What just happened between them…that had been pretty damn amazing. He was really starting to feel something for this woman.
If he let all his walls down and really let her in, maybe she could be the woman for him.
And that thought scared the crap out of him.
Chapter Nine
“Clearly you’ve somehow taken my seduction plan to the ultimate level and made it work,” Willow teased, jamming her pointy elbow in Aubrey’s ribs. “That guy is smitten.”
Who in the world used the word “smitten”? Oh yeah, Willow did. And truthfully, it was a pretty accurate description of how Flynn was acting around Aubrey whenever they were in the same room. Though right now, not so much, which was fine. She needed a breather. It was all getting too intense. They were on a plane with the rest of the team, so what could they do? She didn’t want to join the mile-high club or anything.
Did she?
No. No, you don’t.
“And you’re just as smitten with him,” Willow continued, pointing her finger when Aubrey was just about to protest. “Don’t deny it. You know it’s true.”
Aubrey clamped her lips shut, knowing when to admit defeat. Fine, it was true. She liked Flynn. A lot. One kiss and she’d been addicted. Two nights of having sex with him for hours on end and she was practically done for.
But she needed to constantly remind herself what was really happening between them and that it was all…fake.
She really hated remembering that part.
They were headed for the next play-off game in Colorado. The guys were quiet, and most of the wives and girlfriends who were accompanying them sat in the back of the plane, gossiping among themselves. When Aubrey had traveled with the team, which had been rare, she’d usually sat with Harvey.
And no one really enjoyed sitting with Harvey. Aubrey dealt with him as best she could and had learned plenty from him, because the man was smart and amazing at his job. He just had outlandish ideas and had no problem asking people to do what he wanted. She could take a lesson or two from Harvey’s overbearing ways, especially if she wanted a promotion.
She just couldn’t ever take it as far as he did.
Traveling with the significant others was fun. Unfortunately, Sheridan hadn’t been able to come, and everyone knew Jared was bummed over it. She still wasn’t feeling well and was unable to travel. Harvey had speculations, but nothing was confirmed.
Having Sheridan gone meant that Willow sat next to her. She was full of good team-member gossip.
“You never did answer me,” Willow pointed out, knocking Aubrey from her thoughts.
She turned to face her friend. “What are you talking about?” She’d sort of lost track of what they were saying.
“Well, you didn’t confirm if you’re smitten with Flynn or not, which of course, I know you are. But I still want to hear you say it.” A mischievous smile curled Willow’s lips. “And I’m curious if you used any of those seduction techniques we discussed in your seduce-Flynn plan.”
She really didn’t want to go into detail with Willow over what had happened between her and Flynn. That moment felt…private. A moment she couldn’t help but think about over and over again. How irritated and worried he’d been when she’d found him at her front door. He’d taken over the situation yet again, and she’d loved every second of it, despite her knowing in the back of her mind that what was happening between them couldn’t last.
“No seduction was necessary,” Aubrey finally said, offering Willow a secretive, little smirk. That sounded completely lame, but it was true.
“Not necessary, huh?” Willow’s brows rose. “Nice. It must’ve worked now that you two are the real deal. I did find it kind of odd, though, that one minute you’re crying to me that he was ignoring you after a glorious night of endless sex, and the next, you’re on the front page of TMZ’s website with articles full of proclamations of love.”
Aubrey sighed, turning her attention back to the window, wishing she had a distraction. Anything to keep her from blabbing to Willow what was really going on between her and Flynn. She’d already said too much to her the last time they’d talked. She couldn’t afford to say anything else.
“You know the gossip sites. They love to exaggerate,” Aubrey said weakly, keeping her gaze fixed on the window.
“Mmm-hmm.” The doubt filling Willow’s voice was clear. “You’re hiding something.”
Aubrey flicked her a quick glance. “Am not.”
“Are, too.” Willow laughed.
God, she wouldn’t let go would she? “You are a total ball buster,” Aubrey muttered.
