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The next day, I’m reading the last few pages of the great mystery book I bought online a few weeks ago while waiting for the weekly team meeting to start. Actually, I’ve been staring at the same page for fifteen minutes. Nothing holds my attention since my soulmate dropped into my life. I hear a growl from the door and turn to watch as Colter storms toward me.

“You fucker.” His roar echoes around the otherwise silent room. Several teammates turn to watch us. I guess he’s still salty that I pulled out the big guns to motivate him to fix the embarrassing situation for me. “I can’t believe you told everyone what you made me do yesterday.” He shouldn’t be shocked.

When I realized I’d do whatever it takes to win over my girl, I knew first on my list was finding a way to control the damage Colter’s stupid prank had already caused. As luck would have it, the perfect information fell into my lap, and I used it to convince my friend to admit his guilt. In the spirit of the situation, I added a little extra humiliation to the mix and forced him to make his little claim.

Can I help it if our teammates somehow heard about our outing to Gatsby Books?

From the look of outrage on Colter’s face, I can tell he stopped by the locker room on his way to the weekly team meeting.

“I think you’re forgetting that you were the one who ordered that goddamn book in my name,” I remind him. His own actions led to the humiliation he endured yesterday. “Surely, you knew I’d find a way to get revenge before you pulled your little stunt.”

“If it wasn’t my entire future we’re talking about here, I would’ve told you to suck my cock,” he growls and turns to storm off toward the locker room. “Now, excuse me while I go remove the fake tentacles from my locker,” he calls over his shoulder, and everyone in the room cracks up.

“Where did you guys find the purple stuffed tentacles?” I ask Atlas, our goalie.

He holds up his phone. “Google is your friend. You can find anything on the internet.”

“What in the hell do you have on him?” Noah, one of our defensemen cuts in. “It has to be good to make that asshole sing your tune.”

What can I say? I got lucky and a helpful little birdy told me all about Colter’s indiscretion with Razor Montgomery’s sister. The knowledge came at the perfect time and gave me the ammunition I needed to persuade my friend to see things my way.

“That’s my little secret.” I keep my promise and zip my lips.

After the meeting, I head over to Gatsby Books. Today, I’m starting my campaign to win over my little honey bun. The first time I laid eyes on her, she stole my fucking heart. Turnabout is fair play.

I push open the heavy glass door and step into the bookstore, waiting for my eyes to adjust to the dimmer lighting, and then look around for my girl. Rage slams through my soul when I see her standing way-the-fuck too close to another man, pointing at something on the book he’s holding. Okay. The man is ninety if he’s a day, but he still has a cock. Therefore, he shouldn’t be that close to my woman. God, I’m jealous of a man old enough to be my great-grandfather. I’m losing my goddamn mind.

“Hello, honey bun.” I walk over, place my arm around her shoulder, and glare down at the older man.

“Oh, hi.” Allie takes a step away from the other man, and the tightness in my chest eases. “Is there something I can help you with?”

My mind fills with all the possibilities, but I force myself to move slowly so I don’t spook my shy little honey bun. “I’d like to see if you have a few books.” I’d buy every book in this fucking shop to keep her from standing next to another man.

“I’ll be with you as soon as I’m finished helping Mr. Lindman.” Fuck. It’s hard to walk over to the counter and wait, but I don’t want to push my girl.

A few minutes later, she comes strolling over to the counter and rings up the older man’s purchase. Once he pays and leaves the store, my girl smiles at me. “I’m so sorry you had to wait. Scarlett is at lunch, and our new part-time employee doesn’t come in until three.”

“I wanted to see you anyway.” I take a step closer to her and smell her delicate floral fragrance. My heart pounds away in my chest from her nearness while my cock grows painfully hard in my jeans.

“What books were you interested in?” She’s in work mode, but I’m not really interested in books today, so I decide to tell her the truth.

“I own about five thousand books that I’m trying to find the time to read.” It’s true. I’ve always shared my love of books with my little sister, Morgan. When our parents’ marriage disintegrated, I used our shared love of reading to help her get over the trauma. “I can’t resist buying every single book that looks interesting.”

“I don’t understand.” Allie scrunches up her nose adorably, and I’m tempted to throw her over my shoulder and run. Fighting my selfish urge to keep her all to myself is going to be a life-long affliction.

“I came here to see you. I can’t stop thinking about you.” That’s putting it mildly. She owns my goddamn heart and soul. Her honey eyes widen as I finish my explanation. “I’m kinda hoping you’ll agree to have dinner with me tonight.” Then we can negotiate you staying with me forever. I add silently.

“I already cooked a pasta casserole that I’ll never be able to eat by myself. Some will go to waste if you refuse.” I’m not above begging to get my girl to spend time with me.

Her straight white teeth dig into her plump bottom lip as she considers my proposition. “Well, we can’t let your casserole go to waste.” Relief cuts through me as she agrees. “I don’t get off of work until seven. Is that too late?”

I’m tempted to insist on coming to get her, but I don’t want to push my luck. “That’s perfect. I usually eat late anyway. Why don’t you come straight over after work?”

“I’ll be there.” My heart settles into a normal pattern when she agrees.

I almost pump my fist in the air as I rush to the Rodeo Drive Market to find a bottle of wine that goes with my granny’s famous chicken pasta casserole. Tonight, everything has to be perfect for my curvy little honey bun.