Page 34 of In It to Win It

“Lucky!” I call over to her.

She laughs. “Come on, Killer.”

Lacey serves this time, and we do a few more back-and-forth rounds with similar results to the first one. Frustration mounts in me and when I finally get a chance to drive the ball down for a point, I hit it too hard and too far . . . and it’s out.

More girl hand-slapping.

“Jesus,” I say to Théo. He’s having a hard time not laughing. “What happened to your competitive streak? Come on, man. You can’t take it easy on them just because one of them’s your wife.”

“Take it easy on them?” His eyebrows fly up. “In case you haven’t noticed, we haven’t had a chance to take it easy.”

I scowl.

I’m sweaty now, in my jeans and long-sleeved shirt. I reach for the hem of my tee and peel it up and over my head. I toss it aside and turn to face Taylor.

She’s ogling my chest.

Well, if this gives us an advantage, I’m all for it. In it to win it.

I tighten my abs and straighten and bend my arms a few times to prepare, flexing my biceps.

Her gaze follows my movements, her lips parted.

Heh.

When Taylor misses the ball, I mentally congratulate myself. Maybe I should take my pants off, too.

But my self-laudatory moment is short-lived when she once again drills the ball. I dive for it and end up rolling in the sand.

“That’s it!” Taylor shouts. “Game!”

“Shit.” I spit out sand.

“You did great, Ava.” Taylor gives the girl a hug.

“You’re awesome.” Ava stares at Taylor adoringly.

“Hi, girls!” A voice calls from across the sand. I see a woman approaching, carrying a toddler. “How’s it going?”

Ava runs toward her. “Mom! We won against the boys! Taylor’s fierce.”

The woman grins. She’s a little older than us, I’m guessing late thirties. She sets down the toddler, a cute blond boy, who immediately rushes to Taylor.

Taylor bends and scoops him up. “Carter, you handsome man, you.”

He pats her face and babbles.

She props him on her hip as we all walk over to Ava and her mom. “Elizabeth, I don’t know if you know JP? JP is Théo’s brother. JP, my next-door neighbor, Elizabeth.”

I shake Elizabeth’s hand with a smile.

“And this is Carter.” Taylor bounces him.

“My man.” I hold out my hand for a fist bump.

He frowns at me.

Taylor laughs and lifts one pudgy little hand to tap it against mine.

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