Willow laughed harder. “Ha, you sound just like Nick. I love to give him grief.”
Her comment hadn’t even fazed Willow. Figured. “I think you love to give everyone grief, including me.” She was being way too sensitive. She needed to get over herself. “Can’t you just accept my explanation and leave it?”
“That you and Flynn are now in a relationship, and according to Perez Hilton, you’re madly in love and gonna make babies? Sure, I can accept it.” Willow paused. “It’s a bunch of crap, but I can accept it.”
Good. Aubrey couldn’t say anything else for fear someone on the plane was eavesdropping, and then the truth would spread faster than a wildfire through the driest, plagued-with-drought forest. “Thanks for being so understanding,” she mumbled.
Maintaining a fake relationship was hard. Worse, she was being forced into this. She enjoyed her time with Flynn, she couldn’t lie, but if she made one tiny mistake, what then? Would Harvey fire her on the spot? She was putting everything at risk. Her job, her reputation, her newfound friendships, and even possibly her…
…heart.
“Hey.” Willow rested her hand on Aubrey’s arm, making Aubrey turn to face her once more. The genuine concern written all over Willow’s face brought the guilt on big-time over her earlier remark. “If you need to talk about anything, you know I’m here for you, right? I totally get that maybe you don’t want to say something here. Really.”
Aubrey sighed. “I’m sorry I’m being so sensitive. Everyone’s watching Flynn and me so closely, and it’s driving me crazy. I just wish we could keep our relationship private.”
Willow frowned. “So you’re not going to give me all the dirty details? That’s a damn shame.”
They both dissolved into soft laughter, Aubrey’s heart easing the slightest bit when she realized that maybe Willow did want to be her friend. And that she wouldn’t drill her too hard for any more information she couldn’t know about.
Aubrey hated keeping secrets. She could keep quiet because the necessity came with the profession, but when those secrets involved her…? Yeah, she hated that. She needed someone to confide to, unload on. Her mom used to be her confidante, but that had had to end when she’d become a teen and her mother had turned into the queen of all man haters.
She had no siblings to confess to. Of course she’d had friends in high school and then college, but she’d moved away when she’d graduated. Her hometown was a small place on the Oregon coast. She hadn’t been back since she’d taken on the job with the Hawks.
The new friends she’d made since starting her job were all men…football players, every last one of them. She couldn’t confess her deepest, darkest secrets to those guys. No way.
Willow probably had her all figured out anyway. She’d witnessed a supposed fake relationship first hand with Jared and Sheridan. Heck, she’d probably think there was some sort of epidemic going around among the Hawks players.
And no way could Aubrey tell Willow how scared she was of losing her job. She was putting everything on the line. Everything.
“Is Flynn nervous about the game?” Willow asked out of the blue.
“What? No, I don’t think so.” Aubrey shrugged, feeling silly. “I don’t know. We haven’t talked much about it.” They’d had sex two nights ago. They’d talked yesterday, but he’d been busy with practice and told her he’d call her later
, which he had.
The phone conversation had lasted almost an hour. He’d told her about practice, how he’d spoken to Harvey and ensured she would be traveling with the team to Denver, just like all the wives and girlfriends were. How authentic that would look in the public eye—he’d specifically pointed that out, which had, for whatever stupid reason, hurt her feelings a little.
Today, he’d hardly talked to her, but he had come to her before they’d boarded the plane, dropping a sweet kiss on her lips and looking at her as if the sun rose and set on her head. After that, though, he’d sort of ditched her, which actually made her feel relieved, because spending so much time with Flynn was…hard on her. Besides, he had a team to be with. He couldn’t worry about his new girlfriend and her little feelings. That was just her expecting too much from him.
“Nick’s all wound up and anxious to play. No one on the team is saying a word for fear the entire game will be jinxed, so you know what I’m referring to,” Willow said cryptically.
