Page 33 of What It Must Be

I’m not sure what happens to me in her presence, but I can’t stop myself from taunting, “We’ll see about that, Scar. I’m pretty damn lovable.”

“I can see why, you’re a real ray of sunshine most days,” she deadpans.

“Okay, so no crossing the line and no falling in love. Anything else?”

“We already agreed that Gemma and Gunner will never know this was an arrangement, but I’m still trying to process the fallout they’ll experience once our agreement comes to an end. Maybe we can talk about that more on the flight home?”

“Deal,” I tell her, holding my hand out for her to shake.

She locks eyes with me and after a moment takes my hand in hers. “You’ve got yourself a deal, Mr. Wilson.”

As we settle in for the movie and the opening credits play, I move my hand to rest on my thigh but Scarlett surprises me once again when she takes it in hers. “Is this okay? I’m still pretty nervous.”

I give her hand an assuring squeeze. “Always. You can hold my hand whenever, Red.”

She gives me a shy smile before refocusing her attention on my laptop.

“This counselor is out of control,” I tell her after a few minutes in.

“I know. And bratwurst? Who would want to read that?”

“You should ask Dakota if she’ll add that in her next book,” I suggest. When Scarlett stares back in confusion, I clarify, “Carson’s wife, Dakota, is a romance author. She’s got a few books out now, I believe her pen name is Kota Lynn. Do you like to read?”

“Are you kidding me? How did I not know that? I’ve read all of her books and love them! She wrote a football series that I devoured. I honestly considered purchasing season tickets for the Voyagers after I read her first book.”

“Wait a minute. Your family owns a professional hockey team and you considered purchasing season tickets to Minnesota’s NFL team for what reason?”

“In hopes that one of the players would see me in the crowd and fall madly in love with me, obviously,” she explains in a tone that hints it should’ve been obvious to me.

“Sorry, not sorry. You’re stuck with hockey now,” I grumble.

“Aw, no need to get your panties in a twist, Benny Boy. I just liked the way their butts looked in their uniforms.”

I let out a grunt of acknowledgment before focusing back on the movie.

“Is it the pleather pants? Is that what does it for you, Little Red?” I question her a few moments later when Heath Ledger appears on the screen in what I’d call the most hideous outfit I’ve ever seen.

“You know, it just might be. If I got you a pair would you wear them for me?” The smirk she shoots my way is devious.

“Absolutely not.”

“Your tree trunk thighs probably wouldn’t fit in them anyways,” she sighs in defeat.

A few scenes later, I don’t take my eyes off the screen when I ask her, “Has Gemma pulled any of this on you yet?”

“What?”

“Lying about going to a party by saying she’s studying? Or the boys?”

“No, thank god. I think homeschooling helped on the party and boy front. But I feel like she’s been texting someone nonstop lately and I can’t help but feel like she has a crush. Of course, she won’t tell me anything, but I’ve got a feeling.”

“Are you ready for that next phase?”

“The phase where she starts dating? No, I’m absolutely not ready. Is anyone ever ready for that?”

“The pregnant belly . . . oh shit, I forgot about this scene.” I try to muffle my chuckle into my fist to avoid unwanted attention.

“I could see you doing this. The overprotective, embarrassing asshole act. What’s the worst thing you did to scare off one of Walker’s dates?” she asks me.

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