Page 27 of The Wrong Play

I exhaled, raking a hand through my long hair, trying to compose myself.

Her gaze followed my hand, her eyes narrowing slightly. “So…the hair,” she said, crossing her arms. “That a phase or something?”

I smirked. “It’s sexy, isn’t it?”

She blinked, clearly not expecting that. “I?—”

“Be honest.“ I cut in, leaning against the bar. “You were already imagining running your fingers through it.”

Her jaw dropped slightly. “I—was not.”

“You were.” I winked. “It’s okay. Happens all the time. It can’t be helped.”

She scoffed. “And let me guess—there’s some ridiculous reason you refuse to cut it?”

“Obviously,” I said, as if that was common knowledge.

She exhaled. “Of course there is.”

I leaned in close, enjoying the way her breath hitched when my lipsaccidentallycaressed her ear. “It has magical powers.”

She stared at me, another one of those small, secretive smiles sliding across her lips.

I nodded solemnly. “I can’t cut it. It’s part of the deal.”

She barked out a laugh. “What deal?”

“The one where I keep it long and, in return, I remain devastatingly handsome,irresistible,and completely undefeated in every battle.”

She tilted her head. “You’re comparing yourself to…what, Samson?”

“Brad Pitt inTroy,” I corrected.

Her lips parted slightly, her gaze flicking down my frame as if she were suddenly reevaluating.

I grinned. She wassochecking me out.

She shook her head. “I’m not seeing the resemblance.”

“Are you sure?”

“You think you look like Brad Pitt?”

“I think Brad Pitt wishes he looked like me.”

She let out another laugh, shaking her head again as the bartender slid another drink in front of her.

“Here.” I grabbed the glass again and handed it to her, just so her fingers had to brush against mine for another moment.

I swear she shivered when we touched this time, and her body swayed toward me, like it was as desperate for my attention as I was for hers.

I set the beer I’d ordered down on the bar, completely untouched. Who needed alcohol when she was around? I literally felt drunk just breathing in her same air.

“So, tell me, Mystery Girl…what brought you out tonight?”

She blinked. “What do you mean?”

I gestured around us. “You didn’t seem to be having a good time before I saved you.”

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