SCORE (A Stepbrother Sports Romance)(37)

But this new game of chasing after a woman who didn’t care about him was not the sort he was familiar with, and it rattled him.

He had been waiting on his balcony all evening, hoping she’d come around to the house or at least get close by for him to see her again. He had seen her when she had looked up, but he wasn’t sure she had seen him. Her friend was already here, so he doubted she would come up alone. Maybe she would choose to stay on the plane overnight. A scowl moved over his face as he lifted the bottle of beer he was holding to his lips. He needed to know more about her, even if it meant asking her friend about her.

“Amy, right?”

She was filling a plate with some warm appetizers his cook had just served. “Hey,” she said as she brushed crumbs from the corners of her mouth. “These are delicious.”

“I’m glad you like them,” he told her. “How would you like to see something more interesting?”

Her eyes flew open as he said the words, and he did his best to stifle a chuckle. He was used to women swooning all over him.

“Where?” she asked.

He held her hand and led her out of the room, doing his best to avoid the pairs of eyes that stared at him as he walked with Amy. He knew most of the women in that room would easily jump into bed with him. Why was her friend immune to his charms?

“What is so interesting about this room?” Amy asked as they stood in front of a door. He had taken her to a small room off the side of the enormous house.

“You’ll see,” he said as he opened the door.

“Nice,” Amy said as she saw his game room. It held a pool table, and Amy could see herself mounted there and Chance sending her to places…

He touched her on the shoulder, and she jumped. “You alright?”

“I’m good,” she replied.

Chance walked over to the mini bar in the corner and took out a beer. “Would you like anything?” he asked her.

“Probably just a soda,” she replied. “Unless you have something more interesting.”

“You’re not a drinker?” he asked and pulled a soda from the fridge.

“Not usually. Claire…” she began.

Chance’s ears pricked when he heard Claire’s name. “Claire?” he asked. “Is that your friend?”

“Yeah,” Amy sighed.

“So what’s her story?” he asked.

“What do you mean?” Amy asked.

“She didn’t want to come with you?”

“No, Claire’s got her own mind,” Amy said and walked over to the pool table. “How do you play?”

“It is complicated; you won’t learn overnight,” he told her. He wanted to get back to the subject of Claire, but he didn’t want it to look too obvious.

“Well, is there anything else we can do that I can be taught overnight?” she asked. She ran her tongue across her lips.

“That depends,” Chance said and set his beer down on the counter. “What would you like to learn?” He leaned against the wall, maintaining his distance.

“I don’t know. You tell me,” Amy said as she swished her hips provocatively as she walked toward him.

“So what do you want to learn?” he asked.

“What do you have to teach?” She could see the gleam in his eyes as he watched her. She touched the golden curls on his chest, which were peeking out of his shirt. She wet her lips and leaned in, but someone pushed the door open.

“Chance.” A man interrupted their discussion.

He looked at her and gave her a devilish grin before moving past her. Amy gritted her teeth and followed him. “What’s going on?” he asked his father.

“Most of the staff is gone for the day, and we need to make some room in here for our guests.”

“Sure,” he said and turned to Amy. “Would you like to help?”

Amy’s disappointment was pronounced as she sighed, “Sure.”

But there wasn’t much to do. In less than five minutes they had moved what little furniture was there and turned the room into an indoor camp site. Amy had just moved the last piece when she saw Claire walk past the door.

“Hey,” Amy called to her.

Claire stopped mid-stride and cocked her head. “Oh, there you are,” she said. She walked into the room, saw Chance, and froze.

“Where are you going?” Amy asked.

“Looking for you. Oh,” she said with shock.

“What?” Amy asked.

She looked from Amy to Chance. “Oooooh,” she said with a knowing smile.

“No,” Chance defended too quickly. “She was just helping me out.”

“I can see that,” Claire said. She folded her hands as she leaned against the door.

“I thought you were staying down there,” Amy said.

“I was, but then Mom decided she preferred a bed tonight, so here I am.” She nodded at Chance and then started to leave the room but he skipped across the room to reach her.

“Do I offend you in some way?” he asked.

“Why would you? I don’t even know you,” she replied.

“Exactly,” he said and folded his arms. “You don’t know me but you already hate me.”

“I don’t hate you, Chance,” she said. “I just don’t know you.”