Absolutely, Aubrey knew what Willow referred to. The unspoken goal. The ultimate dream. Yeah, she knew Flynn was wound up, too, but for different reasons. He’d probably get no time out on the field in this Saturday’s game. And if they made it to the ultimate goal, Flynn would get little-to-no field time there, either.
The end of the season just brought him closer to uncertainty. Now that she’d gotten to know him better, she realized that the stress of it all, the unknowing, was starting to truly affect him.
“Flynn probably won’t spend much time on the field,” Aubrey pointed out, her voice soft, her thoughts…full of Flynn. “He hates that.”
Willow frowned. “I’m sure he does.” She sighed. “I don’t even know what to say to him. If I admit I’m sorry, he’d probably hate that. But it’s how I feel. He deserves a chance to prove himself, and he won’t find that here, under Jared. He’s on top of the world right now. Playing the best season of his life.”
“I know. I get it. So does Flynn.” He’d said so himself that night after they’d had sex the second time. Lying together in their postcoital bliss, in each other’s arms, Flynn had talked—more like unloaded. About all the disappointment he dealt with that came from his father, how his expectations were hard to meet. Everyone in Flynn’s life held the same goal as he did—to make him the best damn football player anyone had ever seen.
But sometimes that was hard to prove, if the man never got a chance to play.
…
“Quinn’s old injury is flaring up,” Coach Walsh said conversationally. “Not sure how well he’s going to play in Saturday night’s game with that shoulder bothering him.”
Hope lit within Flynn, but he squashed it, needing to play it cool. “Really?” He kept his voice as flat as possible, but damn, it was hard. Was Coach actually telling him he had a chance to play?
“Yep.” Walsh nodded. “Well, we’ll shoot him up with cortisone and hope for the best, but you might need to step in. Maybe for a few minutes. Depends on what sort of lead we’ll have, if you know what I mean.”
“Of course.” Flynn nodded, his mind racing. If he played even two minutes in this weekend’s game, that would be the opportunity of the season. But he’d need to focus. Stay on top of the plays, know exactly what the hell was going on at all times. And he needed to practice like a crazed motherfucker from now until Saturday.
A smile curled his lips, and he thought of Aubrey. She’d love it if she knew he’d merely thought the word “motherfucker,” let alone said it out loud. He liked how she invaded his thoughts at the most random of times.
“You up for a chance for some field time this weekend? No guarantees, but you never know,” Walsh said.
“I’m up for it, Coach. I promise I won’t let you down.” Flynn nodded, excitement buzzing through his veins. He couldn’t wait for this metal can to land so they could hit the practice field and he could play catch-up on whatever new plays they’d added in the past few weeks. The ones that had worked so amazingly well while he’d sat on the bench and witnessed everything.
He knew Quinn had been working some particular magic that had kept the entire team together as though they were born to play with one another.
Flynn wanted in on that magic…big time. And now here was his chance.
“Don’t go bragging to everyone, though, all right? I want to keep this under wraps. The media gets wind of Quinn’s shoulder bothering him, and next thing we know, they’re reporting he’ll need surgery.” Coach shook his head. “They’re gonna go nuts if I put you in or not, but I’d like to keep quiet as long as we can. I mean, look at your latest story. They’ve turned your life into a complete circus.”
Flynn said nothing, since he couldn’t deny it. Interest in his personal life had grown over the past few days rather than receded, like they’d originally hoped. Once everyone had learned that he and Aubrey were together, they’d eaten up their supposed love story with a giant spoon and were ready to dish up more. Harvey fielded the constant media inquiries as best as he could, but he’d informed Flynn just before they’d boarded the plane that it was starting to get out of control.
And for once, Harvey hadn’t looked happy about it. Flynn had been shocked. That guy loved nothing more than the media getting out of control.
The craziest thing? Flynn swore he was falling for her. Fast. Ridiculous, he knew, but he couldn’t help it. She was sweet, kind, could kiss the sense right out of his head. When she smiled at him, when she whispered his name in his ear as she clutched him close right before he came, he believed she could do no wrong.
