The Playbook

by Emilia Beaumont

  But the rewards were going to be so sweet if I went through with it. I could sense an issue with Jacob and his childhood in our initial interview, a trigger that had caused him to freak out and cover his discomfort with his charm. I couldn’t help but wonder how long he had been doing that. Something in his childhood was not positive, and I wanted to tap into that aspect of his past so I could help him out. Perhaps it was even the cause of his troubles at his last team.

  “Am I going to meet him? I believe I have the right to know who’s taking my daughter out.”

  I sighed, bringing my thoughts back to my present issues. “No, Dad, that is so high school. I’m old enough to go out on a date without your approval.”

  “But it’s my right as a father. I need to know they are good enough for my little girl,” he shot back, his expression growing dark.

  “I’m not so little anymore.” I looked to Merry for help, and she winked at me before sliding her arm around my dad’s waist. Her touch immediately softened his gaze, and I watched as he looped his arm around her waist in return. She had that effect on him.

  “Now David, Lucia’s a grown woman,” she replied, squeezing his waist. “She knows how to pick out a good apple by now. I don’t think she needs our help.”

  “Fine then,” my dad replied, his expression telling me he didn’t like it one bit and that the conversation was far from over. He would bring it up again and again until I told him. But with Merry’s help he changed tactics. “How is the job going? Are you all settled into the new office? I’m sorry we had to move you from the main building, but I thought being closer to the players would help.”

  “I’m fine, Dad,” I replied, giving him a small smile. “The office is perfect actually, it was a good idea being closer to them, and my calendar is starting to fill up.” I didn’t want to tell him that most of the appointments were with the clerical staff and not the players as I had hoped.

  “Good, good,” he said, stepping away from Merry. “You let me know if you have any issues okay, Princess?”

  “I will, Dad,” I said, my heart warming at the support that he was giving me. I was so lucky to have a dad like him, and yet I was betraying his trust. He would be so disappointed to know what I was about to do tonight. I had been a child who always followed his instructions to the letter, never giving him any worries as a parent when I was growing up. But this one date was going to totally destroy that relationship if he ever found out.

  My purse started to vibrate beside me, and I opened it, pulling out my cell phone. It was an unfamiliar number, but in my gut I knew it was Jacob. He was calling to cancel. He had changed his mind and didn’t want to be subjected to me or my therapy sessions. Realizing my parents were waiting for me to answer, I gave them an apologetic smile. “Sorry, I’ve got to take this,” I said as I walked out of the kitchen and outside, where I would have some privacy. With a deep breath, I answered the call.

  “Hello?”

  9

  Jacob

  “Hey, gorgeous,” I responded, hearing the hesitancy in her voice. She thought I was canceling our date. I could almost bet my bank account on it. “What are you doing?”

  “I, um, I’m standing outside,” she replied. “What are you doing?”

  I grinned, thinking that she was horrible at small talk. Flustered by yours truly again. “I’m talking to you, of course.” She let out a throaty laugh and I shifted in my seat, my cock springing to attention. Hell, I was ready to pop. “I’ve got a small issue that I hope you can help me out with.”

  “Is it truly a small issue or a big one?” she asked, a tease in her voice. I was momentarily taken aback by her banter, my grin growing wider. Maybe she wasn’t that anxious after all.

  “Well, you are going to have to wait and see,” I said, my voice dropping down a notch as I walked out of the complex and towards the garage where my car was parked. “But seriously, I have been waiting to view this house on the waterway for days, and my realtor just called, saying that someone else is about to put a bid in. I need to go over there now to view it.”

  “Oh,” she replied, the barest hint of disappointment in her voice. “Of course we can reschedule.”

  “I’m not asking to reschedule,” I answered, climbing into my car and starting the engine. “I’m asking if you’d mind meeting me there instead? It would be an unconventional date, but I thought we could kill two birds with one stone.”

