Page 52 of For the Win

“Uh-oh.”I pick up a ball.“Why do I have a feeling I’m about to get my ass kicked?”

“Oh, come on.”She nudges me with her shoulder.“You’re a professional athlete.”

I purse my lips and focus as I aim my ball up the middle.It looks good at first, but somehow I put some curve on it and it hits the gutter when it nears the pins.“Damn!”

“Maybe you should have warmed up,” Arya suggests helpfully.

“Ha ha.”

“My team was named the Ball Busters,” she informs me.

I choke.“Okay, good to know.”

My next ball takes out a few center pins, leaving one on the left and two on the right.

“Split happens,” Arya says cheerfully.“That’s a six-seven-ten split.Would you like to know what my strategy would be?”

“I’m flattered that you think I have the ability to carry out any strategy,” I say.“My goal is basically to not end up in the gutter.”

She laughs again and stands next to me, leaning in.She points.“Go for the ten pin.”She nudges me over.“Line your body up with the ten pin...like so.But look at the right side of the six pin.”

I don’t have the heart to tell her I don’t know which pin is which.

She steps back to let me take the shot.“This is a hard shot for anyone.”

As expected, the ball rolls right through the empty space in the middle.

Also as expected, I lose.Who knew she was a kick-ass bowler?Usually I’m super competitive, but tonight?I don’t even care about losing because she’s having so much fun.

As we make our way to the bar for a beer and pizza, she pats my back.“Don’t feel bad.Bowling takes balls.”

I snort-laugh.“Funny.”

“I was going to tell you more bad bowling puns, but I thought I’d spare you.”

I laugh.“Enough!”

She grins.“Sorry.I’m pretty sure I know every bowling joke there is.”

God, I love it that her eyes are sparkling and her lips are tipped up in a happy curve.

13

ARYA

I haven’t bowledin so long!This is really fun.I didn’t actually bowl that well, compared to how I used to play, but it was enough to beat Harrison.He’s being a good sport about it, despite his grumbling at the beginning.I’m pretty sure he likes to win at everything, so it touches me that he seems happy for me.

Did I mention it’s been a while since I had sex?

There’s no other explanation for the fact that watching Harrison bowl is turning me on.

He may not be the best bowler in the world, but he’s athletic and coordinated, and watching him move is a definite turn-on.His jeans stretching over his thighs and butt when he threw the ball...muscles flexing under his T-shirt...biceps bulging the sleeves...I’m hot and twitchy.

Not to mention his sense of humor.I love a guy who can make me laugh.

“What would you like to drink?”he asks in the bar.We have a table, but we have to order at the bar.

“I’ll have a beer.Whatever you’re having as long as it’s not IPA.”

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