Page 19 of Fore Better or Worse (Return to Starlight Bay #16)

Chapter nineteen

Hays

T he moment Leah steps out of the town car at the country club, every coherent thought in my head evaporates.

Her dark green dress hugs her curves in all the right places.

Her hair falls in soft waves over one shoulder, and when she looks up at me with a smile that’s slightly nervous but trying to hide it, I’m completely done for.

The color is perfect on her, bringing out the warmth in her skin and making her dark eyes look almost luminous.

For a split second, I can’t help but think how perfectly the engagement ring would complement this look, but I bite back the urge to mention it.

The ball’s in her court now, and I’m practicing patience, even if it’s killing me.

“Jesus Christ,” I breathe, unable to stop myself from drinking in every detail. “You are absolutely stunning.”

A blush creeps up her neck, but she smiles as she clutches a matching small purse. “Thank you.” She brushes a hand down her dress. “I’ve never owned anything this expensive in my life.”

“Worth every penny to see you in it.” I offer her my arm, my heart hammering as she slips her hand through the crook of my elbow.

Her gaze travels over my navy suit and tie, and her eyes darken. “You clean up pretty well yourself. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen you in anything but polos. Or that T-shirt the other night.”

“That T-shirt looked better on you. But I’d wear a suit every day if you promise to look at me like that again.”

She fights a smile, while I add, “Though I have to warn you, I’m going to have a hell of a time concentrating on anything with you at my side tonight.”

She clicks her tongue. “And here you were telling reporters I’m not a distraction.”

“What, you don’t believe me?”

But she just shoots me a sidelong glance. “This is a professional event for you, I know.”

“Professional went out the window the second you agreed to be my date.” I lean down to whisper against her ear, breathing in that intoxicating floral scent. “You ready for this circus?”

She takes a deep breath, her grip tightening on my arm. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

There’s my girl.

As we enter the ballroom, I try to see the event from Leah’s eyes.

String lights twinkle overhead, crisscrossing the ballroom ceiling.

Elegant floral arrangements fill every corner, and the floor-to-ceiling windows showcase a perfect view of the harbor.

Sponsors’ logos are displayed tastefully throughout, and servers weave through the A-list crowd with champagne and hors d’oeuvres.

But within seconds, I feel the energy shift. Conversations pause midsentence as heads turn our way. Camera phones appear out of nowhere, and I practically hear social media posts being composed in real-time.

Leah’s steps falter, but I cover her hand with mine and lean in. “I’ve got you,” I murmur. “Just stay close to me.”

She nods, straightening her shoulders with a determination that makes my chest swell. This woman has no idea how magnificent she is.

“Rum and Coke?” I offer, steering us toward the bar.

“Might need to make that a double.”

I smile down at her, then catch the bartender’s attention and place the order. “That bottle of champagne is itching to be nabbed,” I whisper, nodding toward an open bottle resting in an ice bucket behind the bar.

Her laugh is genuine, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. “You’re the worst.”

“Hays!” A familiar voice booms across the room, and I turn to see Emmitt making his way toward us, trademark grin splitting his face. “There’s the man of the hour.”

“Emmitt.” I clasp his hand in a firm shake, genuinely glad to see him. “You recover from that six-hour death march yet?”

“Hey, give me a pair of skates and I can go for hours, but walking eighteen holes while you’re trying to teach me the difference between a wedge and a nine iron?” He shakes his head dramatically. “My feet are killing me. How do you do it?”

“We don’t usually take twenty practice swings per shot,” I tease. “Or stop for a photo op at every tee box.”

“Those sponsors paid good money for those photo ops,” he shoots back with a grin. “Plus, I had to document proof I can actually hit a golf ball. My teammates will never believe it otherwise.”

“You weren’t that bad. That shot on sixteen was actually decent.”

“Decent? I’ll take it.” He laughs, then his attention shifts to Leah, and his expression sobers. “And you must be the woman who’s got golf’s golden boy wrapped around your little finger.”

“Leah,” she says, extending her hand with a smile that doesn’t quite hide her nerves. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Emmitt takes her hand, but instead of shaking it, he brings it to his lips for a kiss that’s pure old-world charm. Bastard. “The pleasure is entirely mine. Anyone who can make our friend, Hays, here, forget how to form complete sentences is someone I need to know better.”

“I never forget how to—” I start to protest, but Leah’s soft laugh cuts me off.

“He does seem to have that problem around me,” she agrees, and the mischief in her eyes makes my pulse quicken.

“Smart and gorgeous.” Emmitt grins at me. “You better lock this one down before someone with more sense comes along.”

“Working on it,” I say, my hand finding the small of Leah’s back.

“Speaking of which,” Emmitt continues, turning back to Leah, “you should come out to Phoenix sometime. Catch a Freeze game. I’ll make sure you get the VIP treatment.”

