Page 21 of Game Changer

There are a million things I could say to her. Ask what she’s doing here. If she’s thought about me since the plane. Whether I’m imprinted on her brain like she’s pressed her way into mine.

I settle on, “So, your sister’s marrying Harlan.”

She huffs out a little breath. “And you work for him.”

“Wouldn’t put it like that.”

I wet a paper towel, intending to use it on the coffee stain on her shirt until my attention lands on her breasts.

“How would you put it?”

My gaze snaps back up, and I hand her the towel instead.

“Stars make the team,” I say as she goes to work on it with vigor. “Harlan gets the brightest he can afford.”

“Meaning you.”

I cock my head. “I’m the brightest in the league.”

Her groan is surprisingly guttural for such a small person. “And I said you should try basketball.”

Oh, yeah, this day is taking a turn for the better.

“You were right.”

“Ugh.” She tugs on her hair, agonized. It’s strangely endearing.

Before I can decide whether to laugh or just watch her some more, she looks straight at me with those bright blue eyes.

“Don’t say anything,” she pleads, cutting a look at the door. “About the stuff I said about my sister or about us meeting.”

I’m still trying to understand what’s going on in her head when something furry brushes my legs.

“There you are.” Miles calls from the doorway, not waiting for an invitation. His gaze lands on Nova. “Hey there. I’m Miles, and this is Waffles.” He gestures to the French bulldog sniffing my shoe.

“Nova.” She shakes his hand.

“What were you drinking?”

“Cappuccino,” she says.

“Leave it to me.”

Nova smiles for the first time.

Except she’s smiling at him, not me.

“Clay thinks he’s smooth with that ‘I do my talking on the court’ bullshit, but he’s only an all-star troublemaker,” Miles says as he turns to the espresso machine.

This time, she laughs.

It’s musical, and my chest tightens.

When she bends down to pet the dog, I swallow the groan.

Jesus, I just got jock-blocked by a Frenchie.

I’m not standing around playing reserve to my shooting guard and his pint-sized dog.

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