Page 23 of Scoring Grey

She spins back around once it’s fastened, her hands on her hips.

“My personal shopper did. I gave her your size and told her you’d be staying with me and I wanted to make sure you had everything you’d need.”

“How do you know my size?”

“I peeked in your closet when I was in town for Christmas.”

Her eyes narrow on mine as she contemplates my words, deciding if they’re true before walking over to the corner and running her fingers over a few of the items. “Well, your shopper has good taste,” she says as she flips over one of the tags.

“I have one more request.” She turns around and props her elbow on her wrist before mindlessly running my ring along its chain, a move that has me seconds away from quitting the team just so I don’t have to leave this closet. “Drive me to the airport.”

“So you’re comfortable driving this thing home?” I ask as I pull my suitcase out of my truck bed.

“Don’t you think that should have been a question you asked me before we pulled out of the parking garage and got on the road?”

I slam the gate. “Maybe, or maybe I’m still trying to see if you’d rather hop on a plane than drive home. I think I could fit you in my suitcase.”

She rolls her eyes at my antics and holds out her hand. “Keys.”

I’m just reaching into my coat pocket to hand them over when my phone chimes with a text. Pulling it out with my keys, I see it’s from the coach.

Beck: Pre-departure check didn’t pass. The flight has been delayed three hours.

“My flight just got delayed three hours.”

She crosses her arms, pulling her coat tighter. “Well, it doesn’t make sense to go back home. It’s a forty-five-minute drive.”

I run my hand through my hair. “I know. Will you come inside and wait with me? There’s a bar that serves food.”

“Is that what you want? It’s a private airport. It won’t just be us. Your teammates will be in there, too.”

“You’re right…” I rub my jaw and drop her gaze. “I wouldn’t want you meeting the guys.”

She punches my arm. “Hey!”

I grab her hand and pull her into me. “I’m joking. You’re the one suggesting I wouldn’t want to show you off.”

“That’s not what I was getting at.” She tips her head in the direction we came from. “I just thought that place we passed a mile back might be more private.”

“Are you saying you want me all to yourself, blondie?”

She smiles and swats my chest. “Forget it.” She tries to push away.

“Not a chance. My girl just admitted to wanting to get me alone. It’s happening. Get in the truck.” I release her and smack her ass without thought. I’m an athlete. I slap someone’s ass every practice, but she’s not just anyone. She’s not one of the guys. Her pretty red lips part with a gasp as her eyes connect with mine, but a scolding never comes. Instead, she heads toward the cab, and I toss my suitcase back in the truck bed. She liked it. Fucking hell.

As I open the door for her to hop out of the truck outside the bar, I hold out my hand to help her down. My truck is lifted, and this parking lot wasn’t plowed well, which means black ice is a real possibility. She takes it, and once she’s firmly planted on two feet, I don’t let go. I’m not going to see her for two days, so you better believe I want all the touches she’ll allow in the next three hours. As soon as we walk through the doors, I spot them. Roe, Moon, and Austin are at a booth right beside the bar. I sigh heavily, knowing there’s no way I’ll get away with sitting in this bar for three hours without them noticing I’m here.

“What’s wrong?” she questions when she hears my discontentment.

I tip my chin toward the booth. “Those guys are on my?—”

“Balfour! Get your ass over here,” Roe calls from across the bar.

“So much for being alone. I’m sorry. We can leave.”

“No, it’s fine. Besides, it’s not like I don’t want to meet your teammates. This is good. A soft launch, if you will.”

“Soft launch?”

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