Page 64 of Sweet Spot
Darrell smirks. “Guess it wasn’t your equipment after all, just reserved for someone else?”
I shake my head. “See you guys later.”
* * *
“Oh my gosh!” Keira’s eyes are wide with excitement as I guide her through the arena. “I feel like I should have changed or put on some fresh deodorant or something.” She smooths a hand over her hair.
She looks beautiful in a golf skirt and spandex shirt. Her face is free of makeup but painted with a glow from the sun.
“I have you covered,” I say and point to a table of Suns merchandise.
She looks over every item before she narrows it down between a hat and a T-shirt each with the team logo.
“She’ll take both,” I tell the guy and hand him the money for it.
“Thank you.” She pulls on the T-shirt over the one she was wearing and then places both hands on her hips. “What do you think?”
I set the hat on her head. It’s too big and nearly covers her eyes. “Perfect.”
Stepping closer, I adjust the cap, tuck her hair behind one ear, and let my hand linger at her neck. She leans into my fingers, and the day of being around her with only small touches and no kissing has officially become too much. I’ve been itching to feel more of her, brush my lips against hers.
The thing is, I knew it’d be just like this once I gave in—an obsessive desire to touch her all the time. And as super as that sounds, Keira isn’t just some girl I’m seeing. Lines have blurred, for sure, but I still have a job to do. And right now that job is to reward her for all her hard work.
“Come on, stinky.” I let my hand fall away and take hold of hers, interlocking our fingers.
Seeing Keira’s excitement as we sit behind the team is worth everything I own and then some. The team is still warming up, and Keira perches on the edge of her chair, one hand squeezing my thigh as she takes it all in. Zeke Sweets, the team’s rising star, waves and walks over when he spots me.
“Hey, Zeke, how are you?” I stand and shake his hand.
“Good, good. Nice to see you.” He glances at Keira and smiles timidly. For all his stardom, he’s a pretty quiet guy.
“Zeke, this is Keira. Keira, this is—”
She stands. “Zeke Sweets, I know. You went to Valley, too. My dad and I have been following your career. You’re amazing. Incredible. Really, I’m a big fan.”
The big guy smiles for real at her cute rambling. “Thank you.”
“Keira plays golf at Valley,” I tell him and watch her face pink. She’s freaking adorable all flustered in front of Zeke.
“That’s great. I hear the team’s pretty good.” He holds the basketball at his side, giving Keira his full attention.
“You follow golf?” Her jaw drops, and I can’t resist chuckling at how awestruck she is.
“I keep an eye on all the Valley teams. Gotta rep the alma mater.” He glances over his shoulder. “I should get back out there. Good to see you, Linc.” He smiles at Keira. “Really nice to meet you. Good luck on the rest of the season.”
Keira turns to me when Zeke walks away, opens her mouth, and lets out a long, quiet scream. “I can’t believe I just met Zeke Sweets. Your life really is awesome.”
I nod and drape an arm around her shoulders. “It really is.”
* * *
I pull into the garage, kill the engine, and turn to Keira, who slept almost the whole way back to my place.
“Rise and shine, beautiful.”
She lifts her head slowly from the headrest and looks around.
“Where are we?”
