Page 5 of Playmaker

Instead of getting angry or offended, he just smiled more. Another dimple popped out. “See, you’ve just proven my point. Golf doesn’t include sex on the greens.” He pursed his lips for a moment, losing the dimples. “At the country club, maybe, but it’s optional.”

Part of me wanted to laugh, but I still didn’t trust where this was going. “I’m not going to have sex with you in return for any kind of lesson.”

Something flashed in his eyes, and his mouth turned down. “That’s not what I’m offering.”

Oh now, with the frown, I placed him. He had a kind of sexy frown on his face in the billboards that were plastered across the city. No dimples. This was Cooper. Captain of the Toronto Blaze. The man everyone wanted to meet. I raised an eyebrow. He wanted something. No one made an offer like that out of the pure goodness of their heart. I waited, and he rolled his eyes.

“I didn’t like the way that smug asshole talked to you. I’m offering to give you lessons in playing golf, and since I belong to Briarwood I can also show you the ropes around the clubhouse.”

Excitement fizzled in my chest. What the— That would be perfect. I imagined Benson’s face if I showed up, competent at golf and able to navigate the club. I’d do a lot for that…

Yeah, experience told me there would be strings. “What do you get out of it? Do you know Benson? You want to get back at him?”

“Never met him, but I know his type. Not a fan.”

“Then why would you do this?”

He looked over his shoulder, but no one was that close. Looking this way, yes, but not within hearing distance.

“I need a date.”

I tried, really hard, not to laugh. He looked sincere, but someone that good-looking could be a serial killer and he’d still have women begging to go out with him. This guy needed a date? With someone like me? I broke into a snort of laughter and had to cover my mouth with a hand before everyone turned to look at us.

I got myself under control. He was still smiling. Maybe this was some kind of prank?

“No, seriously,” I said when I could finally speak.

“Sorry to disappoint, but I was serious. I still need a date.”

He should be giving up by now. “Is this some kind of joke to you?”

“Why would you say that?”

“Because you don’t need to barter golf lessons to get a date.”

He raised his eyebrows. “So, you want to go out with me?”

What?“No!”

“Then I guess I do have to barter golf lessons.”

I wasn’t laughing anymore. I crossed my arms again. “You get lots of ‘dates,’ I’m sure.”

He shrugged. “True. But not what I need.”

“I don’t know what you need, but the answer is no.”

He wagged a finger at me and I wanted to snap it off. “You should hear what I’m offering before you turn down the deal. That’s legal 101. I need a date to my sister’s wedding.”

I blinked.What the hell?“A date to your sister’s wedding. Right. Is the wedding in Antarctica?”

“No, Connecticut. Bringing a lawyer would be perfect. But if I invite a woman to my sister’s wedding, she’s going to have certain…expectations.”

I bit my lip. That was something I could actually believe. If Cooper wanted to avoid romantic entanglements, maybe he did want a date he could control. Make sure she wasn’t posting stupid shit on social media about them being serious together. Those looks, money, that charm he was throwing out like it was trash? Some people wanted that.

No sex, he’d said. A date to a wedding. This sounded like one of Darcy’s romance novels. “You want me to pretend to be your girlfriend?”

He shook his head. “No, I want you to come as my friend.”

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