Mistletoe Match-Up (Romancing Wisconsin #3)

Read Online Mistletoe Match-Up (Romancing Wisconsin #3) by Stacey Joy Netzel - Free Book Online

Book: Mistletoe Match-Up (Romancing Wisconsin #3) by Stacey Joy Netzel Read Free Book Online
Authors: Stacey Joy Netzel
Ads: Link
the ball came to a rest against the bleachers. “I was going to call you…”
    “I didn’t get the job.”
    The disappointment in her voice made it difficult to force his gaze to hers. “I’m sorry, but we needed someone with experience. Katherine’s been talking about retiring, and—”
    “You don’t have to explain your decision to me. From the players’ side, believe me, I understand. No big deal—it was a long shot anyway.” A hard swallow contradicted the careless statement, but she faced him head on. “I don’t want your pity or your charity, not even in the form of a loan. I can take care of myself.”
    Good for her, but no way he’d return the old tires. He’d rather have her pissed off and safe, than hurt and her pride intact. He brushed past to retrieve the basketball. “You’re a stubborn fool.”
    He bent to pick up the ball and heard her footsteps head for the opposite doors leading to the parking lot. Her desire to prove she could handle things on her own would be admirable if the way she went about it wasn’t so… stupid .
    His splayed fingers tightened on the basketball when inspiration struck. “I’ll play you for them.”
    When she looked back, he aimed and shot from beyond the three point line. Her gaze followed the ball all the way through the net before returning to Derek. Ah hah —he had her attention.
    “Why would I play you for tires I don’t want?” she asked.
    “You win, I’ll have Chad put your old ones back on. I win, you keep the new ones.” He scooped up the ball and walked toward her. A quick pass caught her slightly off guard. “No skin off my back—unless you don’t think you can beat me, Big Shot.”
    She balanced the ball against her side, between her hip and forearm. “I know what you’re doing.”
    “Then shut me up.” Palms up, he crooked his fingers and grinned. “Come on, baby, show me what you got.”
    She rolled her eyes again, but this time a reluctant laugh escaped. “Oh, God, stop.”
    Hands on his hips, he advanced on her. “Alright, then, let me put it to you this way—you play…or I bite.” He won that one either way.
    Color tinged her cheeks. She rolled the ball in front of her and held it between them. “It wouldn’t be a fair game in my jeans.”
    “I’ve got extra shorts and a tee shirt in the locker room. Red bag, right on the bench.”
    “You’ve got an answer for everything, don’t you?” She raised the ball and pushed it against his chest, halting his advance. But an undeniable spark of interest lit her eyes.
    “You gonna go get changed, or do you need some help?”
    “I can dress myself, thank you.” She shoved against the ball, sending him back a step before she spun toward the locker rooms.
    “I’m better at undressing anyway,” he called after her.
    Her laugh bounced off the walls. She shook her head and stripped off her winter coat to toss it onto the bleachers before disappearing through the door.
    Derek figured a little practice was in order while she changed, but he became so distracted imagining her stepping out of those jeans in the deserted men’s locker room that he missed more shots than he made.
    A loud snort brought him around the next time the ball bounced off the rim and out. Her long curls now pulled back into a messy ponytail, Lisa straightened from the locker room doorway while he retrieved the ball.
    “This will be like taking candy from a baby.”
    Derek’s grip tightened on the rubber ball in his hands. If he was the baby, she was the candy he wanted. She shouldn’t look sexy in his baggy shorts and oversized tee-shirt hanging past her hips. She should feel self-conscious, but instead she strode toward him with a cocky swagger that put him back a good ten years.
    “Play to fifteen or twenty one?” he asked.
    “Fifteen is just a warm up.”
    “Twenty-one it is. No fouls, win by two?” She nodded agreement so he tossed her the ball; whoever made the first basket would start on offense.

Similar Books

Contact

Chris Morphew

Martha Schroeder

Lady Megs Gamble

Desert Divers

Sven Lindqvist

Austentatious

Alyssa Goodnight

Wifey 4 Life

Kiki Swinson