Page 102 of Break Point
“That dress is making me want to break rule number three,” he says, his gaze sweeping over me, hungry and unbothered.
That’s my cue to wrap this up. I got what I came for: confirmation that he’s fine with Tim becoming my coach. I tolerated the theatrics because, well, I like him. But I’m done now.
“You wish,” I say with an annoyed chuckle. “That’s the one rule I’d never break. And you wouldn’t, either.”
Fooling around the night before a match was always off-limits. Doing it before a match at the Australian Open?Unthinkable.
“Wouldn’t want to get in trouble with your coach, eh?” Theo says, jerking his chin over my shoulder. I turn and find Henry’s stare locked on us, blazing. Evan stands beside him, chatting away and clueless.
Damn it, Theo!
Henry and I lock eyes for a few long seconds before I force myself to look away. I can’t tell if he saw the kiss, but the look on his face tells me he did. And that it wasn’t as playful or inconsequential as it was meant to be.
“Is Coach Henry taking his job too seriously?” Theo laughs under his breath. I don’t reply. I’m not giving anything away. “Imagine his reaction if I took you to bed.”
“Now, now.” I tap his shoulder like I would a cute puppy, just to piss him off with my lack of engagement. “Dream big, Theo.”
He rubs his clean-shaven jaw and throws another glance at Henry, lifting a brow like he’s sizing him up. They know each other. That much I know.
“So you’re hot for the coach, huh?” His gaze flicks back to me, studying my reaction like he’s poking at a bruise to see if it still hurts. “Won’t you be sad to let him go?”
“Don’t you have a sponsor’s ass to go kiss?” My voice is part whisper, part warning.
He rumbles out a laugh.
“You know it’s always the other way around, babe.”
With a wink, he adds, “It was nice breaking two rules with you tonight.”
I tilt my head, playfully unimpressed. “Let’s not make a habit of it.”
Theo snorts, grabs my hand, and kisses it. “Pleasure doing business with you.”
I force a smile. It barely holds.
CHAPTER 24
ENTOURAGE
THEO WALKS OFFinto the crowd, swept up by a group of people who greet him like the celebrity he is. That’s the beauty of Theo. He can be all business when he wants to be. No strings attached.
Henry places a hand on Evan’s shoulder, says something that looks like an excuse, and heads straight toward me the second Theo’s out of sight.
I let out a sigh.
Robbie and Gemma aren’t dancing anymore. They’re cozied up on a sofa in the lounge area. Now clearly more than tipsy, Robbie is resting his head on her shoulder, talking. She laughs at whatever he’s saying.
Dad’s across the room, deep in conversation with a group of men that includes Drew.
Henry stops in front of me. He’s in a black suit and a crisp white button-down, slightly undone. His hair’s messy in that intentional way, and he smells like cedarwood with a splash of citrus and something I can’t name, but it’s making my knees weak.
For a second, I forget to breathe.
There’s something about him tonight, something untouchable. He’s beautiful in the kind of devastating way that sneaks up on you. Like you’ve seen it a hundred times before, but it still hits you like the first.
My stomach tightens.
“Are you done with your games?” Henry says through his teeth themoment he steps in front of me. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him like this. He’s beyond furious. And for once, I don’t find it amusing.
