Page 97 of Playing for Keeps
“I wanted it too,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. “I just didn’t think you’d ever look at me that way. But then… there were little things you said, things you did, that made me wonder if maybe something had changed.”
He tilts his head curiously. “What things?”
“You started holding my hand,” I say. I toss him an amused look. “A lot. You never used to do that.”
He grins. “I just couldn’t stop touching you. Still can’t. What else?”
“You told me I was the most real person you’d ever met,” I remind him. “And that I was out of your league.”
He snorts. “You are out of my league. Have you looked in a mirror?”
I laugh. “Please. Have you looked in one?”
“I’m wildly overrated,” he says with a smirk. “What else?”
“Corey.”
My jaw ticks. “What about him?”
“You were weird about me showing him that house.”
“He wanted you, Ivy. I was jealous as hell,” he admits.
I smile and reach my hand up to cup his cheek. “You had nothing to be jealous about. I was never interested in Corey.”
“Good.” He leans down and kisses me. “Anything else?”
I roll my eyes jokingly. “The Ferrari.”
This time, it’s his turn to flush a little. “That was a tactical move. Also, I’m pretty sure I scored major points with your dad.”
I grin. “Who said the car was what impressed me?”
His eyes go wide. “Wait, it didn’t?”
I shrug, teasing. “It’s flashy, sure. But not a deal breaker. That kind of stuff doesn’t matter to me.”
He tilts his head. “Okay then… what did win you over?”
I soften my voice. “You with Luca at the stadium. You didn’t do that for show, or for me. Seeing you with him showed me the kind of man you are, and that changed everything for me.”
“I love meeting the young fans, and knowing it mattered to you... God, Ivy. That means more than you realize.”
“I said you’re a good man, Wyatt. I meant it.”
He gives me a small smile. “I have a confession,” he says, taking my hand and guiding me over to the couch in the living room. He sits and pulls me into his lap, wrapping his arms around me.
“Should I be worried?” I ask, half joking, half serious.
He shakes his head. “Cleo called me right before we left for the charity dinner. You were still getting ready.”
“Okay…” I reply slowly. There’s no love lost between Cleo and me, so I can’t help but wonder if this has something to do with me.
“She said we shouldn’t go public with our ‘relationship’ that night. Thought it’d look bad. She wanted us to act like we barely knew each other.”
My brows draw together. “Why?”
“She was worried the charity might think I rigged the auction, like I staged the bidding.”
