by Ally Adams
That was the third strange encounter now with Niklas Wagner. If I was him, and for the good of his career, I’d be keeping as far away from me as possible.
Chapter 2
I got to work around the usual time and walked into the Saints administration office which was at their playing grounds. It made it easier on match day if you forgot something, plus when the boys trained on the oval some afternoons it was great to check their progress too—uh huh, well that’s what we girls tell ourselves while we check out their form. I carried a bag of Nik’s clothes with me; I kept the suit to adjust it but I had his jeans, runners and sweatshirt to give to Alice to take home to him.
I walked past my boss’s office and called out good morning. Jim, the Marketing Director, was great—mid-forties, wiry, funny, and as bosses go, I got lucky. I got around the corner to the partition area and stopped dead.
“What the…? Did I miss a meeting?” I looked from Alice to Kay. Alice beat me in half of the time but Kay never, ever beat me in. Kay was in her late thirties, a mom of two and a big lady—she looked after the club memberships.
“School holidays darling,” she said, with a grin. “The hubby has a week off too. I swanned out of the house this morning as though I was in my early twenties and only had myself to worry about,” she said, teasing us both.
“Holy crap, not sure I’ll recover from the shock,” I said, hitting my chest to restart my heart. I turned to face Alice. “And why are you here early?” I glanced at Miss Fashion-plate. I loved my fashion designing but Alice just loved to shop. We were well placed opposite each other in the office. She even surprised me once by ordering one of my designs online under an alias and wearing it to a Saints’ function. She was a good chick.
“I spent the night at Tomás’s place,” she said of her Saint’s player and Latin lover boyfriend, “… and he had training at six. So I’ve been up, done hot yoga, showered, changed and here I am. I’ve done a day’s work already. I love your hat,” Alice said, “truly suits you.”
“It’s the Parisian influence today,” I said, patting it.
“Sasha always looks fabulous,” Kay said. “I forget to notice. I’m so used to it.”
“Thanks you two, you’re too kind.” I smiled and removed my small-brimmed cream-colored wool hat which just happened to match my belt and shoes. I love hats and gloves; I wish women still wore them every day, so I’m doing my bit to keep hats alive.
“Where’s the coffee van?” Jim yelled from his office next door to us. It didn’t require an answer, he yelled random things often during the day and we had learned to ignore him.
I sighed and sank behind my desk, stretched down my navy and cream striped, ribbed top and spread out my short pleated navy skirt so I didn’t crease it too much—so tricky sitting in pleats.
“Now Sasha, down to business… what did you do to my housemate last night?” Alice frowned. “Nik still wasn’t home when I left.” She gave me a sly look. “Did you have a good night?”
I logged into my computer before looking over at her. I could feel Kay was waiting in suspended animation for my answer too.
Alice didn’t know Nik had already asked me out to dinner on Friday night and she was still working at getting us together. I should put her out of her misery, but it was more fun playing her along.
“As obvious as your attempts are to set us up, Alice my dear,” I said in the most formal accent I could muster for the occasion, “we did not have a lovely romantic night together. Even though for some, adjusting a tall, handsome, fit man’s suit could count for foreplay, especially taking an inside leg measurement, that wasn’t the case last night.” I held up a bag of clothes. “Speaking of which can you give these back to Nik please?”
I saw Kay reach for a piece of paper to fan herself and Alice just looked bewildered.
“If he didn’t stay the night and you have his clothes, where is he and is he naked?” Alice looked seriously worried now, as though I would kick Nik out on the street in nothing… imagine the stampede.
Before I could respond, we all stopped to pause as we heard the familiar loud footsteps of The Russian coming en-route to his office next door to ours where the Saints’ forward ran his business—Security Saints. I’m pretty sure The Russian’s business partner and Saint’s defender Eddie Mosley did most of the work.
“Where’s the coffee van?” The Russian asked, all six-foot-five of him stomping past.
“Morning Russian,” Alice and Kay said in unison.
“Gee Russian, good to see you. I’ll place a call and find out where the hell she is since you’re now in,” I said. I had such a big mouth.
I saw his lips twitch into a smile or a smirk, it could go either way really—The Russian was very hard to read.
