by C. Morgan
I could admit I had prejudged her and the other women I noticed hanging around the field and the scrimmage we went to. I assumed they were all young and flighty and looking for an easy meal ticket. I could see Tally truly loved her husband.
I walked her back to where her husband was getting worked on. I stayed out of the way as she grilled Ryker. The woman had done her research and had a lot of questions. He spent a lot of time with the two of them before they were finally comfortable enough to walk away.
The rest of the day was much of the same. It was neck kinks, back pain, and the occasional headache caused by something being out of alignment. Ryker handled every concern with professionalism and confidence. I was seriously impressed by him and, oddly enough, really turned on.
Seeing him do what he did was exciting. It was the competence. I was drawn to men that knew who they were and what they were doing.
“That was a busy day,” I said as we climbed into the car.
“It was. These are the days I live for.”
“I can see why. You really made a difference today. Those guys will be able to move so much better tomorrow and for the game.”
“That’s why they pay me the big bucks,” he said with a laugh. “Let’s get dinner. I’ll order in and we can eat on my patio this time.”
My heart skipped a beat. “I’m kind of tired,” I said. “I think I’m just going to go back to my room and soak in the tub for an hour.”
He looked over at me before turning to look out the window. “I’m sorry.”
“For?”
“It was busy all day. You were on your feet all day and we didn’t get a chance to take lunch.”
“I liked being busy. It was fun.”
He nodded but said nothing. The rest of the ride back to the hotel was in silence. Our rooms were on the same floor but several doors apart. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning,” he said.
“Get some rest tonight.”
“You too,” he said and disappeared inside his room.
I blew out a breath. I was starving but there was no way I could go to his room. I did not trust myself not to kiss him. I liked my job and I really liked the pay. I wasn’t going to risk a repeat of last time. He might have been okay with the sex, but I didn’t care for the aftermath.
I went into my room and the first thing I did was find the room service menu. I ordered a chicken dinner and drew a bath. My feet did hurt. Tomorrow, I was going to wear more comfortable shoes. I had no idea I would be standing all day. I slipped into the hot water and closed my eyes. My thoughts drifted to him. I wanted more days like today.
That could only be possible if I kept my distance.
Chapter 24
Ryker
I kicked off my shoes and flopped down on the sofa in my room. That had not gone well. We had such a good day and then bam! She shot me down. I wasn’t proposing we jump into bed. I was offering to share a meal with her. Did she think I was propositioning her?
I mulled it over and came to the conclusion she probably thought that was what I was after. I had yet to talk to her. It only made sense she would assume I was trying to get in her pants. Again.
Unless it wasn’t me at all.
“Kenny,” I muttered the name.
Kenny would scoop her up in a hurry if I didn’t make a move. She didn’t understand these guys. They wanted something for the right now. I could give her so much more than he could. Kenny was wealthy right now. Some of these guys burned hot and fast. They ended up being broke has-beens.
Listening to Kenny flirt with her and watching her little blushes and smiles in response had damn near pushed me to the edge of my patience. I wondered if Kenny caught her when she went out to get Bull’s wife. Maybe he asked her out. I was tempted to text her to see if she answered or if she was too busy with her new flavor of the month.
I shook my head. I couldn’t think that way. Trinity was not mine. I didn’t get to insult her because she wasn’t interested in a relationship with me.
I grabbed the phone and ordered a dinner for one. It was not the way I imagined my first night out of town going.
I went to bed that night feeling out of sorts. I didn’t know how to get through to her. It was worse than a roller coaster. We were up and down and then up, only to be dropped again.
I slept like shit. When I woke up, I was in a crappy mood and not looking forward to the day. We weren’t going over to the stadium until later, which meant I could laze around my room all by myself. When I was preparing for the trip, I had fantasized about sleeping late with her. I imagined us enjoying a leisurely breakfast in nothing but our underwear.
It wasn’t going so well. I ordered my own breakfast and flipped on a news channel for some background noise. I heard my phone ring somewhere and found it slipped between the couch cushions. It was Ryan. He was on my shit list and I was going to let him know.
“What?” I answered.
“Woah, that’s not nice.”
“I’m not in a nice mood,” I shot back.
“Why? Who pissed in your Cheerios?”
“You, actually. You did this.”
“Oh my god, are you pissed at me again for the Trinity thing?”
“Yes. Not again, still.”
He blew out a breath. “What now?”
“You made me think I had a real shot at this thing. You made me think Trinity was the woman for me.”
“Uh, you insinuated she was the woman for you.”
“No, I said I liked her, but you convinced me she could be the one I was destined to settle down with.”
He scoffed. “I did not say that. You made it seem like that’s what you wanted. What has changed your mind?”
“I told you she doesn’t want me.”
“You sound like a five-year-old. Grow a pair and talk to her. I bet you haven’t talked to her about what you want, have you?”
“No, I haven’t had the chance.”
