Page 125 of Instigator

“Heidi,” the woman snaps. She looks me up and down, disdain clear on her face. “I’m the foundation president.”

She doesn’t offer her hand for a shake, so I don’t either. If this woman is determined to be rude to the people I love, I’ll be rude right back. Let her come after me for the slight. She’ll have to admit what a raging cunt she is too.

“Oh, Hailey’s mentioned you.”

Her eyes narrow. “You’re friends with Hailey?”

We’ve met at least three times over the years my sister’s been involved with the board. Maybe four. As the foundation president, she should definitely know who I am. And at the very least, she knows Ceci and I are together. It shouldn’t be this hard to put it together.

So this is a power trip. She’s determined to prove something. What that is, I’m uncertain, but I won’t play her game.

“She’s my sister. I’m the captain of the Grizzlies. What do you do again?”

She practically shakes with fury. “I’m⁠—”

I turn back to Ceci, cutting her off. “Would you like to dance?”

My girl beams at me. “I’d love to.”

“Excuse us.” Reaching for her hand, I clasp it in mine and tug her away.

I’m not surprised when Colt falls into step behind us.

“That was brilliant,” he crows. “I’ve never seen someone shut her down before.”

“I don’t care how important she thinks she is. She’s nobody to me.” I shrug. “You guys do good work, but charity means nothing when you’re looking down your nose at those less fortunate.”

Ceci stops in her tracks. “Holy fuck, I love you.”

My heart seizes. “Uh, what?”

She gulps, looking over my shoulder. “Would you give us a moment?”

Colt’s hand lands on my shoulder, squeezing once. “Just one. Don’t leave me alone at this thing.”

He walks off, and I turn back to Ceci, taking both of her hands in mine.

“Did you mean it?”

She won’t look at me.

I slip a finger under her chin, waiting until she raises her eyes.

“Annie. Did you mean it?”

“I love you,” she whispers. “I do.”

My heart threatens to beat out of my chest. For a second, I can’t hear anything except the rush of blood in my ears and the shaky little breath she lets out between us. She peers up at me like she’s waiting for me to break her heart, and it nearly shatters mine instead.

“I love you too,” I murmur.

And then I pull her into my arms. With the help of her heels, she fits perfectly against me, all lithe muscles and soft curves. Her smoky caramel-bourbon perfume tickles my nose, settling my heart rate into a steady thump, thump, thump. She presses her face to my neck, her warm breath on my skin as familiar now as breathing.

Right there, in the middle of the crowded ballroom teeming with my teammates and perfect strangers, we cling to one another. The outside world fades away, and for this one magnificent moment, we are infinite.

“I’m crazy about you, Annie,” I murmur. “Every fucking day, all I want is to come home to you. To spend time with you, even if it’s in separate rooms.”

“There’s a lot of that in our future,” she says.