“Do you know how to use a gun?”
She shakes her head. “No.”
My chest tightens. Why didn’t her brothers or father show her?
I guess she always had them to look out for her. Now? That’s my job.
“Okay, come here. Let me show you some basics… Then we’ll go to the gun range this weekend and practice. Alright?”
Hesitantly, she follows as I toss my coat on the sofa.
“Alright, tulip?” I ask again.
She nods, blinking several times before taking a solid breath in. “Alright.”
thirty-two
I stretchmy calves and ready myself for the next pass. Focused, I sprint down the sideline and trap the ball clean off my foot. Our forward breaks ahead, and I send it up to her. She bobbles, then recovers before the defense can close in. My heart stutters as she takes the shot.
The keeper launches for the top corner—and misses.
“Score!”
My team rushes to the center in victory, all smiles and shining eyes.
“That wasclean, Scoutie!” A few of the women slap me on the back with kudos for a job well done.
I scan for Apollo on the opposite sideline. He looks just as thrilled as I feel inside, and I scamper over to him, letting my hips wag dramatically in a victory dance.
His thick arm hooks around my neck, hauling me into his chest. Pressing a kiss to my head, he then scrubs the same spot with his knuckles.
I laugh as I squirm out of his grasp and shove him back. “Hey!”
“Look at you, Maverick!” He brushes some of my loose hair from my ponytail off my forehead.
Grinning, I grab my water bottle from the bench and squirt a big drink. “Did you see me?”
He chuckles like what I said is ridiculous. “Couldn’t take my eyes off you.” His gaze drags down my body, then back up. My thighs quiver.
“No?”
“No. Other than clocking your weak right side? I was thinking about taking you home…helping you stretch it out.”
I smack his arm. “My right side isnotweak.”
He smirks. “Hmm. I don’t know. I think if I put your ankles by your ears, you’d improve real fast.”
I mock a gasp. “Are youflirtingwith me, Apollo Griffin?”
Leaning over, his voice tingles against my ear. “No. If I were flirting, I’d tell you I can’t wait to get my lips on yours the second my game ends.”
My breath gets caught in my chest. “You can kiss me here,” I whisper.
He straightens up and slides his tongue over his teeth. Shaking his head, he murmurs, “I didn’t meanthoselips.”
Now, I feel the heat so strongly, my insides shake. I swat my towel against his chest. “Get to your game, stallion. I’ll be waiting at home for you.”
He bites his lip, preventing a large smile from taking over his face. “Stallion?”