“I’d love to. I’ve seen the Boston Blades play a few times, but I’ve never been to Phoenix.”

Emmitt scoffs dramatically. “The Blades? Those amateurs? Sweetheart, you haven’t seen real hockey until you’ve watched the Freeze. We’ll spoil you for any other team.”

Leah’s eyes dance in a way that sends warmth flooding through my chest. “I can see why you and Hays get along so well.”

Emmitt shoots her a wink and claps me on the shoulder. “And I can see why he’s smitten. Don’t screw this up, Granger.”

As he walks away, I turn to Leah, handing her the rum and Coke. “You’d really want to come to Phoenix?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” She tilts her head, studying my expression. “You seem surprised.”

“It’s just…” I glance around the room. “I wasn’t sure if you were ready to be a part of my world. To travel and—”

“Hays,” she says softly, “I’m here, aren’t I?”

Before I can respond, we’re approached by a couple I recognize from the tournament sponsor’s executive team.

Then comes a sports reporter from ESPN, followed by another player who wants to talk shop about course conditions.

Each conversation requires introductions, small talk, and careful navigation through questions that edge too close to personal territory.

I watch Leah handle each interaction with grace, her intelligence shining through as she asks thoughtful questions and makes genuine connections. But the tension builds in her shoulders, and her smile becomes more forced with each conversation.

“Excuse me,” a photographer says, appearing at my elbow. “Could we get a few shots of you and your lovely companion?”

“Not right now.”

“It’ll just take a—”

“I said no.” My tone invites no argument, and he gets the point and moves on.

“You okay?” I ask, leaning down. “We can get out of here if you need some air.”

Relief flickers across her features. “Could we? Just for a minute?”

I don’t hesitate. Scanning the room, I spot the French doors leading to the balcony that overlooks the harbor. “This way.”

I guide her through the crowd, dropping our empty glasses as we go.

I use my body to create a buffer between her and the curious stares that follow us.

I hold her hand tight the entire way, and when Martinez from First National tries to intercept us, I brush him off.

I need to talk to the guy, but now’s not the time.

“Sorry, we’ll catch up in just a bit,” I say smoothly, not slowing down.

The warm evening air hits us as we step onto the balcony, and I feel Leah’s entire body relax as she draws a deep breath.

The noise from the party fades behind us, replaced by the gentle sound of waves lapping against the rocks below.

The lighthouse stands out in the sky, its beam cutting through the starlit night.

“Better?”

She nods, moving to the railing and gripping it with both hands. “Much. I just…needed a moment to breathe.”

I stand beside her, close enough our shoulders brush. “Too much?”

“It’s a lot,” she admits quietly. “But I’m okay.”

Something fierce and protective surges through my chest. “You don’t have to do any of this, you know. We can leave right now—”

“No.” She lays a hand on my arm. “I want to be here. With you. I just…have never been the center of attention like this before.”

“You’ve handled everything perfectly.” I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “You were brilliant in there. Charming, intelligent, completely yourself. I was so fucking proud watching you.”

Her breath catches, and suddenly, the space between us feels charged with electricity. The moon dips behind some clouds, casting shadows across her face.

“Hays…” she whispers.

I cup her face in my hands, thumbs stroking across her cheekbones. “You have no idea what you do to me, do you? How beautiful you are, how smart, how—“

Before she can respond, I’m kissing her, pressing her back against the railing as my mouth moves desperately against hers. She responds immediately, her hands grabbing my jacket as she kisses me back with equal hunger.

She tastes like she did that night. Like rum and possibility, and when her tongue slides against mine, I groan low in my throat, my hands sliding down to grip her hips and pull her closer.

The kiss deepens, becomes more urgent, more desperate. I want to devour her. My lips trail along her jaw to that sensitive spot below her ear, and when she gasps and arches against me, I nearly lose what’s left of my control.

“Leah,” I breathe against her neck, trying to dial it back, to remember where we are, but it’s difficult, if not impossible.

I pull back just enough to look at her, taking in her flushed cheeks and swollen lips. “I want you so fucking much,” I admit, my voice barely controlled. “I—”

“If you don’t take me back to your room tonight,” she interrupts, her tone full of conviction, “I’m definitely calling off the pact.”

My brain short-circuits. “What?”

She straightens my tie with shaking fingers. “You heard me, hotshot.”

Holy shit. I stare down at her, this brilliant, beautiful woman who’s just invited me to make her fantasy come true.

But then she pauses, uncertainty flickering across her features. “Unless…the first round is tomorrow. Will this distract you? Maybe, we should—”

“Leah.” I capture her face in my hands again, desperate for her to understand. “The only thing that will make me lose focus tomorrow is if I don’t get to hold you tonight.”