God, she didn’t know. All she knew was her mind was spinning and had been going on a continuous loop since she’d been with Flynn two nights ago. And she hadn’t really talked to him since.
Two. Nights. Ago. When she’d taken his virginity.
God, it sounded sordid in her head. She couldn’t imagine what it might sound like if she said the words out loud. How would Willow react? Would she laugh? It was kind of crazy, thinking the very hot, very gorgeous Flynn had been a virgin. She could still hardly wrap her mind around it. Why had he held on to it for so long?
And why, when he finally gave it up, was it to her? She didn’t think she’d ever taken someone’s virginity before.
So the night had been a first for the both of them.
Ugh.
After many adventurous hours of exploring each other, they’d finally, reluctantly gotten dressed, and Flynn had taken her to the stadium so she could pick up her car. Like a gentleman, he’d walked her to where it had been parked, looking adorably rumpled in a pair of blue sweats with the Hawks emblem on them and a Hawks T-shirt, his hair a mess, stubble on his cheeks.
She’d grabbed his face like a starving woman and kissed him. Muscular men in sweats shouldn’t be allowed to roam the earth. They were her kryptonite, her crack, her addiction. Those sweats rode way too low on his hips, and when he’d first gotten out of the car, he’d stretched his arms above his head, offering her a glimpse of that washboard stomach.
Dead. DOA. Her brain cells had exploded one by one, and all she’d been able to think about had been how she could convince him to get in her car so she could take him back to her apartment.
Hadn’t happened, though, much to her disappointment. She’d kissed him. He’d smiled and touched the tip of her nose with his finger, whispered her name along with a sweet good-bye, and then headed back to his car.
He’d waited for her to pull out of the parking lot before he’d followed after her, turning right when she’d turned left. Talk about lonely. Talk about a depressing drive of shame home. Is that what they called them? It felt like a drive of shame. As in, a shame they couldn’t keep up what they’d been doing for a few hours longer…
“Hey.” Willow snapped her fingers in front of Aubrey’s face, startling her. “Earth to Aubrey. I think I was losing you there for a minute.”
“Sorry.” She shook her head, feeling stupid for letting her thoughts drift yet again to Flynn. She hadn’t seen him once since their encounter. Two days, when usually they saw each other almost every day. But he’d been given Monday off, and she’d been so busy today, fielding calls and press interviews and whatever else, she’d hardly left her desk.
“What’s going on?” Willow asked softly, probably offering a kind smile to offset the snapping fingers she’d just thrust in Aubrey’s face.
Willow made her nervous. She was prickly. She was sweet. She was fiery. She was friendly. She’d kept poor Nick on his toes, but Aubrey had a sneaking suspicion he’d probably deserved it.
“I need advice,” Aubrey finally said, pushing her plate away from her. She’d taken two bites of the turkey half sandwich she’d ordered and already she was full. More like full of nerves.
“What about? I’m going to guess men, because I’m probably the only female you’re close to since you’ve started working for the Hawks. Or Sheridan, but she’s working,” Willow said, digging into her sandwich as though she was a starving woman. “And lately she’s been feeling under the weather. Don’t know what’s up with that.”
“Right.” Aubrey had heard that, too, about Sheridan, but she couldn’t worry about Super Perfect Couple, Jared Quinn and his wife. She needed to focus on her problems. “I hope she feels better soon.”
“Don’t worry about her. She has Jared to nurse her back to health.” Willow waved her hand and took a sip of her drink. “Tell me what’s wrong. Let Mama Willow help you.”
Aubrey laughed and picked up a potato chip, eyeing it suspiciously before she set it back down. She knew something was wrong if she didn’t want to eat potato chips. She loved nothing more than munching away on thin-cut, fried potatoes coated with grease, especially when she was stressed-out. “Something…happened a couple of nights ago, and I need to talk to someone about it.”
“With Flynn?” Willow asked casually.
Shock coursed through her. Damn it, how did Willow know? Did they all know? God, had Flynn said something…?
