Page 42 of Dream Chaser (The New York Knights Players Club #4)

“I don’t,” I say, eyes flicking back to Iz as she tips her head back and belts the harmony to“Take Me Home, Country Road,” eyes closed, joy spilling right out of her and into the crowd.

Jake catches the look on my face. “You ever ask Izzy to go out on it?”

“Not yet,” I say, still watching her. “Heard if I ever do, I have to take the fish off the hook.”

Jake shifts, resting his elbows on the table, that classic dad squint aimed right at me. “Tell you what—take me out sometime. Just us. You, me, rods in hand, no distractions. I’ll decide then if you’re good enough.”

Sarah pats his hand, amused. “You had your chance to play hardass already.”

Jake doesn’t deny it. Just looks at me and says, “We’ll see if you can gut a fish without gagging first.”

I smirk. “Fair enough. But I’m warning you, I fillet cleaner than I run a post route.”

That gets a chuckle from him.

“Love the shirt.” Sarah smiles.

When the girls have played their set, I expect her to walk past me, fully ready to do the whole chase Iz thing, but she comes over and sits beside me.

“Nice hat, Skinner.”

“You killed it up there.” I smile. “You off duty now?”

“I am.”

“How long before we can sneak out of here without raising suspicion?”

She laughs. “What makes you think I don’t have plans already?”

“What makes you think you haven’t missed me enough to find some time and place to squeeze me in?”

Her lips twitch up on one side. “That confidence is?—”

“A turn-on, just like yours is to me.” I take her hand and lift it slowly to my lips, expecting she may pull away, but she’s right about my confidence—if she does, I won’t run away with my tail between my legs. “Missed you, Izzy Ross.” I kiss her hand, and she doesn’t pull away.

“Yeah?” she asks, eyes fucking sparkling with … mischief, but sparkling nonetheless, “You do know what you’re asking for, right?”

“All of it,” I say, my voice low and certain. “I want all of it, Izzy Ross.”

She stares at me for a beat then blinks like I’ve short-circuited her sass. And maybe I have, because the smirk wavers, her breath catches, and damn if that reaction doesn’t make me want to push my luck.

But before I can, Lo calls out from the bar, “You two wanna say goodnight or just climb under the table and get it over with?”

“Lo,” Riley scolds, half-laughing as she rests her hand on her bump, “don’t give them ideas. That’s a terrible table for sneaking.”

Iz sighs dramatically and stands, tugging my hand so I follow. “Goodnight,” she says to the girls. “See you all tomorrow.”

London hugs her. “And you’re off the clock tomorrow.”

Syd pipes up, “She doesn’t need to lift a finger. We’ve got it all covered.”

Mag’s cackles. “We all wanna see the ‘I got rocked’ limp tomorrow.”

“Lexi!” Iz hisses.

Mags smirks, tossing her arm over Iz’s shoulder. “Don’t act like you won’t be glowing all day.”

Riley adds, “You two enjoy your … quality time.”

“Sweet dreams,” Ava sings from across the room. “Try not to break anything. Or anyone.”

“I make no promises,” I call back, and Iz elbows me. I glance down. She’s biting her lip and shaking her head.

“You okay?” I ask.

She nods. “Just wondering how the hell you got them all on your side.”

“They love you,” I say easily. “And I love watching you be loved.”

She opens the door, steps out into the cold night air, then glances back over her shoulder. “Well?” she asks. “You coming or what?”

I grin. “Oh, Izzy Ross, you have no idea.”

Walking out behind her, I watch the sway of that ass, an ass I’ve watched sway for a long time, but it’s even better now, ’cause that ass is about to be all mine.

Focus , I remind myself.

“Do we need to go get Wile or?—”

“He’s staying at Mom and Dad’s,” Iz cuts in quickly, like she’s already anticipated the question and has zero regrets about abandoning Wile for the night.

I reach out, curl my fingers gently around her forearm, and give the smallest tug toward my vehicle. “Then we’re going to my place tonight.”

She rolls her eyes, huffing, “What do you have against mine?”

I snort as I open her door. “Interruptions.”

She pauses at the step like she might argue, but gets in. “I have my people, you have yours. Tell me your fan club of lady card sharks back home wouldn’t interrupt.”

“Miss Lissette is going to love you.” I shut the door, jog around to mine, open it, and climb in.

“You realize they’re going to be harder on me than my parents were on you? So stop talking like that, or you’ll give me a complex.”

I lean in as I buckle her seat belt for her, slow and deliberate. “I’d like to give you a lot of things tonight, but a complex isn’t one of them.”

She freezes for half a second, eyes locked on mine, before biting her lip and whispering, “That was smooth.”

As I fire up the engine, she crosses her legs with deliberate sass and leans back like she’s suddenly in a music video and I’m just the poor bastard behind the wheel.

“Where we going?” she asks, knowing full well.

“To the stables,” I say, shifting into reverse.

“You planning on riding something?” She smirks.

“Yeah,” I mutter. “Eventually.”

She snorts then mutters, “God help me,” under her breath, but doesn’t look away.

“Too late.” I grin. “I already got you in the truck.”

The moon is bright above Blue Valley, with her beside me, half-laughing, legs tucked.

We’re not a quarter mile from the brewery when she unclasps our hands and sets hers on my thigh.