Page 51 of The Wingman

“That’s really fucking cool, Darce.”

“It was.” Using statistics to help people made that project so fun; it didn’t even feel like work. “They have a Vancouver branch of the organization and a few events coming up. I might go to one.”

“And you should find a job that makes you smile like that.”

I snort. “Most jobs don’t make people happy, and I have nothing to complain about. My job is fine. It pays the bills and I get vacation time and great benefits. They pay for my phone, which is nice. And they paid for me to ship my stuff here when I moved to the Vancouver office.” I force a bright, optimistic smile. “It’s not so bad.”

He tilts his head, one eyebrow going up like he doesn’t believe me.

“And yeah, maybe a huge part of my job is to save money for the insurance company by predicting how much patients will cost long term, and they use our data to determine premiums, ultimately making the owners richer, but that’s a huge chunk of the actuarial field. And that’s business.” I shrug. “A lot of jobs are about money when it comes down to it.”

I had a job I loved once, right out of university. And then I fucked it all up. It’s better this way, with a boring job. No one gets hurt and no one gets fired.

He rubs his jaw. “I know I’m not as smart as you?—”

“You are, Hayden. Don’t say that.” I hate when he makes comments like that, like he’s some dumb jock. “There are lots ofways to be intelligent that have nothing to do with school or math. Social skills, kindness, and compassion count just as much.” My expression turns wry. “And you always had good grades in school.”

It’s dim in here, but it almost seems like he’s blushing. “I was trying to say that you deserve to have a job you get excited about, not just one you put up with. Something that doesn’t feel like work.”

We lock eyes for a long moment, just smiling at each other, and even in the low restaurant lighting, his eyes glitter. My gaze follows the sharp line of his jaw, his stubble, and my fingers itch to trace it.

He really is otherworldly handsome. In a different life, he’d be at this cast party as one of the actors.

That isn’t why I feel lucky to be here with him, though. Hayden is one of the kindest people I know, and despite the constant attention he gets for his looks or career, or that he’s essentially a celebrity in a city that loves hockey, it hasn’t gone to his head. He could snap his fingers and have women fall at his feet, but he’s sitting at a party with his dorky friend from university.

“This is why I don’t talk about my job on dates.” My smile is self-deprecating. “I’m making up a rule number six of being a player: don’t talk about boring stuff on dates. Only talk about fun, sexy topics.”

He grins. “Fun, sexy topics,” he repeats.

“Like…” I rack my brain for something funny.

“Like…” He makes ago ongesture. “I can’t wait to hear this.”

“Like what your favorite sex position is.”

CHAPTER 24

DARCY

Hayden blinkslike I’ve grown another head. “What?”

He looks so serious and stricken that I start laughing. “Hayden, don’t be so uptight. I know you have one.”

His eyes flash with heat, his gaze drops to my mouth, and he swallows. “I don’t know. Depends on the situation and how I’m feeling.” A frisson of electricity runs up my spine at the dark look in his eyes. “Probably whatever position makes her come the hardest.”

My stomach dips at the image of Hayden in bed, giving his partner his full attention as he works to make her come. My pulse begins to pound between my legs, and I sip the rest of my drink down to the ice.

“You?” he asks lightly.

My mind has gone blank, and I can’t remember a single position. I’m just thinking about Hayden in bed and what it would be like. His body is ridiculous, and paired with his thoughtful, fun-loving nature, sleeping with Hayden Owens might be a life-changing experience.

No wonder he’s a rumored sex god.

I get a mental image of him on top of me, pressing me intothe bed with his size and weight. I’m on my stomach, and when he pushes inside me, my eyes roll back at the intense fullness of him, the sensation of his lips on the back of my neck, and the low rumble of his groan.

My skin burns hot. “The one where I’m on my stomach, lying down?” My voice sounds thin and high. “And he’s on top of me?” I clear my throat.

“That’s a good one.” His voice is hoarse, and he’s gripping his glass so hard his knuckles go white. “Easier to give you a G-spot orgasm.” He blinks. “Her. Givehera G-spot orgasm.”

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