Page 68 of Wild Love
I don’t think James knows what to say or do at her refusal. On second thought, I have a feeling James has seen it all.
“I’ll vouch for her,” I say. “Plus, she works for the team.”
I take her phone and mine and drop them in the basket, then grab her hand. “Come on, before they toss your delinquent ass out.”
We stop in the kitchen for drinks. I don’t miss the way Dakota runs her hand along the marble countertop, taking it all in. I know it’s an impressive kitchen, but seeing her response makes me appreciate it a little more.
“What do you want?” I ask and grab myself an energy drink.
“What are my options?” she asks, still walking around touching appliances and cabinet handles.
“Anything your tiny, black heart could want.”
“Let’s go with vodka and tonic. Any limes?”
“Yep.”
“Of course, there are limes.”
I make her drink and then take it to her. “Are you going to mock everything?”
“Sorry. I’m still spinning on the whole NDA thing. Do you make chicks sign those?”
“Me? No, but I didn’t just sign a sixteen-million-dollar contract.”
She mouths the words sixteen million.
“Yeah, and that doesn’t even include his endorsements.” I hold out my arm for her. “You ready to do this?”
She takes my arm, and the smell of her fruity shampoo floats under my nostrils. “Ready.”
Outside, the party is already going strong. A lot of guys from the team are here, some of their friends and girls. So many girls. If you want to inspire young kids to grow up and be hockey stars, just drive by one of Jack Wyld’s pool parties—ass and titties galore.
The music pumps, and people shout hello from the pool. Dakota sticks with me as we make the rounds. I chat with everyone, introducing her when needed. She already knows most of the team, but I make sure to talk her up to the guys she hasn’t met yet. Easy to do, if I’m honest.
It’s late afternoon, and the sun sits high in the sky. Dakota pulls her long hair over one shoulder and squints.
“I forgot my sunglasses,” she says.
“Do you want my hat?” I ask. “It’ll keep the sun off your face.”
“What about you?”
I shrug. “I don’t burn, and I have my shades.”
I place my Wildcats hat on her head. It’s too big and falls down low on her eyes. “Adorable.”
I’m pretty sure there’s an eye roll, but I can’t quite make it out under the brim of the hat.
“Should we brave the pool?”
“You don’t have to babysit me,” she says. “I can mingle and make new friends.”
“Trying to get rid of me, so you don’t have to admit how attracted you are to me right now?” I tug on the collar of my T-shirt. “I kept it on just for you. I don’t want you to embarrass yourself drooling over my hot bod.”
“Yeah, that’s it,” she says sarcastically. “You figured me out.”
Just for that, I take off my shirt, and man is my grin big when her gaze sweeps over my bare chest. I don’t know who she thinks she’s fooling. Not me.
