Page 35 of Bad Teammate
Derek was not scared off by my cold shoulder. “Have you met everyone yet?”
“No. I asked Sasha, but he was too busy stuffing his face and now he’s gone.”
He offered me his hand. “Allow me, then.”
I stared at his outstretched hand. I was so conflicted. I wanted to be mad at him … but another part of me was thrilled that he was still trying.
I let out a breath of surrender and took Derek’s hand at last. Gently, he helped me to my feet. My jumpsuit boasted an open back, and Derek laid his big hand on my bare flesh. His touch was firm yet gentle as he guided me around the room. A pleasant warmth radiated from his skin to mine.
Derek took me first to meet his captain, Dane DeHardt, and his fiancée, Austen. I was pleasantly surprised when he introduced me as Katerina Nikolaeva,not“Niko’s sister.” Dane and Austen were shocked that he could sound so Russian when he pronounced my name.
“Hedoespronounce it very well,” I agreed, giving him my eyes.
The four of us made some small talk, and then Derek and I moved on to meet more people.
“I know you probably don’t want to hear this from me,” he whispered discretely as he moved me to the next group, “but you look lovely tonight, Katerina.”
Ah, Lord.How was he able to make me turn to mush so easily? He made me blush just in time to meet the next group of people: Jean-Gabriel with his girlfriend Eva, Mikey, a guy named Matchbox, Tanner, Jaden and his identical twin Brayden.
All the men at the party were dressed so nice, but Derek simply stood out. He’d left the top few buttons of his Oxford undone. The hint of his thick chest hair lured my eyes down his neck more times than I cared to admit. But I suppose that made us equal, since he couldn’t keep his eyes off my chest, either … eventually, I had to force myself to stop looking at him. I was afraid someone was going to catch us and point it out.
After we’d made our way through the penthouse and met everyone, Derek led me to the kitchen. “So I know you’ve had your fill of Texas, but could I interest you in some dinner? I promise, it’s good. It’s the best barbecue we’ve got in Dallas.”
“I suppose I could give it a chance.” I grabbed a plate and joined the end of the line. “But only because you’re so persistent.”
Derek grabbed his own plate and joined me in the line. He leaned closer to my ear. “Persistence is key.”
I leaned away from him. “Lessons learned on the hunt?”
His eyebrows pulled together. “The hunt …?”
“Yeah, the hunt,” I said as I casually made a plate. “You know—when you’re going for the kill?”
“Ah.” He cracked a smile. “You’re never going to let me forget I said that, are you?”
“Persistenceiskey, isn’t it?”
Realizing he’d been bested, he gave a small chuckle. The athlete piled meat high onto his plate and joined me at the island. But before he could take a single bite, little Mackenzie ran up to him.
“Uncle Reavo! Uncle Reavo!” she shouted, jumping up and down with her arms outstretched. “I wanna ride!”
“Now? But I just made a plate, sweetheart.”
“Awwww.” The poor girl slouched, looking heartbroken.
“Argh.” Derek winced. “That face. Kills me every time. Alright, kiddo, let’s do this.” He set his plate down, took the girl into his arms, and hoisted her atop his shoulders. “Oof. You’re getting heavy, aren’t you?”
She giggled and denied it. “No,I’m not.”
“Oh yes you are!” He scooped up a forkful of macaroni and cheese and held it high over his head. “Here you go, Mack. Your favorite.”
She took the whole bite. “Mmm!I love mac and cheese!”
“I know you do. That’s why your parents named you Mack-and-cheese Hathaway.”
“Uncle Reavo! That’s not my name!” She squealed with infinite amusement. “It’s MackenzieHathaway!”
I must’ve been beaming as I watched the two of them interact. I couldn’t help it—they were so adorable together. The curly-haired cutie, riding on the shoulders of the big-hearted giant.
