Page 66 of Bad Run

“I won’t.” I impart confidence in my response, which has her biting her bottom lip.

Not to be a cocky asshole, but the Evaders need me. I’m one of the best damn players in the league. It would be stupid to fire me. The only thing her father could do is not renew my contract when it expires, forcing me to go free agent. Worst case, I end up having to play for another team.

But it wouldn’t be the end of my career.

“Love the confidence, but I don’t want to be the reason you have to leave the Evaders,” she says.

Smart woman. She’s been around the game her whole life; she understands what’s at stake.

“Do you have any other objections besides me possibly getting fired?” I ask.

“Um,” she hesitates, reaching for another excuse.

It’s touching that the only reason she doesn’t want to get married is to protect me. But who’s protecting her?

Her own father lied to her about working for the team. There isn’t a man in Gwen’s life who has put her needs first.

I’m going to be the one to protect her. Help her achieve whatever she wants. Stand beside her as she proves how damn strong and intelligent she is. If that means I have to play on another team. So be it.

Nico’s right. Some things are more important than baseball.

“Didn’t think so,” I gloat.

Gwen balks, “We don’t even know each other.”

“I beg to differ.” I smirk and wink at her over my mug.

The apples of her cheeks flush, reminding me of the way that flush paints her chest when she orgasms. I wonder if she’s thinking about me making her come.

“Don’t be a perv,” she chides, avoiding eye contact.

Oh yeah, she was thinking about it.

“Apologies. Now tell me what this is really about, because you said yes and I’m calling no backsies.”

“This isn’t the sixth grade, Lance. You can’t call no backsies when we’re talking about marriage. This is real life.”

“It is. But sometimes life puts hurdles in our way. Let me help you over that hurdle. I know how much working for the team means to you, and proving your dad wrong is the cherry on the sundae.”

“What do you get out of this arrangement?”

You.

“I get to help a friend,” I say cooly.

Gwen watches me for a long minute, then sits tall. “If we do this, we need rules.”

Rules?

“I’m listening.” I’m curious to hear about these so-called rules.

She reaches into her bag and pulls out a small, pink notebook and a matching pen.

Fuck, she’s cute.

I bite my tongue to keep from laughing as she scrawls Lance and Gwen’s Marriage Contract at the top of the paper and underlines it.

Gwen squares her shoulders. “One: We agree that this arrangement is temporary.”