“You’ve been working with her every day. Didn’t you guys leave yesterday?”
“Yes.”
“So you had the plane ride. You had all day yesterday and last night. Don’t tell me you haven’t had the chance. You’re chickening out. You’re being a little bitch. Seriously, just do it. What’s the worst that can happen?”
He was being rather blunt. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing.”
“You seem out of sorts yourself.”
“I’m fine,” he said. “I think it’s that twin-sharing shit. I called you to see how things were going and you put me in a bad mood.”
“I’m in a bad mood because my life is fucked. You made me think I could have what you have with Naya. I can’t. It’s pointless. I don’t want to deal with this shit. I don’t have time for it. I can go out and find another woman that actually wants me.”
“Your life is fucked because you’re letting it get that way. Damn, man, just talk to her. Tell her you want to date her. Tell her you want to be exclusive. She knows your reputation and is probably trying to keep you at arm’s length. That’s on you. Your reputation for being a player is all your fault. No one told you to fuck half the state.”
“I’m going. You’re not helping.”
“Fine. Good luck. You want to be miserable, that’s on you. I’ve tried to help you. You know what to do, and if you don’t do it, that’s your problem.”
“Yep, got it, bye.”
I put the phone down. That certainly didn’t help my mood. Ryan and I rarely fought. We knew each other as well as we knew ourselves. I suspected there was something else going on.
If I was a good brother, I would have asked him what was going on in his life, but I was too caught up in my own drama. I wasn’t worried this would cause any long-lasting problems between us. We were too close to let a few harsh words get in the way.
After eating and showering, I felt moderately better. I met Trinity in the lobby. She was wearing black stretchy jeans with bling on the back pockets that highlighted her
perfect ass. The polo she was wearing was tucked in with a blingy skinny belt around her waist. She wasn’t trying, but she looked hot as hell.
“Ready?” I asked her.
“I am,” she said with a bright smile.
The tension and anger I felt began to evaporate. She was acting normal. I could be normal. I could go back to the way things were before I invited her back to my room. It was a restart. Another chance to get it right.
“You look nice,” I told her.
“Thank you. Do you think it will be as busy today as it was yesterday?”
“I have no idea. Every day is a new game.”
“I hope Bull comes back in,” she said. “I really liked him and his wife.”
I waited to see if she mentioned Kenny. “Did you meet any other players?”
“Nope.”
That was a good thing. I felt like I was just one of many fish in the sea when we were in that stadium. Men everywhere. Eligible guys that looked at her like she was a fresh piece of meat. We made our way inside and set up at the work area we were using.
“I’m going to get us some water and snacks,” she said.
“I’m going to check with the medical director to find out if we can expect anyone in,” I said. “I’ll meet you back here in thirty minutes?”
She smiled. “I’ll be here.”
She was in a good mood. I was already feeling much better about things. I would try to talk to her one more time. I meandered out toward the practice field. I found a few friendly faces and stood alongside the team doctor.
“How’s it going?” I asked him.
“Hey, I didn’t see you come up. It’s good. I heard you worked some magic yesterday. Good job.”
“I tried. Anyone else coming in for treatment?”
“I haven’t heard yet but look at the way these guys pound each other. It’s a miracle you and I aren’t swamped.”
“Give it ten years,” I said with a laugh. “All of these guys will be seeking out my kind of help.”
“I have no doubt they will.”
I stood alongside him for a bit longer before going back to my setup. The first thing I saw was her. She was sitting on a counter. Her legs were crossed at the ankles and swinging back and forth as she talked to a man.
The closer I got, I was able to identify the person. It was Bull. That was one of the few men I didn’t mind her talking to. If it was Kenny or one of the other young horny bucks that came sniffing around yesterday, it would be a different story.
“Hi, Bull,” I said when I walked up. “How are you feeling?”
“Much better,” he answered. “Whatever you did yesterday was a huge help. Tally is very thankful.”
“We were just talking about the Oregon coast,” Trinity said. “He owns a house right on the beach in Newport.”
“Really?” I asked with surprise.
Bull nodded. “Yep. We’d love to have you guys come out for a weekend. It’s a big house. Not a mansion, but certainly comfortable for two couples to have privacy.”
Trinity’s legs stopped moving. She looked at me with a shocked expression. I wasn’t about to dissuade him of his assumption.
“I’ll give you my card,” I said. “That sounds like a great time.”
“I’ll let you two get to your busy day,” he said. “Thanks again. I might see you on the next round if this neck acts up again.”
“I will absolutely be ready to help,” I told him.
“Thanks,” he said and walked away.
I looked at Trinity. “I’m sorry,” she blurted out.
“For?”
“I don’t know why he assumed we were a couple. I didn’t give him that impression.”
I shrugged. “I’m not worried about it.”
She hopped off the counter. “Probably not the most professional place to sit.”
“It’s fine. You need to sit somewhere. I’m going to see if I can find us some chairs. I am not interested in standing here for another twelve hours today.”
