Page 119 of Hard to Handle

“Great. I’ve got to hit the showers.” I take everything he has with a grain of salt these days but nod, trying to give him the hint I’m not in the mood. He starts to walk away when I realize something. “Hey, Finn?”

“What’s that?”

“No negotiations about anything during the playoffs.”

“Come again?” he says as he takes a step back toward me, his hand curved around his ear as if he didn’t hear me.

“I said hold off the phone calls and negotiations about endorsements. My game is dialed. Shit is sitting right in the universe. I don’t want to jinx anything.”

“I feel you on that. Not a problem. I’ll send over who’s interested but nothing else. You’re focused on the Cup. I get it. I like the way you’re thinking.”

And when he walks away, I wonder if he’ll still like the way I’m thinking when all is said and done.

* * *

It’s late and freezing as I stand in the lot of the arena and wait for the rest of the guys to load the bus that will take us back to the airport with my cell to my ear.

“Hey.” She sounds half asleep. Sexy. Like home.

How did her voice become the first thing I wanted to hear after every game? When did it start drowning out everyone else’s?

“Did I wake you?”

Her sleep-drugged chuckle brings a smile to my face. “I fell asleep going over contracts.” She shuffles papers, and I can picture her snuggling into that big blanket on her couch with SportsCenter on mute, and an empty glass of wine on the table next to her. Papers will be spread everywhere and her laptop will be half-charged on the pillow beside her.

“Sounds exciting.”

“You gave me more than enough excitement tonight, thank you very much.” She pauses. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you play this well. You guys are like a well-oiled machine. It was so much fun to watch.”

“We’ve still got two games to win before we can celebrate anything,” I say holding up my finger to Jünger who’s waving me over.

“I’m all for celebrating every victory, no matter how big or how small.”

“You are, are you?”

Her seductive chuckle vibrates through the line. “I’ll show you just how much when you get home.”

My balls tighten at the thought. Will I ever get enough of her? The prissy business side, the stubborn softer side, and the vixen I hope no one else knows about?

I hope not.

Because hell if I’ve ever felt at peace like this. I’ve still got a long way to go, but this—she—is definitely a really good start.

“I’ll tell the pilot to hurry.”

Her laughter is all I hear as I end the call and head toward the bus.

CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO

DEKKER

ALL I CAN DO IS laugh.

All I can do is hope he feels the same way.

CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE

DEKKER