Page 13 of Something to Prove

“Ahh, you mean extortion.” I flopped into my seat again.

“No, a bargain or a trade.”

I raked my gaze over his body and snarled. “You’re not my type.”

For the record, that was a damn lie. Walker was more my type than all the Carsons of the world would ever be. I liked that he was shorter, lithe, and toned. I liked his confidence, and I even begrudgingly admired that he’d built an online enterprise that gave back to a college community.

It was the sneaky, crooked, conniving BS that turned me off.

Walker blushed, clearing his throat as he leaned in.

“Not that kind of trade. I meant that I have a large social media platform that’s pretty darn popular. I can help you launch your own in preparation for your AHL debut. Fans are going to want insight into your life. I’ve checked out your current social media presence and no offense, but it’s amateur hour. Freebie tip—delete the beer-can pyramids, the make-out sessions with pretty girls in bikinis, and the fifty thousand pics of random friends and family members. Sweet and all, but your fans want more solo shirtless you and less blurry pics of you with Grandma and Grandpa at a family picnic.”

“Hey! My grandparents are the bomb.”

“I’m sure they are, but you always have to consider what you’re selling. If the answer is nothing—by all means, do your thing. I imagine the average pro hockey person has a more sports-driven presence, though.” He paused as if gauging my reaction, adding, “You’re big news here, Ty, and the town wants to celebrate your achievement. I can help with that. If possible, maybe I can atone for the dreadful oversight that haunts me to this day. I want to fix this. I hope you’ll allow me to make amends.”

Toby’s warning about doing things we didn’t want to inconveniently resurfaced. I was supposed to say yes, be charming and agreeable…to Walker Woodrow. And yet,hewas bending over backward to be nice to me. It had to be trickeration.

Fuck, this made my head hurt.

“I’ll think about it.”

Walker smiled tentatively. “Thanks. I appreciate it. Let’s exchange contact information.”

I rattled off my digits and sipped my latte, slouching slightly with my legs spread in an uber-casual pose while Walker fussed with his bag and straightened his shirt. After what felt like acomplicated dance, he inclined his chin in a wordless good-bye and sashayed to the door.

I watched him carefully, like a wolf cataloging his prey’s movements.

Nice delusion. It lasted for all of five minutes before I admitted that I’d been outfoxed by a savvy adversary who had me right where he wanted me.

I wasn’t the wolf in this scenario. Walker was. And I was his lunch and dinner.

Or so he thought.

It was time to study up on the redhead. I no longer had the luxury of ignoring him. I needed to figure this guy out and arm myself with some ammo.

Game on, Woodrow. Game on.

CHAPTER 6

WALKER

Let me just say…thiswas a lot.

A lot.

I hadn’t slept a wink since the night of the BJ incident. I’d tossed and turned, reeling from spiked adrenaline and nefariously gained newfound knowledge. I’d felt like a dirty peeping tom, and maybe I was. I might not have sought out the sexy scene, but I hadn’t run away from it either. I’d been a deer in headlights, frozen in shock and wonder ’cause yes, yes, yes, it had been hot with a capital H.

So hot that I’d actually jerked off to the visual. More than once.

Okay, at least five times.

It couldn’t be helped. I’d had no power over my fingers inching under the elastic of my PJ bottoms and briefs, and wrapping around my cock. I’d been in a haze, lost in a kaleidoscope of naughty imagery.

I’d gripped my dick firmly, stroking to the rhythm of Ty tugging his lover’s head, fucking his mouth, whispering nasty nothings. My X-rated brain had turned up the volume a few notches till they’d both been naked in the alley in the middle of the day…so I could see better, of course. The scene had morphedinto deep kisses, rough nips, and a short decisive battle to see who’d top whom.

Ty won. He’d pushed the faceless man against the brick wall, buried his thick cock inside him, and—I’d come.