Page 47 of Wanting the Winger

Hopefully it won’t be an air ball, because I’m going to have an audience.

ChapterSixteen

Lainey

The smoky,caramelized scent of grilled meat greets me when I walk into Harvest Moon.I’m not letting myself eat it because of my IBS, but I can at least enjoy the smell.

The chicken will be delicious, too.Harry and his team don’t know how to cook anything that’s not delicious.

I went to a downtown Cleveland boutique on my lunch and splurged on an emerald-green strapless dress.It hits just above my knees.I’m wearing a simple black shrug and black sandals with it.It might be the dressiest outfit I own.

Suki told me the women get pretty dressy at this team dinner, and when I see a woman walk by me in a flowy gown, I’m really glad she prepared me.

“Damn.”Bash approaches me, his arms open and his grin wide.“You look incredible, Lane.You’re sexy as hell in that dress.”

My stomach flutters as he embraces me.I haven’t seen him much lately.Tonight, he’s wearing a light-gray suit with a dark-blue dress shirt beneath, the top button of his shirt undone.His wavy dark hair has been tamed into a combed-back style, a stubborn lock of hair falling over his forehead.

He just said I’msexy.And he smells so good.Also, his muscles.My brain is short-circuiting from sensory overload.

“How was your day?”he murmurs.

“Pretty good.”

His deep laugh sends his warm breath brushing over my ear.“Did I just feel your stomach growling?”

I pull back, grinning sheepishly.“I didn’t have time for lunch.”

“C’mon.”

He takes my hand and leads me toward a side room of the restaurant.Carter and Suki rented out the entire place for this dinner.They invited every player, coach, staffer and their families.I’m a little bit early and there are already more than fifty people here.

There’s a long row of tables set up along one wall of the side room, and it’s filled with appetizers.Bash releases my hand and grabs a plate.I follow his lead.

“Hey, Lainey,” Leo says from nearby.“You haven’t been able to get rid of this asshole yet?”

Bash flips him off.I’m too busy loading up my little plate with as much food as I can fit on it.Shrimp cocktail, caprese skewers and stuffed mushrooms.Yes, yes, and hell yes.I’m not risking the bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers Bash took four of, but they look amazing.

“How’s your day going?”I ask as I join Bash at a little standing table.

“Ugh.Better now.I spent seven hours on the ice today.”

“Wow, why?”

“Double practices, plus some extra drills.Which we need, but it still takes a lot out of us.”

“You can eat double dessert tonight with no guilt, though.”

He barks a single note of laughter.“If I want to feel like I ate an elephant tomorrow at five thirty a.m.when I wake up to do it all over again.”

“Aw, poor Bash,” I tease.“All work and no play.”

He’s about to respond when Hallie and Charlotte approach us.Charlotte is wearing a simple, pretty blue dress with a simple white headband in her short pink pixie cut.Hallie’s dress is purple with a full skirt, her curls loose.

“Look at you two,” I say, stepping back from our table to admire them.“Beautiful!”

Hallie does a little curtsy.Charlotte gives me a half smile and I sense that she didn’t choose her outfit herself.

“We snuck out of the kids’ room to ask you how many stars there are in the sky,” Hallie says.

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