“I’d like you to take a look at one of my guys. He’s dealing with something in his shoulder, and I’d rather be cautious about this.” There was an evident worry in his voice.
“Sure thing.” I stood and walked into the hallway to the room that was set up for me several feet down near the stadium. “Who is it?”
“Justin McLeod,” Coach Michaels replied, and I frowned. Even if I weren't in sports therapy, I would know something about Justin. He was gorgeous, and he knew it, but he was also an excellent quarterback. With their leading scores so far this season, I doubted that they were willing to lose him to an injury. “Do you know him?”
“Who doesn’t?” I asked as I led the way into the room connected to the locker room where all of my stuff was meticulously stored. “Is it an old injury?”
“It is. He pulled some tendons last year and the kid won’t take care of himself, Jennifer. I want you to take a feel and see what you can tell him that he’ll listen to.” Coach gave me an imploring look with his tired, dark eyes and I smiled and nodded.
“I will do my best, but stubborn athletes have a hard time with listening.” I saw Coach nod before he ran a hand through his graying hair. He wasn’t just my boss, but also my father’s best friend and lifelong family friend. I graduated from Boston University with a degree in Sports Medicine just a few months ago, and he’d needed a new therapist here in Philadelphia, so here I was. It wasn’t favoritism though I didn’t let it out that we knew each other well, fearful that it might look that way.
There was no reason to tell him that I doubted that Justin would take my words to heart. He was a wild man who played by nobody’s rules, on or off the field. He’d been spotted by the paparazzi many times at some bar with a woman or two, sometimes three. I doubted that he’d worry about his health and how it might affect the team. It was a shame that he was one of the big talents on the team and that Coach depended on him. “I’ll tell him to come and see you. Practice is over in about an hour. Can you stick around?” His eyes pleaded with me, and I nodded with what I hoped was a relaxed grin.
I knew how athletes were when they saw a girl in the staff. Not that I was a supermodel by any means, but my strawberry blonde hair was pretty and brought out my deep blue eyes. I kept myself in shape since this job required me to stay active. I could end up treating half the team on any given day and they required strength on my part. My friends thought that I just got this job to check out hot guys but it was more than that. My brothers had played sports when I was younger and whenever they got hurt, it made me realize that I wanted to help others.
One thing led to another and I found myself in college studying that very subject. I memorized more muscles than I cared to think about as well as the various injuries that could happen to them. I wanted to stay at the top of my field so when the opportunity came to work for a pro football team, I took it.
I turned on some music as I went through my inventory and waited to see if Justin would listen to Coach and show up. I had casual plans after this to meet friends for dinner. I glanced down at the standard blue pants and tank top in the team colors that I was wearing and wondered what I was going to throw on when I got back to my apartment, only a few blocks away.
“Hello, gorgeous,” a voice said as I paused and raised an eyebrow. Any woman could appreciate a smooth voice like that, one that reminded me of a good whiskey that slid well down my throat.
I looked over to see his intense green eyes looking me up and down before they settled on my face with a crooked smile that probably melted panties right off of women in seconds. Justin McLeod was a hot specimen of a man.
“Hello. My name is Jennifer Collins. I am the new physical therapist for the team. Coach said you’re dealing with some pain?” My voice was nothing but professional as he seemed to frown and try to figure me out.
“I pulled a muscle. It’s not that big of a deal,” he shrugged before he stripped off his t-shirt and walked over to me.
“There’s no previous shoulder injury that you should be keeping track of, then?” I knew his type and rolled my eyes as he looked around the room.
“Where do you want me?” His voice was suggestive as he looked back at me and I stifled a laugh, shaking my head.
“Sit on the table there. I’ll see what I can find.” He did, and I took a moment to appreciate his muscled torso as I pressed my glossed lips together. “Right or left?”
“It’s on the right.”
