Page 30 of Worth Risking It

I took a quick breath and went downstairs to the main level.

“Baby girl.”

A thorough scan showed me the living room and kitchen empty, as well. Glancing through the glass wall to the garden showed no sign of anyone, either.

Anxiety was building in my gut. After what happened earlier tonight, I was teetering on the edge of panic. Even though I just got off the phone with Morozov, that didn’t mean he hadn’t decided to retaliate to defend his so-called wounded pride. That whole conversation could have been a diversion.

“Shit.”

Opening the door to the basement, I bounded down the steps to the last door. The closer I got, the louder the noise inside became. I could hear shouting and laughter, a ball thudding in between. Confused, I opened the entrance to the exercise room.

Chastity was bent over, hugging a basketball to her stomach, Wyatt curled over her back, trying to grab it. She was laughing hysterically, wiggling from one side to the other, dodging his attempts. He was wearing a pair of sweatpants and she only a robe, both of them covered in sweat.

“Um…hello?” I called out, my lids narrowing, my insides sinking.

They fell still, their sights landing on me. Her smile never wavering, she squealed, “Hey, baby. You wanna play?”

Wyatt snorted and stood up, staggering away. Huffing and puffing, his hands on his sides, he looked at me and shook his head. “Don’t fall for it, boss. She’s a fucking ringer.” Tipping his head, he blew a long exhale through pursed lips. “Don’t let her fool you.”

By their reactions to seeing me, any hint of suspicion drained. If there was something odd going on, they would have been flustered and surprised at being caught.

It was Wyatt and Chastity. I had nothing to worry about. He was the most loyal person I’d ever met, and she adored me.

“She good, huh?” I chuckled, eyeing my bride to be.

Her hair was frazzled and damp, hands on hips, her large chest rising and falling with labored breaths. The exertion had her cheeks pink, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

He ran a hand through his hair, shaking the sweat off. “She’s a fucking liar, is what she is.”

She chortled, holding her hands out. “How did I lie?”

“You said you’d only played a few times. Liar!” he teased, pointing at her.

“I told you fat girls could still be athletic. That’s what I said.”

I burst out laughing, going to her side. Wyatt never hid the fact that he didn’t appreciate big women like I did. Another reason I felt silly for having a second of doubt about what I walked in on. Of course, it was an innocent game of basketball. Wyatt didn’t like his women being more than a size six.

Besides, he had tried to seduce her, and my girl wasn’t interested. She was strong and devoted.

And I was still keeping three mistresses behind her back. Why could I not show her the same level of loyalty as she showed me? I worshipped this woman, I loved her like no one else in my life. I never even knew I could be this head over heels for someone, yet I had a mistress at home, in San Francisco, and Washington, DC.

I didn’t deserve this woman. She was amazing, sensual, alluring, beautiful, passionate, caring, patient. I needed to be a better man for her. She deserved the same energy and effort she put forth.

Throwing his palms up and bowing his chin, he chuckled breathlessly. “You win, Chazzy. I admit, I got my ass handed to me. Fat people can do anything I can do.” He exaggeratingly bowed. “I throw myself on the mercy of every overweight person I ever mocked and ask for forgiveness.”

“We’ll see,” she giggled, throwing the ball at him.

It hit his stomach, winding him with a choked, oof!

He took on an arrogant stance and spun the ball on his middle finger, arching a brow.

My girl was unimpressed. “Good with your hands but got no moves. It’s sad, really.”

Something flickered in his eyes, the ball falling to the floor and bouncing away. Did she just piss him off? Dammit, and just when she was making him finally see what I saw, what I’d been trying to tell him for years.

“Now, now. That’s enough.”

I slid my arm across her shoulders and pulled her close to kiss her sweaty temple.