The Player

by Aliyah Burke

  “Thank you.”

  Her words were soft and he dipped his head, making sure they were eye to eye. “You’re welcome.”

  Dinner was relatively easy. He didn’t have to pretend to know about her. He did know her. had for years. They just ironed out a few details like how long they’d been dating. While Faye cleaned up from the meal, he stood beside Lannie at the door.

  “Play your cards right and this could very well be the best decision you’ve ever made in your life.”

  He snorted in disbelief. “Whatever. It’s a means to an end. We’ll play our part and go our separate ways.”

  Lannie looked up at him, eyes serious but missing that edge normally there making him wish for a cup to protect his junk and sac.

  “She’s a special woman. Take care of her.”

  She was out the door before he could respond. When he stepped back into the kitchen, Faye was hanging up the hand towel on the handle of the oven door.

  “I need to get home.”

  Nothing romantic there but he had some time to work on that. “Let’s go.”

  “You don’t ride your Harley anymore?” She posed her question as she slid inside his Audi SUV.

  “In my contract. Can’t ride it.”

  “That must have been hard. I remember how much you’ve loved being on bikes. Since high school.”

  “Something about the freedom.” A shrug. “It was worth it for the year. I’ll renegotiate next year.”

  “Of course.”

  That was it. A strained silence stretched between them. At her place, he locked the door when she attempted to jump out.

  “Real mature, Kaeden.”

  He ground his jaw. It wouldn’t work if all he did was yell. Right?

  “I’m your fucking boyfriend, Faye. You can wait for me to open the goddamn door for you. Instead of bolting out like you are being chased by the hounds of hell.”

  She slowly angled her head to him and lifted an eyebrow. “Dramatic much?”

  “You know what I mean.”

  “Yeah, you don’t want me to fuck up your shot. I get it. If you wanted a goddamn puppy you should have adopted one. Or paid one of your whores.”

  He got out and walked around. Opening her door, he braced one hand along the top of the car and the other the back of her seat.

  “That’s the second time you’ve referenced my whores.” He leaned closer, nuzzling the loose curls around her face. “Is this something you really gave a lot of thought to?”

  “Don’t flatter yourself.”

  “You’re doing it for me.” A small nip of the top of her ear. “I didn’t want a trained monkey. I want you.”

  “No.” She pushed her hand against him. Kaeden knew if he didn’t want to back up, she couldn’t make him. “You were listening to your agent. You are just stuck with me.”

  She climbed out and struck out for the front door. Muttering a curse, he slammed the door and followed after her. He walked right in behind her and smirked when she jumped at the click of her door.

  “What’s your plan now, Kaeden?”

  Why did it bother him so much she was so intent on getting him out of her life? “Plans tonight? If it’s with another guy, you have to cancel. My girl can’t be seen out with another man.”

  “Why would I have plans? I’m not exactly beating off guys with a stick.”

  “Taken women shouldn’t have to.” He dug his fingers into his palm to keep from reaching out to her, perfectly aware what she actually spoke about.

  She stiffened before relaxing. But he’d already seen her and knew that this was a difficult line of conversation for her.

  “I thought I should get your schedule so we could be seen together. I know you have class and work, so we can work around that and my practices.”

  “Fine.”

  She walked out of the room, leaving him alone in the living room.

  He gazed about and smiled as he approached her end table with a unique wood design on it.

  Alone in her bedroom, Faye took several deep breaths. The first five were jagged as her heart continued to remind her that she wasn’t supposed to be struggling for air and controlling her nerves. The next few after that weren’t as rough, but they weren’t smooth breathing either.

  She took her time changing, but not too long because she didn’t doubt that if she wasn’t back when he wanted her to be, he would show up here.

  In my bedroom.

  Oh, the hell she’d wandered into. Him in her bedroom was like, only her most forbidden fantasy. Of course, it would be for an entirely different reason than the one that would bring him back here now.

  Tugging a Highlander Rugby shirt, she scrambled for a pair of sweats. She wasn’t, wasn’t, going to stay dressed up for that man.

  She braided her hair and allowed it to drape over one shoulder as she returned to find him looking at a table with some hand carved items on it.

  “These are great,” he said. “Where’d you find them?”

  “They were a gift.”

  He picked up the flower and examined it from all angles. “Nice. Who?”

  “Trevor. He made them.”

  Had she not been staring at him so much, capitalizing on the fact she could stare without him seeing, as his back was turned, she would have missed the tensing of his body.

  “Trevor.”

  She moved closer, even as she cursed herself for doing so, unable to stay away. “Yes.” She touched the edge of the table, the flower he held had a specific spot on the top. All of them did. A small groove had been cut into the top, so they would sit and not move. “You met him at the bookstore. The rugby player.”

  “The one who kissed you.”

  Faye cut her gaze to him and found him glaring at her.

  “No need to sound so shocked. Yes, him. Rugby players are very good with their hands.”

  His jaw clenched and the smile he leveled at her wasn’t nice by any stretch of the means. “So are football players. At least this one.” He gripped her chin. “You can’t be letting him kiss you in public anymore.” His gaze dropped to her shirt and those blue eyes narrowed further.