I took a breath and reached out to press against his skin. He kept the breath that he sucked in subtle. “Yeah, this feels pretty tight. How is it affecting your game?” He tensed as I pushed in and realized that it was more than just a pulled muscle, although probably not career threatening, at least not yet.
Chapter Two
I listened to her speak in her steady confident voice as I memorized the feel of her hands on my skin. I focused on her question and wondered how I could get under her skin. Jennifer was a beautiful girl, and most women didn’t turn me away quickly, if at all. “The injury? It was the beginning of last season, and I played it through just fine.”
“I saw the game. My dad watches a lot of sports. Looked like an injury that might take a while to heal,” she shot back without missing a beat, and I let a long breath out.
“How the hell do you know that?” I heard her chuckle behind me.
“I am a physical therapist, Mr. McLeod. It’s my job to notice injuries on athletes, so I tend to do that. Quite a lot.” She pushed a little harder, and I froze and clenched my hands. “I think I am going to put some heat on it. Lay down and I’ll get one of my pads ready.”
I moved onto my stomach and rested my head on my good hand as I heard her behind me. I thought again of her body with its soft curves in all of the right places. I felt a cloth placed on my skin and then something hot over that as I closed my eyes.
“That feels good,” I admitted in a soft voice as I felt her pressing down on the gel pad.
“I can do this for you every day. I know that Coach wants you playing and I assume that you want to play. I am going to keep a close eye on this injury. Understand?” I nodded. “He and I have a good working relationship, and I won’t hesitate to share it with him if you’re not careful with this and follow my instructions,” she informed me as I felt the nerves in my stomach tensing up. This woman meant business.
“Are you sure I can’t bribe you with dinner and drinks?” I flirted although I already knew her answer.
“I am young, but I have been doing this for a while, Mr. McLeod. You’re not the first hot shot athlete that has tried to hit on me for some benefit to them, and you won’t be the last. I have a high respect for my job, and it’s not going to happen.” She was blunt if nothing else.
I decided to try something different. “Where did you go to school?”
“Boston. I graduated last year,” Jennifer replied and I raised an eyebrow.
“That’s quick to have this job already.” There was a silence and I wondered if I’d struck a nerve.
“It was good timing.” She pressed again and sighed. “Relax. Does anything else hurt?”
I told her about some leg pain that I was having and she raised my shorts to rub my leg as she asked me if she was getting it. She had great hands and I decided that I could get used to this. Our last therapist was a grumpy older man with no sense of humor.
She left the heat on for a while before removing it. “You might want to take a hot shower tonight, or a bath if that’s possible.”
“I have a hot tub in my yard. That’s very possible,” I replied as she voiced her admiration at my recent purchase. “Do you have one too?” I asked and she laughed.
“I just have a condo so I am stuck with the fancy bathtub. It’s not quite the same but it can be quite relaxing if I set the right atmosphere.”
Was she flirting with me? Damn, I hoped so and I felt my cock respond as I sat up and stretched carefully. “Want to come over some time to try out the hot tub
with me?”
“Mr. McLeod.” Her voice held a warning as I looked into her flushed face.
“Call me Justin, at least.” Jennifer gave me a stern look with her mesmerizing ocean blue eyes. “Come on. We’re going to see a lot of each other. Do you prefer Jennifer or Jen?”
“I think Jennifer is suitable for this setting,” she replied after a moment, and I smiled at her in the way that always worked a room.
“There you go.” I grabbed my shirt, and she checked something on her phone.
“Practice is at eight tomorrow. I will be available if you need anything.” She looked at me, and I nodded slowly before I told her goodnight and left the stadium to go home. I lived in a large house in one of the nicer neighborhoods of the city. I hopped into my Escalade and turned on some Taking Back Sunday for the ride home as I thought about getting some food. I decided to order some BBQ to bring home and placed the order while I waited in the parking lot of the popular eatery. I was sweaty and tired, and I just wanted to be home, not dealing with fans tonight.