Yeah. He was gone over the girl, and he had no idea how she felt, which frustrated the shit out of him. Worse, he could get traded and then where would they be? Was he wasting Aubrey’s time? Hell, was he wasting his time?
He wasn’t sure.
His dad was furious with him. He’d been avoiding his calls the past couple of days. She’d admitted her mom was an excessive man hater who didn’t believe in relationships, so she was upset, as well. Their respective families were against them getting together, which didn’t bode well for a future.
Not that their families’ approval should stop them from going after what they wanted.
“I noticed you brought your new girl with you as moral support,” Coach said, interrupting his thoughts. “I’m sure she’s here to work, as well, but I hope she isn’t a distraction for you.”
“No, she won’t be. I won’t allow it,” Flynn said firmly, with a quick nod of his head. He’d give anything to let her be a distraction, but he couldn’t. He needed to look good this weekend. It sure would be nice to impress everyone with his moves on the field.
Walsh chuckled. “You say that now, but I know how you boys work. You don’t think with your brains, you think with your dicks.” His laughter grew.
Flynn ignored it. He’d never thought with his dick before and look how far it had taken him…until he’d been stalled.
Now was his chance. He could make something happen, as long as he stayed focused and didn’t let a gorgeous woman who knew how to fuck him into oblivion distract him.
“Yo, Foley, my woman and your woman want all four of us to go out to dinner together tonight.”
Flynn glanced up to find Nick Hamilton sitting in the seat in front of him, completely turned around so they were facing each other. “I don’t know if I can…” He let his voice trail off, and Coach nudged him in the ribs.
“Dinner ain’t gonna kill you,” Walsh muttered. “There’s being committed and then there’s being an asshole, son. Learn the difference.”
“Yeah, learn the difference.” Nick laughed. “No need to get all stressed-out, kid. Relax.”
“Besides, I’m launching a major practice come tomorrow. Tonight is about relaxing and getting used to the time change,” Walsh added.
Flynn smiled tightly. “All right. If the ladies want to get together, then let’s do it.”
“Excellent. There’s an amazing steak house not too far
from the hotel. We’ll get dressed up and take our women out for a special night on the town.” Nick grinned, rubbing his hands together and looking awfully pleased with himself.
Flynn let his smile fade. He couldn’t bask in Hamilton’s exuberance, because he was worried. Now he had something to prove, and if he messed up in any way, he’d look like an ass. Even sixty seconds out on that field could spell disaster if he made a mistake.
And he couldn’t have that. No way, no how. He needed to practice. He needed to work harder, play harder, fucking win hard.
No matter what it took.
Chapter Ten
“You look like you want to eat her whole.” Nick nudged Flynn in the ribs, earning a quick but irritated glare for his efforts.
“Shut up,” Flynn muttered, his gaze locked on the two women who approached them. Well, he knew Willow was at Aubrey’s side, but he really wasn’t paying attention to her.
He couldn’t tear his eyes off Aubrey.
“What? You’re just appreciating how fine your woman looks tonight.” Nick whistled low. “And she definitely looks fine.”
Flynn turned to Nick again, staring at him extrahard. “Why don’t you keep your eyes glued to your own woman.?
“Aw, jealous much? Gimme a break.” Nick nudged him again. Damn, that guy’s elbow hurt like hell. Of course, he used it out on the field when he was running through the opposition, so he knew how to wield it. “I can’t appreciate a pretty redhead when I see her?”
“Considering she’s not your pretty redhead, I’m going to say no.” They’d been waiting in the hotel lobby together for the past fifteen minutes, talking about the upcoming game, practice, the usual. Flynn had been distracted the entire time—and not thinking about the game, either.
He was too busy thinking about Aubrey.
“Hi,” she said when she stopped just in front of him, her lips curved into a barely there smile. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”
Game For Tonight (Entangled Brazen) (Game for It) Page 11