  Her small hope he’d been jealous was dashed. Smile pained, she nodded. “I know. Have to play the doting girlfriend.”

  Her phone rang and she pulled it out before swiping ignore.

  “Mad at your brother?”

  “Just have nothing to say to him.” She walked away. Or tried.

  He pulled her back to stand before him. Cupping her face, he stroked her cheek with his thumb. “Thank you.”

  For a few seconds, they stayed like that. Eyes locked. Skin touching. Then she remembered he was after something.

  “No need to pretend when there’s no one around, Kaeden.” She couldn’t close her fingers fully around his wrist. But she held what she could and took his hand from her face. “Let me get you my schedule.”

  As she moved to her purse, his phone rang, and she bared her teeth when she heard her brother’s name.

  “Yeah, I’m with her now, Mitchell. I know you called. She didn’t want to talk to you. Didn’t ask, I figured you were being an asshole again and deserved her silent treatment. Fuck no, she doesn’t want to speak to you, I’m not getting in the middle.” A few grunts. “Have to go man. See you.”

  She went to the couch and perched on a cushion, curling her legs beneath her. From below lowered lashes, she watched him near. Fuck, his thighs were trunks. What was between them wasn’t small either. Her palms sweated and she struggled not to shift on her seat.

  He claimed the seat at the other end and she only breathed slightly better. “What do you have?”

  Passing it over, she waited while he read it.

  “I can work with this. You know where I am. The facility. I know Lannie has your email and she’ll send you the dates and times of the events.”

  Irritation spiked. “Don’t you think we should talk about which ones to attend? I might have things going on.”

  He
held up the paper. “You just gave me your schedule.”

  Incredulous she blinked. “My work and school schedule.”

  “So what’s the problem?”

  Tears, actual tears, burned her eyes and she willed to remain there. He thought so little of her as a woman she couldn’t possibly have anything after work and school. Kaeden figured she spent her nights holed up here in her place. Sure, she may not have dates lined up for weeks ahead but she did have friends.

  “Nothing.” It was hell forcing that word past her lips. “I need to sleep. I have an early day at class tomorrow.”

  He dipped that blue gaze to the paper he had and got to his feet in a smooth motion of sinewy movement. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  The smile was the best she could do. Kaeden stared at her like he wanted to say something else but didn’t. Instead, he turned and walked out.

  Stomping to the kitchen, she slammed the dishes around as she began to bake. That arrogant man had another thing coming if he thought she would just drop all her things to attend functions with him. Brushing me off like I’m pathetic.

  While she wasn’t a baker like JadaLei, she wasn’t a newbie. She just wasn’t to the point where she was comfortable selling her items at the shop. Hopefully one day she would. Even so, by the time she crashed in her empty bed, she had quite a few treats for her class in the morning. At least her fellow students would enjoy and benefit from her late hours.

  Mitchell was there when she walked out of her house balancing her treats and bag.

  “Faye.”

  “I have nothing to say to you, Mitchell. I have to get to class.”

  “You can’t fucking be serious about this.”

  Since there wasn’t a question in there, she let it go and unlocked her car. He didn’t even bother helping her open the door and she grumbled under her breath as she juggled to get the passenger door to stay. Then she put her bag on the floor and placed the cupcakes on the seat.

  Slamming the door, she walked to the driver’s door, well aware her brother’s scowl followed her every single step she took.

  “Just going to be like this?”

  She clenched her hand on the top of the door and lifted her gaze to his. “You made your position abundantly clear to me, Mitchell. You want me out of your life. That’s what I’m doing. I will do my best to avoid you when I have to go to a fucking function with your best friend because the two of you together means reverting to childhood.”

  Faye bit her bottom lip as she climbed in and drove away. It wasn’t until she pulled into a parking space as college that she’d managed to relax a bit. Not nearly as much as she needed, but something was better than nothing. At least, that was the lie she was going to tell herself.

  Juggling her items, she struck out for the classroom and smiled when Cooper Utilvar jogged up to her.

  “Morning, love. Let me help you with that.” Without waiting for her permission, he plucked the containers of cupcakes from her arms. “Who pissed you off this time?”

  Laughter fell from her lips as she shook out her arms, trying to get the soreness to move along. “What makes you ask that?”

  He lifted an eyebrow at her. Cooper’s mixed parentage of Caucasian and Asian made him very attractive. And had he not been such a good friend, he would have been someone she would have dated.

  “It’s your thing.” He opened the door and ushered her in. “When you’re angry or stressed you bake. Still not sure why you don’t sell stuff at your store.”

  “I have a baker for that.” She got the door to the classroom and followed him in this time.

  “Not saying to replace her, but you are so good at this also.”

  “Thank you.”

  She put her bag by her seat and helped Cooper place the cupcakes down without dropping anything. She’d just uncovered them when the others strolled into the room and immediately beelined it to the sweets.

  Her mood which had been up the upswing since class, plummeted the moment her phone rang as she walked to her car.

  Fingers tightening around the device, she read the text multiple times. Of course, he would summon her.

  Like I don’t have a fucking life. And live to serve at his beck and call.

  Chapter Five

  “This could have been a mistake.” Kaeden pushed a hand through his hair before replacing his helmet.

