Page 63 of Win Big

The team mascot comes our way, a giant cat wearing a Cougars’ jersey. He stops in front of Wyatt and puts his hands... er, paws... out. Wyatt stands and gives them a smack. There’s a time-out or something. The music is a peppy song by Shawn Mendes, and Court the Cougar starts dancing with Wyatt.

Sweet smiling Jesus. I can only shake my head and laugh as Wyatt boogies down with the huge cat, people cheering him on around us. Then Court gives me a high five too.

It’s the last few minutes of the game, and the crowd starts chanting “defense, defense!” and of course Wyatt’s right in there, fist in the air. When the Suns score, there’s a huge groan from the crowd.

“Damn!” Wyatt drops his head forward briefly. “It’s okay, it’s okay. We got this.Go Cougars!”

Everyone is on their feet as the game winds down. Even I’m holding my breath when the Suns make another attempt but miss. And even I throw my hands in the air to cheer when that happens and the Cougars get the ball and Isaiah Brown dribbles it up the court. The crowd goes crazy as he shoots... and sinks it with two seconds left.

Wyatt cheers and grabs me, picking me right up off the floor in a jubilant hug. Then he plants a hard kiss on my mouth, draws back, and smiles down into my eyes. “That’s what I’m talking about, baby!”

He’s such a force... energetic and enthusiastic and engaging. He pulls me into his web of excitement. I’m as joyful as he is, and I don’t even care that much. I’ve never had so much fun at a basketball game. I grin back at him, holding on to his shoulders as he spins me around.

We make our way out of the arena, Wyatt’s arm protectively around me. Then we leave the crowd behind, because of his security pass that takes us out to the parking garage, where he was able to use his parking spot tonight. He nods at the vehicles we pass. “Ever wonder why the hockey players get the shittiest parking spots here?”

I laugh. “Because the Cougars players get the best ones?”

“Yep.” He shakes his head. “We know where we rank here.”

“Hockey’s getting more popular.”

“True. Not popular enough to give us prime parking spots and pay us thirty million dollars a year, though.” He opens my door for me.

“Five million’s not enough?”

“Hey, I’m not complaining. Wait. Don’t tell your dad that. Or Théo. Because they should definitely pay me more.”

I can’t help but laugh. When he’s in the driver’s seat I say, “Thirty million does sound obscene.”

“It’s crazy. Where to now?”

“Home?” I ask hopefully.

“My place or yours?”

“That wasn’t what I meant.”

“No way, princess! We need to celebrate that win. And it’s early.”

“Here we go again,” I mutter. “Okay, it’s Saturday night. Where do you want to go?”

“I thought you’d have this all planned out for us. Maximum exposure, right?”

“Sorry to disappoint you.”

“You never disappoint me, princess.”

“Except if I want to go home too early.”

“I’m fine with that as long as I get to come too.”

“Wyatt. We talked about this.”

He roars out of the parking garage. “We’re playing by my rules, remember?”

Shit.

It wouldn’t be a problem, except that I’m so damn attracted to him, I want to unfasten my seatbelt, climb across the console, and straddle him. I’m weak. I want him. I know I shouldn’t, but he keeps making me like him, and looking at me like I’m beautiful and fascinating, and making suggestive comments that have me think he wants me just as much, and how the hell am I supposed to resist that?How?

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