Page 43 of Scoring Eden

People hover around utilitarian tables, the women dripping diamonds from their ears and throats as they sip from flutes of champagne. The men are just as dazzling in their black three-pieces, their ties as sharp as the knives the waiting staff are using to slice citrus fruits, even if they have all chosen to wear the same suit tonight.

I look down at my own outfit with a frown, smoothing my hands down the satin of my dress. It was expensive by my standards, but I bought it from the sale rack, and the single piece of jewelry I chose to wear with it—a thin chain with a small pendant—has no monetary value at all. It’s a costume diamond. Anyone looking my way will be able to tell, since it sits dull against my chest and barely reflects the light at all.

I squeeze Alex’s hand. “Are you sure I look okay?”

“Excuse me?” He performs a slow turn toward me, his mouth agape in feigned shock. “Was I not clear enough earlier when I told you that you look exquisite? I thought that was a fancy word by my standards, but if it doesn’t work for you, I can try something else.”

“Oh, no, that’s—”

He slides his hands onto my waist and drags me into his body. My breath catches, my senses overwhelmed by the scent of him, the faint hint of eucalyptus from his body wash masked by the stronger smell of amber from his aftershave, and I’m suddenly eclipsed by how incredible the man looks in a suit.

It’s unfair, really.

No man should look the way he does.

“How about beautiful instead?” He shakes his head. “No, that’s far too much of an understatement. Ravishing? Ethereal? Literally breathtaking, because I almost hyperventilated the first time I caught sight of you tonight. Divine? Enchanting? Pick a word, Eden, because they’re all fucking true.”

I learned a long time ago not to wait on the sweet words of a man to make me feel better about myself. Men have a remarkable talent for disappointment, and any compliments I ever received from my ex-husband were backhanded at best.

But Alex’s words don’t carry an undercurrent of disdain. He doesn’t follow it up with an insult. There’s no hint of mockery in his tone at all.

It sounds like he actually means it.

And I don’t quite know what to do with that.

“I’d get down on my knees right now if you needed me to, but alas” —he steps back, keeping a hand on the small of my back—“Coach Carter is heading our way.”

Shake it off, Eden. We’ve got a job to do.

“Wolfe!” A middle-aged man with male pattern baldness and a warm, welcoming smile approaches us with his arms outstretched. He immediately pulls Alex into a hug. It’s not one of those stupid, one-armed slaps on the back men seem to favor, but a proper embrace. Fatherly, full of mutual respect and trust.

Shit, it must be killing Alex to lie to him.

“And you must be the woman who managed to tie this wild one down.” Coach Carter takes my hand and presses a chaste kiss to the top of it.

“Coach, this is Eden, my girlfriend. Eden, this is Coach Carter.” Alex’s voice doesn’t waver once with the lie. It’s impressive and, honestly, a little terrifying how he’s able to hold eye contact as he does it.

Coach Carter straightens, slipping his hands into his pockets, and beams at us. “What a pleasure it is to finally meet the woman who’s managed to tie this one down. I’ve gotta tell you, I’ve spent a lot of time worrying that he’ll die alone.”

“Wow.” Alex coughs into a closed fist. “Thanks, Coach.”

“You never know. He still might,” I quip.

“I like you.” Coach throws his head back and bellows a laugh. “I can tell already that you’re good for him. He needs someone like you to keep him in line.”

Alex pretends to look affronted. “Hey, I’m a model player. An absolute pillar of the soccer community.”

“You are a menace to society, Wolfe. Who are you kidding?”

Alex huffs. “If you think I’m a menace, wait until you meet Eden’s sister.”

“It’s true.” I nod. “She’s a chaos gremlin.”

“You have experience handling troublesome people, then. That bodes well for you with this one.” He nudges Alex good-naturedly then claps him on the shoulder. “Anyway, I better mingle. Make sure you introduce Eden to Purview, Alex. They’re chomping at the bit to meet her.”

Alex nods. “Will do, sir.”

“It was a true honor to meet you, Eden. I’ll see you at the first game of the season, I imagine.”