“What? Nick told me. He tells me everything.” Willow smiled, a dreamy sort of glazed look in her eyes. God, that look made Aubrey incredibly jealous. “You can trust me, though. I won’t tell Nick any of this.”
“Yes, you will,” Aubrey said dully, her appetite really leaving her now. She should’ve never called Willow. Having Nick between them was too risky. For Willow, her man would trump Aubrey every single time.
“I swear.” Willow held up her hand as if she was some sort of scout. “I’ll say we had lunch, shared a bit of girl talk. And if he gets nosy, I know how to distract him.”
The smile that crossed Willow’s face made Aubrey throw a wadded-up napkin at her. “Hey!” Willow laughed, dodging it just in time.
“You’re so happy it’s disgusting,” Aubrey muttered.
Willow’s laughter faded, and she tilted her head. “Okay. Confession time. Tell me exactly what happened. I know something’s up with Flynn. Nick mentioned when he came home last night that Flynn had a hard time focusing during practice.” She rested her forearms on the edge of the table, her expression earnest.
Aubrey took a deep breath and then let the entire story pour out of her. From the moment Flynn kissed her at the restaurant to the early morning hours Monday, when he drove her back to the stadium.
She skimmed over the sex stuff but fed Willow enough details so she knew what had happened. Yeah, Aubrey’s cheeks felt as if they were going to catch on fire, they were so hot, but once she started rolling, it was as though she had no control over her words. God, she really hoped Willow held true to her promise and didn’t tell a soul this story. She didn’t want anyone to know, didn’t want Flynn thinking she’d gossiped about their night together.
“So, tell me,” Willow said casually once Aubrey finally shut up. The deli was mostly empty, since the lunch crowd was long gone, and Aubrey hoped like crazy Willow wouldn’t be too loud. “Is it true?”
Aubrey glanced around, making sure no one was near. God, she was paranoid. “Is what true?” she asked, her voice low. Low as in, keep it on the down low.
Willow leaned forward, her gaze razor sharp. “That Flynn was a virgin?”
There went Aubrey’s cheeks, up in flames and burning like a wild inferno. “God, Willow, keep your voice down.”
Willow fell back against her chair, the smile on her face telling. “So, he was. I’m guessing he was still pretty good?”
“I cannot answer that question.”
“That clinches it for me. I’m sure he knew just how to handle himself in the sack.” Willow shook her head with a wistful sigh. “He sure is pretty. And so big. I like his arms. Don’t ever repeat that to Nick. He’d get insanely jealous.”
Aubrey felt insanely jealous. Willow was gorgeous, rich, and sophisticated and confident, while she was just…Aubrey. A struggling assistant publicist, who worked hard to get that next promotion, a break, whatever, half the time feeling in over her head.
“I won’t repeat it,” she mumbled. No way would she tell Flynn Willow liked his arms.
They were her arms. Sort of.
“So you haven’t talked to him since you two did the deed, huh?” Willow shook her head. “That can make for an awkward next encounter, I take it.”
“Yeah.” Aubrey sighed, twirled a lock of hair around her index finger, like she was prone to do when she was nervous. “I don’t want to be one of those whiny females who wonders what’s wrong and why won’t he talk to me, text me, call me, or whatever, but, come on.”
She hated feeling like this. Told herself from the begi
nning it was going to be for only one night, and look at her. Acting as if she wanted more, which she so didn’t, but…okay fine, she was a liar. She did want more. Nothing serious. Just fun. A few naked sessions with Flynn Foley held the promise to chase the stress away.
Willow studied her quietly for so long that Aubrey started wiggling in her chair, waiting for her to say something. Anything, for God’s sake, just to break the tension. “He likes you.”
Aubrey rolled her eyes. “That’s all you have to say? I tell you I took his…” She leaned across the table and lowered her voice to the softest whisper. “You know, and that’s all I get? He likes me?”
“Simmer down, girlfriend. I’m leading up to what I need to say.” Willow cleared her throat and narrowed her eyes, striking a thread of fear inside Aubrey’s heart. She leaned back in her chair, waiting for what would no doubt be a verbal blow. “Nick’s been complaining since you started working for the Hawks that Flynn’s had the hots for you. He wondered why the boy would never make a move.”