The text came through as I was ready to jump out and get my dinner and a familiar face flashed on my screen as I shook my head. Heather was a wild girl and not afraid of being the aggressive one. I read it and noted her usual offer. I sent something back telling her to give me an hour so I could eat and take a shower. I pulled a hat over my head and got the food as I kept my face pointed at the floor. I always assumed that the staff recognized me though most seemed to do the right thing and let me go on my way.
I tipped the girl for doing that even though I noticed the shine in her eyes and the quivering of her voice. She was cool about it, and I took the bag and tossed it into the passenger seat of my car before I headed to my gated neighborhood. I glanced at the clock on the microwave as I grabbed a Gatorade to drink and stuffed the food down. I had no issues putting a meal away, and I was in the shower in fifteen minutes rinsing off.
I dressed in workout shorts since Heather was going to be taking them off soon enough. I ran some product through my damp hair to hold the short brown spikes that I was currently rocking and headed to the living room for a beer and some scores from the day until she arrived. Heather knew the code since she was semi-regular and I heard a knock at the door within ten minutes as I caught the last touchdown of a game. I almost wasn’t in the mood for her, crazy sex or not. I stood and went to answer the door and let her into the large foyer as she brushed past me smelling like cherries, which was her signature scent.
Jennifer smelled like honey and vanilla. I frowned and pushed her out of my mind as I looked at the tall blonde and smiled. “Hey, stranger. It’s been a while.” I hadn’t seen her for about a month, and she rolled her pretty topaz eyes.
“I tried a relationship. Remind me not to do that again,” Heather mumbled as she walked over to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of beer. She was wearing a cute little denim skirt and a sheer button up shirt with a sexy black camisole, and I looked down at my groin to watch it strain against the shorts with a grin. “I saw your game last week. Great job, Justin.”
“Thanks. It was a good win,” I replied as I headed to the couch and sat back down as she joined me and pressed her curvy little body against me to kiss me. One kiss led to another and soon we were naked on the couch as I dragged her nipple between my teeth and got her off with my long fingers. She was so easy, and I watched passively as she came for me before I reached for the condoms that I’d brought out from my bedroom earlier.
Heather’s pussy was wet. I slid in all of the way too easily and thrust hard. She gripped my back and dug her nails into my skin. I groaned. It only made me move faster and deeper, and we were both coming soon. Heather dragged her fingers through my hair and let out a long sigh. I felt the sleep that I needed nudging me along with some shoulder pain.
I moved off of Heather, and she curled up beside me as she looked around the room. “Why are we in here? Is something wrong with your bedroom?”
I realized that I typically brought her back there and fall asleep with her so that we could have another go at it in the morning. “No, I don’t know. We just kind of ended up here.”
Chapter Three
I woke up to the alarm and groaned. Sleep hadn’t come easily last night, and I didn’t want to go into the stadium today. I instantly felt guilty as I realized how much Coach had helped me in so many ways and this job was one of the bigger ones.
That idea made me get up and brew some coffee before I took a shower. I dressed in a fresh pair of pants and a tank top with a sweatshirt over it due to the brisk Fall wind. I looked in the mirror and pulled my hair back into a high ponytail before I put on enough makeup to look human.
I walked out of the house and decided to drive to work today. My old Camry was in the parking lot, and I unlocked it and slid inside before I put everything in its place. I had a thing about organization. I started the car and backed up. When Justin entered my thoughts, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.
It’s not like I wasn’t thinking of him last night. It was the only train of thought that I had during the dinner with friends and the bath I took later that night. I didn’t do that very often but it just sounded good to me last night. I lit a lot of candles and poured some lavender bath bubbles in and just relaxed as I played back the feel of him under my hands. I wondered if he was soaking in his hot tub too. Justin was one of the most gorgeous guys I’d ever seen, and that was saying a lot since I had worked with a hockey team during my internship before this job. Hockey was my preferred sport if I was being honest, but I was also starting to have an interest in football.
