Page 67 of Goalie's Obsession

I'm doubled over giggling, picturing Blake's horror at the wine sacrifice, when Connor's voice cuts through my laughter.

"Something funny, Lucy Lou?"

I glance up, cheeks warm, still grinning. "Ryder’s just—"

"Entertaining you?" Connor’s brow lifts, casual as hell, but there’s an edge underneath.

I shoot him a look. "Oh, come on. You’ve had your turn all day."

"Didn’t realize we were taking turns," he murmurs, folding his arms, eyes locked on mine.

Ryder, oblivious, launches into the part where Blake nearly calls 911 because the oven is billowing smoke.

I press a hand to my mouth to stop from laughing again. "I mean… hedidalmost kill your captain with a steak fire."

Connor doesn’t blink. "Yeah. Right.Hilarious."

That’s when I smirk. And let it land. "Come on… I still think you're funny. But Ryder’s actually got jokes."

Connor's jaw tightens.

Before I can blink, his hand wraps around my wrist and he's pulling me up from the rock. He leads me a few steps away from the group, behind a scraggly Joshua tree that offers minimal privacy.

"You're mine, remember?" His voice is low, tainted with something that looks different on him…jealousy.

I should laugh it off. Make a joke about his caveman tendencies. Roll my eyes and remind him he's funnier than anyone I've ever met.

But I don't.

Instead, I stand frozen, caught in the intensity of his gaze. The air between us crackles with something dangerous. His fingers are still circled around my wrist, thumb pressed against my racing pulse.

The LA sun beats down, but that's not why I'm burning up. Connor's eyes drop to my lips, and I forget how to breathe.

"You jealous?" I ask, unable to stop the smile tugging at my lips. My pulse races under his fingers, and I'm sure he can feel it.

Connor's eyes darken. "So what if I am?"

The possessiveness in his voice makes my stomach dip.

No one's ever looked at me like this before—like I'm the only person in their world. Not my distracted parents with their society functions. Not Ethan with his investments and… whatever else he's got going on.

Connor's eyes don't move and I struggle to form coherent thoughts.

"It's kind of hot," I admit, leaning in with a smile.

He steps closer, crowding me against the Joshua tree. "Yeah?"

I nod, drinking in how his jaw clenches. The intensity of his focus makes me feel powerful, wanted,seen.

"You know you drive me crazy," he murmurs, his free hand coming up to brush a strand of hair from my face. "When you laugh at Ryder's stories, when you challenge Blake to races, when you just... exist in my space."

My heart hammers against my ribs. I've spent years being the perfect daughter, the supportive sister, fitting into whatever box others created for me.

But with Connor? I'm just Lucy.

And somehow, that's enough to make him look at me likethis.

"I like driving you crazy," I say, reaching up to trace the line of his jaw with my fingertip.

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