“It’s not allowed, remember? Dating is against company policy,” Aubrey pointed out. “Not that it’s stopped us. He made a move, got what he wanted, and now nothing. Nada. Zip,” Aubrey muttered.
“Maybe he’s just busy. He had a day off and then came back to practice, and boom. You know they’re working everyone overtime, getting them prepped for the game. Yeah, I know he’s second string, but they play them, too. Everyone’s got to stay on top of his game. Who knows what could happen?” Willow shook her head. “I’m guessing you’re worried for nothing. All twisted up over it, thinking you did something wrong or whatever, and I bet he’s fine. Just playing it cool. Or more like being a typical guy and oblivious to the fact that you’re quietly freaking out.”
Willow was probably right. She’d been so wrapped up in her own thoughts, and he probably wasn’t even aware of her uncertainty. They hadn’t seen each other. She was speculating—the last thing she should be doing.
“So what do I do? Let it play out and see if he ever talks to me again? Wait for him to possibly get traded and then maybe we could see each other?” A long-distance relationship sounded far from ideal.
“Is he getting traded? How awful.” Willow made a tsking noise. “But if he does, he’ll be better appreciated somewhere else, don’t you think?”
Again, pure speculation on her part. She really needed to learn how to keep her mouth shut. “It hasn’t been confirmed.”
“The rumor has been batted around more than once.”
“‘Rumor’ being the key word,” Aubrey added.
“Whatever.” Willow waved her hand. “He’s definitely going to talk to you again. He has to talk to you. You’re his publicist. And speaking of that, I really hope no one saw the two of you together.”
“No one did,” Aubrey said quickly. “I’m sure of it.”
“I hope so.” Willow sent her a pointed look. “He’ll come around. Just be patient.”
She was sick of being patient. She’d been patient her entire life. Now that she’d had a taste of Flynn…she wanted another. And another after that, too. “I hate that word,” she muttered.
Willow laughed, the witch. “Everyone does. And, hey, there’s nothing wrong with playing hard to get.”
“So you’re saying I shouldn’t run up to him and demand an explanation?” Aubrey was joking, but really, she felt at a complete loss. She had no idea what she should do, how she should approach him. She got tense just thinking about it.
“Absolutely do not demand an explanation,” Willow said emphatically. “Men don’t like demands, especially this early in the game.”
“Game? I’m not trying to play any games. Doesn’t he get that enough in his job?” Aubrey’s shoulders slumped, defeat settling over her. She was letting him get to her.
“Come on, dating is a total game. You just need to be a savvy player.” Willow snapped her fingers, as if she’d just come to a world-stopping realization. “You know what the problem is?”
Aubrey sat up straighter. If Willow solved all of her Flynn problems right now, she’d probably drop to the floor and kiss her new friend’s feet. “What? What is it?”
“Flynn absolutely does not know how to play the game.”
“Well, duh.” Aubrey blew out a harsh breath. “He’s terrible at the game.” Though he was really good in bed, she had to give him that. He knew just what to do with the sex part, and she wasn’t sure if that was natural instinct or what. But socially? As in dating?
The guy probably didn’t have a clue.
“It’s because he’s not an expert at the game. As in, he lacks experience.” Willow paused. “Or so I’ve heard and observed. He’d rather argue field strategy than talk to a pretty girl.”
Ugh. So true. If he was completely enamored of her, he should’ve come around her office by now, right? More likely, he was avoiding her because they shouldn’t be seen together, considering their relationship would be frowned upon. “I’m overthinking this, aren’t I?”
“Completely!” Willow looked at her as if she’d finally figured it out. “Don’t stress it. Easier for me to say than do, but I really think you need to just relax and wait for him to approach you. Let him come around to being the conquering male. They love that sort of thing.”
“I suppose,” Aubrey muttered.
“Come on.” Willow’s voice lowered, and a sly smile appeared. “You’ve got to give me more details. He rocked your world, didn’t he? That’s why you’re so stressed-out.”
