And then, he launched.
Six-foot-five of pure muscle and post-game adrenaline barreled straight toward me. Before I could react, he scooped me up and spun me in a full circle, my feet swinging midair.
I shrieked out a startled laugh. “Sawyer! What are you doing? No one’s even watching.”
“Don’t care.” He grinned like a lunatic as he set me down, brushing back a piece of my hair. “You’re here.”
“Oh my God,” Rachel said. “I think I just fell in love.”
Sawyer turned toward her with mock seriousness, pointing at me. “Hey, this one’s taken.”
Rachel stuck out a hand and smiled. “Rachel Thomas, Ellie’s PR wrangler slash therapist slash emotional support human.”
“Sawyer James.” He gave her a firm shake. “So you’re the legendary Rachel.”
“And you’re the golden retriever she won’t shut up about.”
I elbowed her. Hard.
Sawyer puffed his chest. “If she’s talking about me, I must be doing something right.”
“As long as I still get her for wine nights, you can have her on weekends.”
“Deal.” Sawyer’s eyes snapped back to mine, soft and full of something dangerous.
“I’m literally right here,” I muttered, trying not to blush. “Why does this feel like a bizarre custody battle?”
He leaned in, voice low and rough in my ear. “If it were up to me, you’d be a full-time arrangement.”
My breath caught. No. Absolutely not. He had no right sounding like that: deep, gravelly, and full of promises he hadn’t even made yet.
“Careful,” I whispered. “Someone might think you actually like me.”
“Isn’t that the point?” He pulled back enough to flash that grin, the one that made my knees question their entire structural integrity. “And I do like you, Ellie Miles. That’s exactly the problem.”
Rachel groaned. “Okay, I’m definitely in love.”
Sawyer laced his fingers through mine as if it was nothing. “You sure you’re not just jealous?”
“Please. Men exhaust me. Plus, I’ve witnessed enough late-night brooding over you to last a lifetime. I’ll keep living vicariously through El.”
“Rachel,” I hissed.
Sawyer’s face lit up like I’d just handed him a Super Bowl ring. “You brooded over me?”
“I’m revoking your best friend status,” I muttered.
He leaned down and brushed his lips against my temple. “Too late.”
And just like that, I was toast. Floaty, flushed, and utterly undone.
“Want to grab food?” he asked, casual and likely completely unaware of the cardiac episode I was having.
“Yeah,” I somehow managed to say. “That’d be nice.”
Rachel squeezed my arm. “I’m heading back to the hotel. We’ve got an early flight to Vegas, so try not to let your lover boy keep you out too late.”
“I’ll have her back by ten,” Sawyer said, tugging me close.