  He couldn’t explain why he’d sent Faye that text, telling her to meet him down here at the practice field. Couldn’t explain why he wanted her there, watching him. Cheering him on. Hopefully cheering for him.

  Kaeden was grateful for the later practice today because she would be done with her classes.

  “HP!” He gazed to the lineman who yelled at him. Mind scrambling to put a name to the face, he ran over the possibilities as he jogged toward the group waiting.

  The name hit him as he was mere steps away. “What’s up, Tank?” His nickname had been used, it must be okay to reciprocate.

  “You looked a bit lost out there, like you forgot you were on the offense.”

  His grin was brittle and he grunted. “Lost in thought.”

  “Think you could get back on the same page with us, HP? I’d like to not be eliminated even before the playoffs start. So if the great HP could pay attention to our plays, we’d love it.”

  He sliced his gaze to the quarterback who was just an ass, at least to him, and bit back his response of “go fuck yourself” to say, “Sure thing.”

  The play called, he went and go into position. Muscles flexing, he counted down to the snap so he could break and do what he was created to. Fly.

  Except he wasn’t thrown the ball. Not for the next three snaps.

  Kaeden knew he was wide open but Jason was ignoring him. Anger pumped through him. He wasn’t a goddamn rookie who needed hazing. But he held his tongue. There were reporters around.

  The next set of downs they had, he tensed when the head coach yelled at them. Everyone stopped when Rex Tarrin stomped over the gridiron to join their huddle.

  “Shit.” Tank’s expletive was echoed by the other ten guys there, including himself and the jackass quarterback.

  Without niceties, which in all honesty wasn’t a shock, coach shoved into the center of their circle and got right into Jason’s face and grabbed his helmet with one dark hand.

  “For the most part, Jason, I let you call your plays and do what needs to be done on the field. You’ve played long enough and have earned that right with me. But I will yank that shit faster than you stick your dick into the next whore you come across, if you don’t stop acting like a fucking baby. Three times, HP was open and you either threw it away or ate the lost yardage. That is not how we play here. Don’t tell me you didn’t see him, this is your field to see. Your teammates to know. That man, is part of this team, and you either accept that and use him, or I will bench your ass and give that backup time to get into the role. Make that fucking decision by the time I walk my ass off the field.”

  He left, unflattering comments about divas falling from his lips as he covered the grass toward the sideline.

  Kaeden didn’t have to say anything but he couldn’t miss the glare Jason shot him. Nor the extra heat he put behind his throws to him. Making sure he didn’t miss a single one, he just allowed his expression to taunt the quarterback who was getting angrier with each snap.

  “Jason,” coach hollered. “Take a break, we’re letting Luke get a few reps in.”

  “The fuck! This is my goddamn team and I’m having to suck this all up for a fucking troublemaker that no one else wanted on their team because he can’t keep his dick in his pants or his temper under control. And now you’re sidelining me for the backup?”

  Coach whipped around, mouth in a firm line. “One, it’s my team, not yours. Two, it’s the same day of the week it always is that Luke gets to take reps with the first string, on the case something happens to you, like your mouth gets you benched. Don’t fucking argue with me. Get your ass off my field.�
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  Now the looks he got from Jason were murderous. Kaeden knew there would be a fight soon enough, but he had to hold his own temper. Not take the first swing. Do not be the instigator.

  “You’ll fuck up,” Jason seethed, his face turning a shade of red that had nothing to do with the exertion from practice. “You’ll fuck up and be dick deep in some bitch you shouldn’t be with. Or you’ll make an ass of yourself at some fundraiser or function. Then everyone will see what I do. You’re not worth the paper your contract is printed on.”

  Unsnapping his helmet, Kaeden shoved a hand through his hair. “Nope. Looks like we already have a fuckup on the team. Besides, I have a girlfriend.” He gestured with his chin to the sideline where Faye talked to one of the assistant coaches, David.

  Without waiting for a rebuttal from the pissed off quarterback, he jogged over to where she stood, taking his time to appreciate the jeans she wore and the way the loose sky blue top fluttered in the afternoon breeze, not quite pressing the material tight to her, only allowing swift peeks at the curves she rocked.

  “Hey baby,” he said. Without giving her a chance to speak, he kissed her and nearly went to his knees from the shock that pulsed through him.

  David grinned. “You two? You never told us you were dating Kaeden, Faye.”

  Her body vibrated and Kaeden knew it wasn’t from lust. She was pissed. He had no doubt if he pulled off her sunglasses, those eyes would be lasering him into tiny degradable pieces so he could be absorbed back into the earth.

  “I’m more private than being on the arm of an NFL player.” Her words were smooth and practiced.

  “HP! Your practice isn’t over. Get your ass back on the field, I own you for thirty more minutes.”

  “Be right back, baby.” Kissing her once more because, well, he was her boyfriend, he wanted that taste on his tongue. Her glossy lips tasted of pear and coconut.

  His high was dampened by the sight of Mitchell lining up on defense. This was going to fucking hurt. No matter what Mitchell knew he was supposed to do, there were going to be some “missed assignments” when he came after Kaeden.