Page 34 of Waiting Game

I twist back to stare at them both. “Whoa, legit?”

Though I know that Conor O’Donnelly, the Stars’ Governor, is Liam’s cousin as well as his boss, I also know that O’Donnelly offered Gracie the position of GM once she got her MBA and G’s taking the job.

Sure, it’s nepotism, but I’ve met DeLaney—he’s an asscunt who’d give a twatwaffle hives.

“Legit,” Liam crows, bumping fists with me when I hold mine out.

“That’s awesome, Gracie, and so fucking deserved.”

Her cheeks flush as she retreats to the counter, but that’s all the answer she gives me.

My brows lift at the sight, and Liam makes a motion with his hand which I follow until we’re stepping into the gym.

As he starts up his training session on the treadmill, I jump onto the elliptical beside him and ask, “Why isn’t she doing a happy dance around the apartment? In fact, why’s she pissed?”

“Firstly, have you met Gracie?”

My grin is smug. “You telling me she’s never happy danced before?”

“Sure, but not for work reasons.”

I snort. “Don’t tell me. I don’t need to know.”

“I’d have to kill you if I told you.”

Ugh, sex-related for sure.

“What’s wrong with her?”

“She thinks she can’t handle it, and that conversation with Conor made things very, very, very real.”

“Gracie could manage three teams at once.”

“Your confidence in me is admirable, Cole,” Gracie inserts grimly. “Youweren’t supposed to say anything.”

Liam peers at her over his shoulder, which is no small feat on a treadmill when you’re running at level 9 as a warm-up. “He asked.”

“You didn’t have to answer. You’ll jinx this, Liam?—”

“This is bro talk,” I dismiss. “What are you doing in here anyway, female? You should be choking on testosterone and heading for the door.”

“If it were morepotent,I would.” She sniffs as I clutch at my heart. “I need to head to the store.”

“Okay,minou. You taking your bodyguard?”

Gracie casts a look at me but sighs. “I will.”

When she traipses out, I murmur, “You sure you still need a team of bodyguards?”

“She’s going to be the GM of the Stars, Cole. Her worth tripled in the eyes of the world. You bet your ass she needs a security detail.”

I hide a grin. “She was already a diamond in your eyes though, wasn’t she?”

Liam’s smile is dopey. “You know it.”

For a couple minutes, both of us work out, seeing as Gracie answered for him—she’s prickly about this all going south—then he breaks the silence with, “What are you doing here anyway? Not that I’m against a workout partner, but I figured it’d be too early for you as you’re off for the summer.”

“You had to mention that, didn’t you?” I ignore his smirk to answer, “Hooked up with someone last night.”

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