  “You want me to come with you?” she asked, surprise in her voice. I pulled the car out onto the highway and slid on my sunglasses to stave off the dropping sun. The house was a hot commodity, and as soon as I had seen it online, I knew I wanted it. Unfortunately, I wasn’t the only one who did. So when my realtor called and said she had put me in a slot with a potential bid coming down the pipe, I jumped on it.

  “Yes,” I finally said, realizing she was waiting on my answer. “Come help me pick out this house. I could use another opinion, and I promise to throw in dinner afterward for the actual date.”

  “Um, okay,” she said, uncertainty coating her words. “Text me the address. I can meet you there.”

  “I can’t wait,” I said before ending the call and sending her the address. There was no way in hell I was going to break this date. I had a bet to win and a woman to seduce.

  I arrived a few moments later and pulled my car into the circular drive, noting the realtor was already standing on the steps. “Mr. Maddox,” she said, extending her hand and broadening her already wide smile. “I am so glad you were able to view the house tonight, I know you must be very busy with the team, of course. I’m confident though the house will be everything you hoped for.”

  “Oh, I’m sure it will be,” I replied, taking a look at the outside and releasing her hand before she got the wrong idea. The handshake had gone on too long, and like an eager puppy she was standing too close, hoping that I’d notice her. She would be out of luck tonight, I thought, I had a two-fold mission, and she wasn’t part of the plan, though on any other occasion I would’ve taken full advantage of her not so subtle flirtations.

  The house itself was two-story detached building, with a stucco exterior like all the others on the block. The tall iron fence that surrounded the property was a seller for me, providing that added layer of security, as well as the waterway in the back that I couldn’t wait to view.

  “Shall we go in?”

  “I’m waiting on a friend to come.”

  “Certainly,” the realtor replied, perhaps with a tinge of disappointment. Who am I kidding? Her face dropped visibly; she knew I wouldn’t be banging her over the kitchen counter like I’m sure she’d fantasized about. “I’ll head on inside and put the lights on. Come on in when you’re ready.”

  I gave her a winning smile—the least I could do—and turned back to the driveway to watch Lucia pull in through the gates; her small four-door car stopped and parked behind mine. As she exited the car, I took in her long hair that brushed past her shoulders and then the slinky sundress, the hem that rose to her mid-thigh revealing her bronzed legs as she climbed out. Oh hell, she was hot. I couldn’t deny the fact that I enjoyed her professional attire, reminding me of a naughty teacher, but in the dress that didn’t disguise her curves she looked fucking fantastic.

  “Hi,” she said with a little wave as she climbed the steps to join me.

  “Hey yourself, you look good enough to eat,” I replied, struggling against my first impulse to push her against the column and have my way with her. She paused mid step and digested my flirty comment. “Thanks,” she said softly.

  “No, thank you for coming. I know this isn’t what you had in mind tonight.”

  “Honestly I didn’t know what to expect,” she said as she looked around. “This is a big house.”

  “Big houses for big issues,” I grinned, thinking of her banter earlier. She flushed and looked down, making me grin even more. “Come on, let’s see the inside of this thing.”

  I allowed her to go in first, walki
ng through the entrance into a foyer with tall ceilings and marble floors.

  “Mr. Maddox, are you ready?”

  I turned towards the waiting realtor and nodded, placing my hand on Lucia’s lower back. She shivered lightly at my unexpected touch, and I applied more pressure with my fingers, wanting to slip lower onto that curved ass of hers. Hell, I wanted to touch her everywhere.

  “This house has six bedrooms, with four full bathrooms,” the realtor started, her voice a dull monotone. Her face had turned almost thunderous when she saw Lucia enter, but to Lucia’s credit she didn’t seem to have picked up on the realtor’s hostility. She continued and pointed to a set of curved stairs to the left. “Upstairs there’s also a game room, office, and the master suite.”