“Stop.” Aubrey’s cheeks turned pink, and Willow started to laugh.
“And I bet he was huge, huh? A boy that tall and with those arms has to be packing, if you know what I mean.”
Good Lord, she couldn’t believe what Willow was saying but…yes. She was so dead-on about what he was packing. “Fine,” Aubrey said with a put-upon sigh. She was having fun chatting with Willow, and maybe sharing this little bit would bring them closer. “He was totally hung.”
“Ha! I knew it. Lucky girl. Not that I’m complaining. My man is very well endowed,” Willow said smugly.
Aubrey stuck her fingers in her ears, not wanting to hear any details about Nick Hamilton’s…genital area. Oh God. And was that older woman sitting the next table over really glaring at them? Crap, she’d probably overheard.
She desperately wanted to crawl under the table. Or slink her way out of the deli, never to return. Which would be a real shame, since she loved their sandwiches.
Willow, though, was laughing her butt off at Aubrey’s misery. The brat. “Sorry. It’s just…that woman glared at us and, yeah. That was hilarious. I bet we shocked the crap out of her.”
“It’s not hilarious. This is my life,” Aubrey hissed out the last word. “I can’t believe we’re having this conversation.”
“You’re the one who asked me to meet you for lunch,” Willow reminded, amusement lacing her voice. “And you’re the one who wanted to talk about your sex life.”
Well. She had her there. “So tell me what to do. Tell me how to handle this, because clearly I’m just as bad at the game as Flynn is.”
Willow raised a brow. “Have you had sex before?”
“Come on.” Aubrey barely restrained from rolling her eyes again. She wasn’t a crazed sex maniac who’d had an endless stream of partners, but she’d been with a few guys.
“And have you been in a steady relationship before?”
“Yeah, but it’s been a while.” She thought of her ex. It didn’t even matter anymore that he was getting married. But thanks to her freak-out over Derek’s engagement announcement, she’d approached Flynn and…landed him. So did that mean she owed Derek a thank-you?
Ha. Now, that would be a hilarious conversation.
“Then, you definitely have a leg up on Flynn. So I think you need to implement a plan.” Willow smiled and took a sip from her drink.
Unease slipped down Aubrey’s spine. “A plan?” she asked weakly.
Willow nodded. “
It’s going to be fabulous. He won’t know what hit him.”
“What sort of plan are you talking about?”
“The plan that we shall name Operation Seduce Flynn Foley.” Willow laughed and shook her head. “Don’t worry. This is going to be easy.”
Aubrey wasn’t so sure about that.
…
“You wanted to talk to me?” Flynn hovered at the open doorway of Harvey Price’s office, nerves making him jittery, bouncing from one foot to the other. He was exhausted after running his ass off for hours, pushing himself beyond his usual limits.
Jared Quinn outplayed him every single time. Trotting out onto the field as if he wasn’t even winded, and he was an old man compared to Flynn.
Damn it, he couldn’t even hate on the guy long enough to let it fester in his gut. He liked Quinn. Flynn knew he irritated the crap out of the quarterback sometimes, but he admired the guy. He was a freaking legend.
And Flynn was nothing but a benchwarmer.
Get over yourself, you damn baby.
“Come in, Flynn. Shut the door.” Harvey waved him in, and Flynn went inside, letting the door shut behind him. “Have a seat.”
He settled in the chair across from Harvey’s desk. The publicist’s usual friendly expression was gone, replaced with a dour look. Like a world-is-gonna-come-crashing-down-on-their-heads type of look. “Everything okay?”
“We need to talk, son.”
Well, crap. Any conversation that began with those words couldn’t be good. “What about?”
Harvey took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, as if he needed to calm himself down. “Did you leave the party at the restaurant Sunday night with Aubrey?”
Flynn went still. So this was about Aubrey? Had she told on them to Harvey, or what? “I gave her a ride home, yes. She wanted to leave the party early, and so did I. It made sense for us to leave together.”
“Did anything…happen between you two?”
Game For Tonight (Entangled Brazen) (Game for It) Page 6
