Page 97 of Playing Mr. Perfect

“What are you doing?” My gaze skids down his chest to the hard planes of his abdomen as he unbuttons his jeans and pushes them down.

“Making it fair.” He tugs off his jeans and socks and sits down in his boxer briefs.

“How is this fair? You know I can’t think beyond you sitting there practically naked.” I hook my finger in the neckline of my sweater, pulling it away from my skin.

“What’s the matter, Pep? A little hot?”

“If I were sitting here in my underwear, you wouldn’t be able to concentrate, either.” After I say it, understanding hits me. “That’s exactly what you want me to do, isn’t it? Well, you’re out of luck, buddy.”

He laughs and holds his hands up in surrender. “I’m just trying to make it fair. Now you only have to get one touchdown to win the game.”

I narrow my eyes. “You’d love that, wouldn’t you?”

“Is that a trick question?” He flashes a wolfish grin but quickly wipes it away. “Get your head in the game, Montgomery. This is your chance to score.”

I raise my brows.

“In the game. Geez, one-track mind much?”

“It’s your fault. You turned me into some kind of sex maniac.”

“Maybe it’s the other way around,” he says with a ridiculously serious expression.

“I don’t think so.” I try to concentrate as we start playing, and I’m determined to win because…Clay naked? Yes, please. My player chases his down the field.

“The truth is, I’ve never been unable to keep my hands or my mouth off a woman the way I can’t with you.”

So much for my concentration. My guy tackles his runner, and I cheer. “Yes!”

“You got me sidetracked thinking about touching you.”

“Stop talking about it,” I say as my player chases his down the field, but his guy cuts to the right, and I can’t catch up as he sprints into the end zone.

“Yeah, baby!” Clay pumps his fist and looks smugly at me. “That’ll be one article of clothing, please.”

I take off my sweater and throw it at him, leaving me in my bra and leggings.

He catches my sweater. “I prefer your panties, but this is a start.”

“Get your head in the game, Braden. I’m about to obliterate you.”

“We’ll see about that.”

I hike the ball, and my quarterback throws it to a runner, who catches it. “Yes!” I make my runner sprint down the field, blowing past Clay’s guys. “I’m doing it!” One of his players dives for my guy, and I dart around him. “Ha ha! No way, sucker!” My player runs around another of his, and Clay’s guys chase mine down the field, right into the end zone. I jump to my feet, wiggling my hips and pumping my fists in a victory dance, cheering, “Yes! Touchdown! I did it! I did it!” I look over at Clay just as he drops his drawers.

“Looks like we’re both gonna score.” He tackles me to the pillows, both of us cracking up.

“You let me win!”

“I’m no fool.” He kisses my smiling lips, and we both laugh.

I look up at the man who’s changing my world faster than I can process, opening my eyes to a happier life. And a big, new love whispers through my mind. I trap my lower lip between my teeth, trying to keep that thought in.

“What?” he asks.

I gaze into his gorgeous blue eyes, and another truth comes out. “I’ve lived in Charlottesville for years and have never done any of the things we did today.”

“See? You need me in your life.”