  I urged Lucia forward, and together we walked into the sunken living room, which crossed into the kitchen that was stocked with modern appliances. Granite countertops gleamed in the soft light, while stainless steel finishes twinkled. “The kitchen has been fully updated,” the realtor explained, touching the cool stone surface. Lucia left my side picked up one of the brochures that had been placed on the counter and wandered over to the floor-length windows that overlooked the pool and waterway, her silhouette framed by the dying sun. I stood mesmerized, watching her take in the surroundings; she was to die for. The realtor droned on about all the amenities as I walked over to Lucia, looking at the manicured lawn. “The view… it’s gorgeous,” she breathed as the sun set over the water.

  “It sure is,” I said, looking at her. I could imagine her in that pool overlooking the waterway, the water sliding over her naked body. Just the thought made me want to buy the damn house. “Care to go upstairs?”

  She turned towards me, her voice soft but her eyes sparkling. “Are you trying to get me into one of those bedrooms?”

  I leaned in, not wanting the realtor to hear our business. “If I said yes, would you run the other way?”

  She pursed her lips and I took in the heated look in her eyes, wondering about the last time the doc had been fucked, and I didn’t just mean a quickie, I meant really fucked, ravished like she should be. So hard and so deep that it was almost primal. “You are being too forward, Mr. Maddox,” she finally replied, looking away.

  I tutted. “Jacob. You best call me Jacob if I’m going to let you see my future bedroom.” I grinned, loving the way my words affected her. But not wanting to push her too far away, I altered my tactic. “Come on, Doc, you’re safe with me.” We walked away from the gorgeous view and were met by the realtor. “Would you like to see the upstairs now?” she asked, clasping her hands in front of her.

  “I’m sure we can see to it ourselves,” I replied, easing my hand into Lucia’s. “We’ll be right back.”

  “Um, sure—I will be here if you have any questions!” the realtor replied as I moved us both up the wide staircase to the second floor. The first bedroom we came to was the master suite, where I took in the spacious room, with only a stock bed in place. Beyond the walk-in closet and the master bath, there was a little balcony that overlooked the water, big enough for two lounge chairs.

  “Now this is awesome,” Lucia remarked as we walked out onto the balcony. “Imagine waking up to this view every morning.”

  “You don’t live on the water?” I asked, wanting to delve just a little bit into her backstory. Beyond being the shrink, I didn’t know anything else about her.

  She shook her head with a chuckle, leaning against the railing to face me. “No, not really. I would love to but, oh, you are going to laugh at me.”

  I leaned up against the wall of the house, crossing my arms over my chest. “No, I won’t.”

  “I live in my parents’ guest house—the pool house,” she said with a shy smile. “I know it’s silly, but I’ve been in college like forever and just haven’t found the time to go house-hunting yet.”

  “You can’t have this one,” I teased, drawing out another throaty laugh from her.

  “No, I don’t want one right now, I don’t think. It’s pretty nice to be able to walk over to my parents’ kitchen when I want something to eat. And not have to worry about the upkeep.”

  “I can’t disagree with that,” I said, thinking that would be a sweet setup. “Are you an only child?”

  She nodded, some of her smile fading. “I am. A daddy’s girl, I’m afraid.”

  I maintained my smile, but inside I was cussing. Daddy’s girls meant an overprotective male parent who would judge the fuck out of any man in his princess’ life, therefore causing a living hell for the dating scene. But it also normally meant that the princess in question was just waiting to let loose, to break free of the innocent ties. All daddy’s girls wanted to be wild little vixens when it came right down to it… they just didn’t want to get caught. I could deal with that; there was nothing I liked more than the untapped potential of a sexually pent-up wild thing bouncing on the end of my cock.

  “Is that a problem?”

  I looked up to see Lucia staring at me, a smile playing around her lips.

  “What? No, why would it be? I can handle you,” I said with a sly wink.

  “I imagine you could,” she said softly, pushing away from the railing. “So? Do you think you are going to buy this house?”

  “Do you think I should?” I asked, really wanting her opinion. I knew nothing about buying a house; my last residence was a rented townhouse provided by my old team.

