Page 39 of Sidelined By Love

The guys don’t really try to hide their grumbling, calling me some choice names under their breath.

Good. Let them look at my rear end for the next half a mile.

It doesn’t have its own social media accounts like Card’s backside, but that man’s a beast. He does squats like it’s his only job.

“Hey, ladies.” I speak quietly in case they don’t realize I’ve caught up to them.

“Uncle Grant,” Kenna chirps, maybe the happiest I’ve seen her—ever. “Zoe thinks the feedback I got on my audition is really good.”

“Oh, yeah?”

The bill of Zoe’s cap bobs quickly. “Yep.” It comes out as barely a wheeze, and I can’t hold back a chuckle.

“What’s wrong, Zo? Having a hard time?”

“There is. No. Air. Up. Here.” She gasps between each word, but it doesn’t seem to help. Even from my angle, I can tell hercheeks are bright pink, and a light sheen of sweat covers the back of her neck beneath the ponytail hanging through the back of her hat.

“Thought I’d have a hard time catching up, did you?”

She shoots me a scowl over her shoulder and mumbles under her breath. “Whose idea was it to start climbing this thing, in the first place? I hate them.”

Even Kenna laughs at that, her high-pitched chirp making me chuckle too. Zoe is nothing if not dramatic. And I kind of like it.

Liar.

All right, I like it a lot.

I thought things might be awkward between us after I stopped that kiss, but Zoe is treating me like always—like her favorite sparring partner.

And I don’t mind that either because she takes as well as she gives.

“Seriously, this is not enjoyable. You do this for—?”

Suddenly Zoe pitches forward with a scream, heading toward a hard fall on all fours. I grab her about the waist, hoisting her back against my chest, her feet dangling just a bit.

“I’m fine,” she calls out, responding to all the eyes now looking in her direction.

Pressing my lips close to her ear, I whisper, “Are you sure?”

Her whole body shivers against mine. And it’s not from the cold. I’m sure of that. Because all of me is trembling too. Maybe because of the adrenaline dump. More likely because I have her right where I want her.

“Zoe!” Kenna grabs her hand, and I reluctantly set her back on her feet.

“I’m all right,” she says. “My shoe just caught on something.” As if to show that it’s no longer trapped, she holds up her right foot and displays a shoe that is now in almost two separatepieces. The flimsy sole has ripped most of the way off the fabric and flaps with a soft clap.

“Everything okay?” It’s one of the guys that I passed earlier. He nudges his way around me, barely keeping his arm, which he would have lost if he’d touched Zoe or Kenna.

Zoe pulls her hat a little lower but shakes her head as she wiggles her foot in front of her. “Guess I wasn’t as prepared as I thought.”

“We can walk you down,” says the other guy. There’s a gleam in his eye that makes me clench my teeth. I don’t know if he recognizes her, or if he just enjoys leering at pretty ladies.

Either way, they would literally have to knock me out and lay me flat before I’d let them be alone with Zoe Peebles. Who is conveniently giving them a red-carpet smile.

Tone it down, Zo.

“Here, let me—” The first one holds out his hand, and a monster inside me tries to claw his way through my chest.

“I’ll take care of her,” I growl.

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