Page 63 of Loving the Legend
I gaze in his direction as he turns his body to face me.
“Imagine running into Ty Washington at a party,” he says.
I quirk my eyebrows. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to being a recognizable person.
“Same could be said about Wilhelm Burton,” I reply. He nods. As someone much more famous, he’s not surprised I recognize him.
“Call me Will. I saw you play in Miami a few weeks back. It was a great game. You literally cut up one of the greatest players the game’s ever seen. I thought you had him there for a moment,” he says, grinning.
“Thanks. We worked hard, but they outplayed us. What were you doing in Miami?”
“I was being photographed for a Louis Vuitton campaign.”
I nod as the bartender delivers our drinks. I’m about to tell him to enjoy his night when he says, “I’m heading back up to the rooftop lounge.” He signals for me to join him.
“What’s on the rooftop?” I ask.
“Epic views,” he says with a wickedly sexy grin.
The rooftop is less crowded. Khruangbin’s “A Calf Born in Winter” blares from the speakers. A pool sits in the center of the lounge, but the real thing to take in is the 360-degree view. One side of the rooftop views the boundless Pacific Ocean with thelucent full moon reflected off of the water. The opposite side of the rooftop views the mountains.
“Malibu at night is one of my favorite places in the world,” he says, facing me.
“I live close by but don’t take advantage of it enough.”
“An ex I dated lives in Malibu. I’ve spent a lot of time here. I was sadder about losing the view of the beach than the actual breakup.”
I chuckle. “Couldn’t negotiate sharing the space with her?”
He studies me, something shifting in his gaze. “He—” he says, hesitating before continuing, “—owned the house.”
Oh, shit.
I fight a grin. “That’s a bummer. Ocean views aren’t cheap to come by,” I say, straightening my spine.
“Pardon my forwardness, but your dating life seems top secret,” he says. “I looked you up after your game in Miami.”
I raise my eyebrows. “No secret. I don’t date. I’m focused on my game.”
He leans closer to me and lowers his voice. “That’s respectable…but hypothetically,ifyou dated, would I have a shot?”
I grin at his boldness. It’s hot as fuck. This kinda thing never happens to me. I’ve heard stories about ballas being propositioned by celebrities. It’s one thing to hear about it, but it’s another thing for it to happen in real life.
Fuck, I could really use a distraction from Sid. And I mean, Ididprep.
Standing this close to me with his chiseled features and rugged swag...
I clear my throat. “I don’t date, but I’d be game tonight.”
His face lights up. “Definitely interested.” He throws his drink back. “We could leave now if you wanted.”
His urgency goes straight to my dick, and I’m glad it’s dark out or else I’d be worried about a tenting situation.
I thumb my ear. “Uh, I kinda need to admit something. I’ve never been with a man before. Not sure if you want someone more exp—”
“All good. I’m happy to take the lead. It’d be my honor to be your first,” he says, and his sincerity slackens some of the tension in my shoulders.
He sets down his empty glass on the table next to us.
