Then he said, “People are assholes if they think I’ve walked a harder road than you. My big brother is the fucking Bishop, a straight-up legend in the game. One of my other brothers is the vice-captain of the national squad—and a shoo-in for the captainship when our current captain retires. My father is a former regional player turned senior-level coach.”

He barely paused for air before continuing. “Hell, Gabe is over ten years older than me. I was playing with a rising star when I was a skinny primary school kid—where the fuck do they think I learned my skills?”

Something inside Catie went sideways. Just a little bit. But enough to make her breath catch. “Sorry, Danny—to the fans, you’re the battler from the streets who made good while I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Let me think about this.” Then he went back to his whisking, all muscles and veins and concentration.

She took a sneaky pic. Not to put up anywhere. Just to keep for herself as a memory of this unexpected weekend. It had nothing to do with the fact he looked hotter than her favorite chef. Of course not. Danny was not hot. Not to her.

Frowning at herself but oddly relaxed after sharing the problem with him, she went to settle back down and read the contract but made the mistake of glancing at her social media first.

Danny looked up right then. “Are you trying to smite me with that glare?”

“One of your floozies just spammed my socials with a diatribe about how you’re hers and I’m a homewrecker.”

“She’s lying. I’m not going out with anyone.”

“I didn’t say she was your girlfriend. Did you recently sleep with an eighties-style big-haired brunette with knockout boobs?” Catie took a closer look at the other woman’s profile pic. “Ooh, she’s gorgeous. Cuckoo bananas stalker given what she’s written, but also gorgeous.”

Danny looked like he wanted to brain her with the whisk in his hand. “I haven’t slept with anyone in the past few months.” Red heated his cheekbones. “Jeez, Catie, I can’t believe you made me say that.” A shake of his head. “There’s a reason I avoid you. You make me crazy.”

Catie smiled proudly. “Thank you.”

Daniel Tana Esera, pinup boy for the masses, national sweetheart, and gifted rugby player, snarled. “No cookies for you.”

“Hey!” Pointing her phone at him, she snapped a shot. “Gimme or I’ll post this with a sappy heart emoji.” No need to tell him he had a murderous glint to his eye that would shoot down any idea of romance.