Page 31 of Playing Rucking Hard

“In case it wasn’t clear before,” he says, his voice low and sure, “I’mreallyglad you came.”

It’s not fair, how his words can wrap around me like a lasso, making me feel trapped and free.

“I almost didn’t,” I admit, staring down into my coffee, which is as dark as a storm. Fitting. Because the storm that just played out as he eye fucked me isn’t going to end any time soon. “I sat in the car, wanting a reason to leave.”

“I figured.” His tone is soft, almost teasing. “But I knew if the kiss didn’t drag your beautiful ass through that door, then the lure of coffee and cake would do it.”

Yes, he knows me well without knowing me at all. “Coffee was a powerful reason, but I don’t think you understand how risky this is. If anyone sees us …”

“About that, I have a plan.”

“That doesn’t involve me being forced to look for an office job without any references?” He might be on a million-dollar contract, but has he forgotten that us cheerleaders barely make more than minimum wage, and even then, only for the hours we work?

“I promise you, it won’t come to that. We’re just two old friends catching up.” He leans forward, his elbows resting on the table. “If anyone sees us, if anyone finds out, that’s all this is.”

I arch a brow. “No one will believe it. You aren’t known to have female friends.”

“They’ll believe whatever we tell them, if anyone finds out.” The corner of his mouth tilts up in a grin equal parts charming and maddening. “Think about it. We met before knowing we’d end up on opposite sides of the Mavericks’ no-fraternization policy. There’s no rule against being friends.”

I scoff. “Friends? Dylan, you know what I look like naked.”

“I’ve got a bad memory and think we should do it again.”

“Dyl, I’m serious. We spent the night together.”

“Technically, you left before morning, so we didn’t spend the whole night.”

“Dyl, be serious, please. You kissed me at the charity ball. I don’t know how we can pretend we’re just friends.”

“Again, technically, we kissed each other at the charity ball. We had a moment. No one saw, and no one cared. If photos come out, we can say you were upset because some sleeze tried to take advantage of you, and I was being your shield.”

“No one will believe us.” My resolve weakens. It could work. I mean, it’s better if no one finds out, but if they do, as long as Dylan keeps to the story, who’s gonna call us both liars?

“Look at the truth, and then look at how we can amend the record,” he says after a pause, allowing me time to digest his idea. “We hooked uponce,before we knew any of this mattered. Then you started a new job. Neither of us did anything wrong. The origami notes don’t break any rules.”

“The kiss?” Because it was one hellova kiss and I won’t forget it any time soon.

“Hmm, the kiss.” His voice drops lower, and I feel his growl between my thighs. “The truth is, I was always going to try to kiss you that night. And you were always going to let me. But the point is, nobody saw. No one else knows about us hooking up, or the kiss. If they do, we’ll write our own narrative.”

I shake my head, wanting to believe him, but how can I? “You make it sound so simple. But it’s not. If someone takes a picture of us, if rumors start …”

“They won’t,” he says, cutting me off gently. “Because we’ll keep it casual. Public. Safe.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “Public and safe? Do you even hear yourself? Public is the opposite of safe for me.”

He chuckles softly, leaning back in his chair. “You’re overthinking it. We’re not sneaking around, Emma. We’re not doing anything wrong. We’re just being friends. Friends can grab coffee, right? They can talk. Catch up. It’s not a crime.”

“You’re oversimplifying this.”

“And you’re over-complicating it,” he fires back, his grin fading. “Look, I get it. You’re worried. You’ve got more to lose than I do, and that’s not fair. But I’m not asking for forever here. I’m asking for a chance to prove that whatever this thing between us is... it’s worth figuring out.”

My chest tightens. “But what about those girls you are dating?”

“They can be part of the plan.” His grin returns, in spades. “My agent got me selected asAustralia’s Favorite Bachelor. Dating single women who want to lift their profile comes with the job.”

“Lucky you,” I sneer. “It’s not cheating if we’re not in a relationship.”

“Lucky us.” He waggles another spoonful of cake at me until I relent and wrap my lips around it more seductively than I did before. I’ll be damned if I’m the only one getting turned on by coffee and cake. “I’ve already complained to my agent that Tessa wanted more than a handshake at the end of the night. These women want thefull Dylan Fleskiexperience.”

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