Page 28 of Power Play Daddies

Shit, I should’ve asked her out. Properly, I mean. Instead of just dumping her back at her SUV like I was doing her a favor.

I take one more loop, pulling into a sharp stop near the arena’s exit.

The sun’s dipping low, painting everything in warm amber and deep blue. Gorgeous, but not quite as gorgeous as Daisy Love standing there earlier, hair glowing in the light, that red dress fitting her like it was painted on. My pulse picks up just thinking about it.

My stomach growls. Right. Food. I know exactly where I’m heading.

CHAPTER NINE

Kieran

The taco truck’sparked where it always is, under the flickering neon sign of Manny’s Tires.

It’s the kind of place you’d miss if you didn’t know better, but the line winding from the truck proves it’s worth it.

I park the bike and tug off my helmet, raking a hand through my hair. The air smells like grilled onions and carne asada—heaven.

Then I see her.

She’s standing near the front of the line, the red dress swapped out for something simpler, but those damn waves of copper hair are unmistakable.

She’s holding a taco in one hand, a small bottle of soda in the other, and I swear the universe just handed me a golden fucking ticket.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” I say, loud enough for her to hear as I walk up.

She turns, startled, but when she sees me, a smile tugs at her lips. “Kieran? What’re you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing. This, Daisy, is fate. Or maybe just really good taste in tacos.” I nod toward her half-eaten taco. “How is it?”

She laughs softly. “Best in the city. I’ve been coming here since I was a kid. My dad used to bring me after work. Said a good taco could fix anything.”

“Smart man. I started coming here after games. Win or lose, it’s my go-to.”

“Did you win tonight?”

“I won a lot. Didn’t you?”

Her eyes narrow, a teasing glint in them. “What makes you think I won something?”

“You’re here, aren’t you?” I step closer, hands in my jacket pockets. “Besides, I know exactly what I won today.”

“Oh?” She arches a brow. “What’s that?”

I lean in just a fraction, smirking. “I got to ride my bike with the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen.”

Her cheeks flush, and her eyes drop to the pavement. She licks her lips, and I swear, the way she does it is deliberate. It’s got to be. That’s not something people do by accident, right?

“Kieran…” Her voice is softer now. “This is… complicated.”

“Yeah, I get it.” I shrug, trying to keep it casual, even though my chest tightens a bit. “Tacos first, complications later.”

She laughs again, lighter this time, and the sound does things to me I can’t quite put into words. We order and eat by the curb, leaning against a beat-up picnic table.

She tells me about growing up nearby, her dad’s stories about this place. I tell her about coming here after games, how it became a tradition with my buddies.

“You’re really something, you know that?” I say between bites.

She gives me a curious look. “Something good or something bad?”