I pulled into the employee parking garage and found a spot on the second floor. The team was starting to arrive as well and I greeted the guys with a lazy smile while I sipped my coffee. I hadn’t met all of them yet but they seemed nice enough to me so far. Coach would make sure they stayed that way too. I went into the stadium to watch them practice just to kill some time and perhaps see Justin. I figured that I hadn’t seen them play as a team too much yet, so it wouldn’t hurt to become familiar with their playing styles. I walked down to sit next to Coach and he gave me a surprised look. “You’re here early.”
“I figured it’s best to be here when they practice, just in case anything happens.” I took another sip of my coffee and watched as Coach picked up his worn metal thermos and took a sip. I knew just what was in it: strong black coffee. That’s all he ever drank. He told the guys to run some laps and watched closely as they moved in a group to a steady jog.
“How was Justin?” he asked as I blinked and forced myself to sound neutral.
“He has a pulled shoulder. I am going to treat it with hot and cold therapy and keep a close eye on things. He knows that I’ll be brutally honest with you, particularly with the old injury that he didn’t want to admit.” I smiled as I heard Coach groan beside me.
“Stubborn assholes,” was his comment and I shook my head.
“You’re just as bad as they are, just from a different point of view,” I teased him, grinning. I looked back at the guys and saw Justin looking over at me with a curious gaze as he ran past. He was dressed in workout shorts and a fitted tank designed for workouts, and he looked damn good in them. “I’ve known you a long time.”
“That you have.” I could feel Coach’s eyes on me for a second. “How’s your mother doing, Jen?”
He knew all about her leaving when I was four and how my dad had remarried when I was eight. That would have been easy enough to adjust to, but she’d found me on Facebook two years ago and wanted to see me again. I had met her for lunch a few times but moving here had ended that. I wasn’t always sure how I felt about her. “We chat on Messenger sometimes, and she claims she wants to visit me here, but I don’t know. She still has a drinking issue, and I can tell that even when she says she’s sober that she…isn’t.” I shrugged. I loved my stepmom Rosie a lot but she wasn’t my birth mom, and I’d always wondered why my mother had left me that way. We hadn’t gotten that f
ar during our short and awkward lunches.
“That's a shame. I’d like to see her try to make up for what was lost.” We were silent for a moment until he told the guys to run the bleachers.
I watched as the men ran up and down the bleachers with loud claps of their shoes, up and down. As a group, they were a whole lot of muscle and I watched their strength as they kept going. I admired athletes for their dedication and of course, their bodies. Not enough that I’d ever mixed business with pleasure before and I didn’t plan on changing that anytime soon. I could just look from time to time.
Coach led them through some intense conditioning as I focused on Justin’s face to try and estimate his level of pain. He seemed okay but he met my gaze a few times and I’d swear that I saw something dark in his eyes. He was looking at me almost as much as I was looking at him and I felt a flutter in my stomach. This was bad, dangerous. I couldn’t think of him that way even if he flirted ruthlessly with me and had those amazing eyes.
I reminded myself that he was a player and was reminded of that later as I looked over his bare back in my room. Scratch marks, thick and red, were scattered over his skin. I frowned and asked him how his shoulder was doing. “Pretty good today.”
“I hope she was on top,” I muttered low under my breath as I shook my head. I felt the muscle and found it more swollen than the day before. He froze as I pressed in.
“What did you say?” Justin asked in a staggered voice as I kept feeling around his body.
“Nothing. Just reminding myself of something,” I replied as I grabbed my heat pack and rubbed it between my hands to activate it. I placed it on his skin as I eyed the marks again and asked myself why I even thought he was attractive at all. I wasn’t like those girls that threw themselves at athletes, and I’d been strictly professional before now. Sure, Justin was sex on a stick, but that made him worse even if he was gorgeous.
Hungry Cowboy Page 24