“I saw there was like a conference room or something,” she mentioned. “It was empty but there were chairs lined against the wall.”
“I’ll grab a couple.”
This was definitely going to be a much better day. It was all about Operation Seduce Trinity. I was going to show her I could be a gentleman. I could wine and dine her without trying to get her into bed. Although, that was certainly on the table for later.
I was going to be on my best behavior for the rest of the trip. When we got back home, I would slowly integrate myself back into her good graces. I would ask her to dinner. We would take it slow.
“Here you go,” I said and delivered two folding chairs to our little area.
“My hero,” she said with a laugh. “Thank you.”
“Absolutely.”
We spent most of the day just hanging out with one another. We only had one guy come in for an adjustment. The pace was the exact opposite of the day before and really kind of boring. Boring in a good way.
It gave me plenty of time to show her I was more than the player she assumed I was. I could be a boyfriend. I could be a guy she hung out with and talked to. We didn’t just have to have sex.
Chapter 25
Trinity
“That wasn’t so bad,” I said as we boarded the private plane to head back home on Sunday night.
“What do you mean?”
“You had me prepared for this grueling weekend. You said your other assistants couldn’t keep up with the busy pace.”
He smiled. “This weekend was a trial run. Pre-season games aren’t nearly as brutal as the ones that really count. This was a warmup.”
I smirked. “Then consider me warmed up and ready to go.”
“We have next weekend off and then we hit the ground running,” he said. I didn’t miss the warning tone.
“I’m not worried. I really had fun.”
“Did you enjoy the game?”
I shrugged. “It wasn’t terrible. I wasn’t really sure what was going on most of the time, but I’ll figure it out.”
“I have no doubt in my mind you will. You catch on quick to just about everything.”
He was flattering me. He’d been doing that a lot all weekend. It was nice and nothing like the man I expected him to be. “Thank you. What are your plans when we get home?”
“Nothing much. You?”
“It’s all about getting ready for work tomorrow.”
“Go in late,” he said.
I studied him. I was searching for the irritation I saw the last couple of times he told me to take the day off. I didn’t see it, but I also didn’t want him to think I was weak and couldn’t handle the workload. “I’m not fragile,” I told him. “I can handle a full day.”
He grinned. “I know you can. I’m not going in at nine. If you go in at nine, you’re going to make me look bad.”
“Ah, I see your real motivation.”
“Really, take the morning off. There is no need to jump right back in. Nothing is going to happen that can’t happen until after noon.”
“If I agree to go in at eleven, is that a fair compromise?”
His slow, sexy smile sent heat radiating through me. “It’s a deal.”
“Great.”
I grabbed my phone. If I had the morning off, I was going to see if I could have coffee with Naya. I wanted to see her and talk about all the confusing stuff that kept happening between me and Ryker. I was afraid to get too excited things were going well. He had a tendency to pull an about face with no warning at all.
After he dropped me off at my building, I lugged my suitcase upstairs. I shouldn’t have been exhausted, but I was. I didn’t really do much all weekend. Standing around and meeting celebrities wasn’t exactly a hard job.
I was chalking it up to the always being on high alert. Whenever I was around him, I felt like I needed to keep my guard up. It was too easy to fall into his arms and ultimately into bed with him.
I
was pretty damn certain he would have no problem sleeping with me again. Sex was his thing and he was damn good at it. He knew what he was doing when he flashed me those flirty smiles. He knew the little touches here and there were turning me on and making me crazy. I didn’t know his game, but I knew I did not want to be one of his conquests.
The following morning, I dressed in my standard button-up blouse with another pair of black slacks. Now that I was making real money, I was going to treat myself to a shopping spree just as soon as I had the time. It was time to change things up.
I met Naya at IHOP. “You look good!” she exclaimed. “What’s changed?”
“Nothing.”
“You look different.”
“I don’t know why. I was just thinking to myself that I needed a serious wardrobe update.”
She was scrutinizing me and making me just a little uncomfortable. “No, there is something different. You look—I don’t know—grown up in a way. Like settled and confident.”
I laughed and looked down at the blouse that had been washed more times than I could count. “I think you are seeing things. How are you?”
“Blissfully married,” she said with a huge smile. “I’m happier than a person has any right to be.”
“You are the one who looks different. You’re glowing.”
“I am and I know it. How was the getaway?”
“I don’t think you can call it a getaway. It was work.”
“Any more accidental sexual encounters?” she teased.
“No. Absolutely not. I avoided him like the plague. I did not want to take any chances falling into that trap.”
“Why do you call it a trap?” she asked.
“Because with him, it is a trap. He flashes a sexy smile or gives me that look, and I do exactly what he wants. I’m not doing that again. I can’t.”
“I think you can. Why can’t you? I thought you said you liked him for a lot more than just sex.”
“Okay,” I said. “Let’s order. I need sustenance to say this.”
