Page 10 of Off Season

She bats her long eyelashes at me. “I’m…I’m Stephanie. Ohmigod, you’re Cruz Gonzales, the star centerfielder.”

I nod. “Yes, I am. You can call me Cheetah.” I whisper in her ear, loud enough for Kam to hear, “You’ll be screaming it later.”

Her eyes light up as she runs her hand across my chest. I place my hand over hers. “What does my shirt feel like?”

She pinches her eyebrows together. “Umm…cotton?”

“No, sweetheart. It’s boyfriend material.”

Kam lets out a laugh as she uncaringly enters our space and tucks Stephanie’s hair behind her ear, brushing her fingertips across her cheek as she does so. “I’m Kamryn.” She leans toward her ear and whispers in the same louder tone I did, “I’ll be the one making you scream later, but the S will be silent.”

Stephanie’s face flushes as she stares at Kam and licks her lips. Her breathing picks up.

What the fuck is happening here?

I stand there in awe as Kam works her magic withStephanie. She’s putty in Kam’s hands. Kam is funny, sweet, charming, dirty, and all-around awesome. I’m not sure I care about losing anymore. I’m simply enjoying watching her in action.

Stephanie is laughing. I can’t get in a word. Who is this enigma that is Kamryn Hart?

At some point, Kam brushes her lips over Stephanie’s. Stephanie runs her hand over Kam’s bare waist and moans into her mouth.

I’m not sure whether I’m incredibly insulted or incredibly turned on. Judging by the sudden tightness of my pants, it’s quite possibly both.

Within minutes, Stephanie has agreed to go home with her. I nod at Kam. “You win. Let’s go back to the table.”

She winks. “Sorry, kitten, I have a much better offer.” She grabs Stephanie’s hand and makes her way toward the front door.

I barely got in a word with Stephanie. More importantly, I didn’t get to talk to Kam as much as I would have liked. That woman has more game than anyone I’ve ever seen.

I drop my head and walk back to our booth. Layton looks at me in shock. “Did you lose?”

I motion toward Kam and Stephanie at the entrance, and admit, “I did.”

Kam gives us the Cougars’ famous claw sign and then starts laughing as they leave. I can only shake my head as I ask no one in particular, “What does she have that I don’t?”

Arizona answers. “A vagina.”

I purse my lips. “Hmm. Fair point.

Bailey rubs my back. “She’s bizarrely charming, isn’t she? It’s infectious. She’s been this way since we were kids. Don’t take it personally. She always gets the person she wants andneverstrikes out.”

I sigh. “She likes men too, right?”

Bailey nods. “Yes, but you might not want to waste your time. She rarely sleeps with someone more than once. She had her heart broken to shreds in high school and hasn’t been in a single relationship since. Don’t fall for her. Her heart is gold when it comes to her friends and stone when it comes to physical relationships.”

Layton smirks. “Cheetah doesn’t do relationships either. Unless Gemma DePaul also has a twin, he’s not the commitment type.”

I narrow my eyes at him. He didn’t need to out my crush to our new friends. I mumble, “Dick.”

He chuckles as he wraps his arm around Arizona and pulls her close to him. I look at Quincy, who’s staring at them with daggers in his eyes.

We end up having a fun night. It’s nice hanging out with female athletes. The girls are all cool and fun, but it’s the one who already left that I can’t get out of my mind.

CHAPTER TWO

KAMRYN

Irun as fast as my ten-year-old legs allow as I find my way back to the dressing room where she told Bailey and me to wait. I’m trying to make sense of the bits and pieces of a conversation I just overheard.

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