  “I think it’s a perfectly wonderful place,” Lucia replied. “Maybe a bit big for just you? But the brochure says it has a good school district.”

  Laughing, I pushed away from the wall and followed her back into the bedroom to view the bathroom. I hoped I didn’t have to worry about that for a good long while. Not that I didn’t want kids one day—I did, just not yet. I still had plenty of wild oats that needed to be sowed.

  The bathroom was just as impressive as the rest of the house, with a waterfall shower and a standalone tub that was positioned near the floor-to-ceiling windows. “Yeah, I think you should buy it just for the bathroom,” she laughed, running her hand over the rim of the bathtub. “Screw the school district.”

  “If I do buy this house,” I said, reaching out to cover her hand with mine. “Will you take a bath with me in that tub? I can’t think of anything better than you all naked, wet and soapy.”

  She looked up and her lips parted, a breathy sigh coming out of her mouth. “There you go again,” she said with an amused but surprised shake of her head. I noted that she didn’t exactly say no, though. One mark in the she’s fucking crazy for me category.

  “It’s what I do best,” I answered, my thumb caressing the top of her hand lightly, my body increasingly invading her space. I could feel her hot breath coming out in rapid waves—I almost had her, just needed to reel her in. “So Doc, what do you think? I’m dying to see what’s under that dress of yours.”

  10

  Lucia

  What did I think? What the fuck did I think? I was thinking all kinds of crazy, convoluted things about him, his innuendos, and his blatant suggestions. I was thinking about how wrong this all should be, but how right it really felt. I was thinking that I was torn between kissing him and running screaming in the other direction. I was thinking how fucking delicious the shock on his face would be if I let my sundress slip off my body and pool around my ankles in front of him. How good it would feel to get in that tub and let his hands run over my slippery body.

  “I think,” I started, swallowing hard, “there’s no way we will both fit into that bathtub together.”

  His wolfish smile made me go weak in the knees as he leaned closer. “I would love to prove you wrong, Doc.”

  “Mr. Maddox, what do you think? Are you ready to sign on the dotted line tonight?”

  I let out a pent-up breath as Jacob winked at me before turning around to address the realtor, who was hovering in the open doorway. “I think you have a deal. One condition, though. I want to move in immediately.”

>   “I’m sure we can get you in by the end of the week,” the realtor replied with a slight smile now, already pulling out her phone. “I’m sure the owners—”

  Jacob shook his head, cutting her off with the wave of his hand. “No, I want in tonight or the deal’s off.”

  I watched as the realtor’s smile slipped just a little, unsure of herself for the first time. I knew that feeling; I was living that feeling right at that moment. “I, uh, that’s an unusual request, Mr. Maddox.”

  Jacob narrowed his eyes. “Are you telling me it cannot be done?”

  I felt sorry for the realtor, she paled, immediately shaking her head. “No, of course not. I just need your price, and I will make it happen. I promise.” Her eyes flickered to me before she seemed to stand up straight again. She was jealous, it was pretty evident the moment I’d walked in the door, and she was perhaps thinking if she could get the deal done for Jacob that she would be in with a chance with him. But for some reason, which baffled and pleased me all at the same time, he’d barely paid her any attention… his eyes followed me instead.

  I tried to hide my surprise as Jacob quoted a price, thinking of how much money he was about to put down for this house. For one person. It was insane.

  The realtor disappeared through the doorway once more and Jacob turned his attention back towards me. “What?”

  I shook my head. “You were a bit forceful with her about moving in here tonight. What’s the rush? There isn’t even any furniture in the place.”

  His grin slid back in place as he leaned in, reaching out to touch my cheek lightly. “See? That’s where you are wrong. There’s a bed. What else do I need? Besides, I always get what I want, so why wait?”

  I swallowed hard, thinking about that bed. There was no doubt in my mind that he wanted to sleep with me. The question was, was I willing to sleep with him? I wasn’t normally a casual fling kind of girl, but the need to have his hands on my bare skin was very evident to my poor, deprived body.