Page 34 of The Pickleball Girl Finds Her Match

“Someone told me that you were a big deal,” she said, running her tongue across her top lip. “Come here and show me how big.”

Day had barely broken when Sebastian pulled open Endy’s front door and stepped out. The air felt fresh and dry against his bare arms.

He stepped over Endy’s hiking shoes on the front steps. They had kissed all the way from his parked car to her front door and started pulling off each other’s clothes as they came up the steps. Frantic to get inside, Endy had kicked off her shoes, and they lay there overturned, the laces still knotted. Sebastian picked them up and placed them neatly next to the front door before he sighed contentedly.

He stretched tall, extending his arms overhead. His body was sore, his muscles tired, and he knew he’d be running slower at that morning’s tennis match, but he smiled to himself. That’s what he got for staying the night with Endy and having sex three times, not including at the waterfall.

But he couldn’t keep his hands off her. She was an intoxicating blend of beauty and brains, and he couldn’t remember the last time that he’d laughed so much with someone. When she smiled, her whole face lit up, and it made his heart swell to watch her. All that, plus her exceptional skill in bed, had Sebastian completely spellbound.

It had been a long time since he’d felt so intensely about something … or someone. The past couple of girls whom he’d dated longer than a few months had all been pretty chill at the beginning. But after about the third date, they would each want more from him. Except Sebastian felt like he didn’t have anything more to give.

Until this girl, Endy. If it were up to Sebastian, he’d spend every waking—and sleeping—minute with her.

Before even getting dressed, he had sent a text to her saying that he would be on Stadium Court playing mixed doubles with friends who were in town visiting. Maybe Endy could meet up with him after his match or later that day? He smiled, knowing she would wake up to a text from him.

Sebastian had pulled on his shorts and shirt and ran a hand through his disheveled hair. Then he’d leaned over and kissed her forehead as she slept. Her eyelids had fluttered, and she let out this quiet sigh with a little smile. It had taken all his willpower to not crawl back into bed with her.

But he would talk to her later in the morning, and they would set up a time to see each other that day. And, hopefully, the day after that, and the day after that, and the day after that.

21

Maria was still teasing her, giving her sultry bedroom-eye looks, wiggling her eyebrows, and licking her lips. And Endy couldn’t help but giggle. When she’d rushed into the pro shop late for work, walking a little gingerly and bowlegged, her friend had immediately guessed what Endy had been doing the night before.

Endy carried a basket of clean towels to the table near the front door. “I’ll never be able to look at a waterfall another way,” she said, laughing. “What’ll happen if we find ourselves at Niagara Falls?”

Maria joined in laughing. “And he wants to see you again. Endy, I’m so happy for you.”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” replied Endy. “I mean, a guy like Sebastian must have a million girls chasing him. Why would he want me?”

“Maybe you’re the one in a million,amiga,” said Maria. “Anything can happen, right?”

Endy’s lips pulled up in a hopeful smile and she shrugged.

“Sure, anything can happen.” She picked up an empty box near the front desk and looked around the pro shop. The tables were neatly arranged with stacks of Whisper Hills logo merchandise, white towels, T-shirts, visors, and water bottles covering every inch. Ready to start the day, she pulled out her keys and walked to the shop’s entrance just as the telephone gave a shrill ring, breaking the quiet of the morning.

Endy went on and unlocked the building’s front door, pushed it open, and looked over the vast grounds surrounding the racquet club. It was another sun-filled day with ultramarine-blue skies, the pro shop was organized and running smoothly, and she’d just had a night of incredible sex with a guy who had already said he wanted to see her again. Endy breathed in deeply, a satisfied smile on her face, then turned and headed, still a little gingerly and bowlegged, for her office.

“You don’t have anything to worry about,” Maria exclaimed, rushing up to Endy.

“That’s the kind of thing you say that makes me worry,” replied Endy as she walked back into the pro shop from the hallway.

“¡Ay!”Maria said. “Don’t look!” Maria stepped in front of her, blocking Endy’s view to the patio overlooking the large Stadium Court. Endy tried to step around Maria, who mimicked Endy’s movement, essentially blocking her.

“Maria, what are you—”

The door to the pro shop opened, and a stunning twenty-something woman drifted in, her long, wavy, copper-red-brown hair framing her model-like face and her thin, athletic body looking perfect in a pure-white Fila tennis dress.

She stilled, then removed her sunglasses, orienting herself. Spying Maria, she smiled, her teeth bright and flawless. “Hi, I have a reservation on Stadium Court and I’m just checking in. My name is Sloane.”

“Sloane,” Maria repeated with a nod, her eyes wide. “Sloane Stewart.” The telephone in the pro shop rang, but Maria remained rooted to where she stood.

“Did I hear Sloane’s voice?” asked Joel, walking around Endy in the hallway. He grinned and, within four strides, had Sloane in a big embrace. “Man, you look fantastic.”

“Fight on,” she replied, smoothing her tennis dress over her hips. “How long has it been? Five, six years?”

“Something like that,” replied Joel. “Glad to see you’re still playing.”

“Oh yeah. I’ll be playing until I’m ninety.” She laughed smoothly. “I’m just branching out at this point.”

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