gewgaw that must have been a vital cog in the works, because the minute he ducked into the ballroom, the frenzy of activity became more purposeful. Kate tugged at her skirt and forced herself to stand tall. “I prefer the term ‘tough broad,’ if you don’t mind.”

Danny stepped in front of her, putting himself between her and the scene of their soon-to-come public hand slapping. “I’ll just play it safe and stick with beautiful.”

Only halfheartedly imagining the mile-long lashes coated in glossy black, she searched his eyes until she found the confidence she’d momentarily misplaced. It was there, as always. Right there with the smirks, the stares, and the cocky jock swagger. It was no wonder she hadn’t recognized it at first. This man’s unswerving belief in them looked a hell of a lot like real love, and she’d never loved anyone the way she loved him.

He brushed her hair back, tucking a piece behind her ear. “Why do you do that?” she asked.

“Hm?”

“You always push my hair back behind my ears. Why?”

He cocked his head, studying her quizzically. “I don’t know. I guess I just see you do it, and I like…” Finally, he gave a helpless shrug and traced the curve of her exposed ear with his fingertip. “I like your face. I like your ears. It’s fun to watch them turn pink.”

As if he’d given the damn things a cue, they started to burn. A sly smile cocked one side of his mouth. He planted his hand on the wall and leaned into her. She couldn’t have torn her gaze from his if she’d tried.

“They’re tender and soft and taste so damn sweet.”

“All that from ears,” she whispered.

He gave a slow nod, his expression solemn but his eyes bright. “Just imagine how I feel about the rest of you.”

“I love you,” she blurted.

“Coach? And, uh, Coach?” a young man called, breaking the spell.

“Good. Otherwise, we made a big-ass mistake today.” They both turned toward the scrawny assistant fidgeting in the doorway, tablet in hand and headset draped around his neck. Danny pushed away from the wall, but instead of distancing himself from Kate, he took hold of her arm and urged her forward. “You ready for us?”

“Yeah, we’re all set,” the kid called back.

Danny’s hand slid to its usual spot in the small of Kate’s back as they made their way to Brittany’s side. “Just let me handle most of this, okay? I made the mess, I’ll clean it up.”

“I have a stake in this too. Aside from you, I mean,” she clarified.

“You do?”

“The world doesn’t revolve around you and your drama, Danny.”

“I never meant to imply that it did.”

His placid tone set her off. He could pretend to be panicked or at the very least ruffled, damn it. She pulled away from him just shy of the baseline. “That figure I gave Mike? My salary? I asked for more than they’re paying Ransom.”

“Whoa.”

“I won’t settle for less.”

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