“Morning ladies. By the way Sasha, I picked up Nik from outpatients this morning after I brought some clothes up for him to wear home. You need to be a bit gentler with the Kaiser in future.” He strode off this time with a definite sneaky smile on his face.
“What happened?” Alice asked.
“Thank God,” Jim yelled out and I guessed what that was about. I turned to glance out the window as the coffee van pulled in.
“Coming?” I asked Alice. I jumped up, and spent a few minutes getting Kay
and Jim’s order to avoid the Spanish inquisition—or in this instance the German inquisition—as Alice followed me out of the office to the van to help with the team’s coffee hit. For the love of coffee, The Russian was in front of me in the queue again. He gave me another smile.
“How did you get in front of me? You didn’t even pass my desk!” I wailed. Every single time he beat me to the van, and it was infuriating. “You suck, Russian,” I told him, which just made him laugh.
“I just happened to have walked around to see Shayne when it arrived, which is very close to the exit.” He gave me a satisfied look.
“I’ll be verifying that story Russian,” I told him. Shayne the football manager and I worked closely together, so he’d spill. Alice and I suspected that The Russian got a pre-arrival text from the coffee lady herself. Somehow he’d charmed her into it—I’m a journalist, I’m not letting this go, I will investigate; I have my ways.
As we waited in line we heard the familiar sound of a motorbike and Alice’s face lit up as Tomás arrived on his black Ducati, looking divine in leather. This job was so hard—so hard to concentrate on the real work at hand—which reminded me I had a couple of press releases to write this morning and I had to wash down some media speculation about Niklas arriving in an ambulance to emergency last night. Damn him for making work for me.
Tomás parked his bike, turned it off and walked towards us, saying hello to The Russian at the start of the queue until he got six places down farther to us.
“Al...iss, long time no see,” he teased her, his hand going to her shoulder. He wasn’t allowed to kiss her at work—Alice was new and she was keen on keeping up professional standards. I’d been there a while now so whatever, they knew me.
Tomás noticed me next. “Hello Sass…sha.”
“Morning Tomás,” I said, smiling at his lovely sexy pronunciation of my name in his Spanish tongue. We moved one place forward again in the coffee queue.
“I heard you put the Kaiser in hospital last night,” he said, and made a tsk sound with that very same tongue. “You’ll have to go softer on him from now on, he’s not as tough as me or The Russian,” he said, as The Russian walked down the line towards us with coffee in hand.
“What happened?” Alice asked again, turning her attention to me.
Tomás grinned. “Got to see Shayne. I’ll catch you on the way out bella,” he said to Alice, and walked into the building with The Russian.
I shook my head. And just to make my day, guess who pulled in to our parking lot next in his navy blue VW sports utility with his surf board strapped to the roof racks? Yep the sickie himself, Nik. Just kill me now… I glanced to the office to gauge whether I could get back i
n there before he alighted. No such luck. He got out of his vehicle and I had to hand it to him, he looked good, really good. He must have gone straight from the hospital home to change and to the beach—he had red-print board shorts on, a gray loose long-sleeve t-shirt and white sneakers. His short hair looked ruffled where it had enough length to hold the sand and sea. He looked good enough to lick. He greeted the remaining five office staff in front of us ordering coffee and stopped in front of Alice and me.
Alice looked up at him, squinting her eyes. “I just heard you were in hospital last night. I thought you were sleeping over at Sasha’s… are you okay?”
“I’m fine, it was nothing.” He smiled at her and then turned to me. “Hello Sah-sha, sorry about last night. I promise to do better next time.”
I grimaced, knowing the remaining office staff in the line would all think we were on.
“It wasn’t a date, so no big deal,” I said, with a shrug. “But yeah, most guys don’t bleed for me.”
“I like to go that extra mile,” he said. His tongue licked his lower lip and it was all I could do to not knock him to the ground and suck it. Alice nudged me back to reality, as the queue moved up closer to the prize coffee machine.
“Nik, if I were you, I’d get right away from me… we’re about to enter the boiling milk zone.”
He shuddered, held up his hands and stepped back.
“I’ve got to catch up with Doc, but I’m telling you Sah-sha, we’re not jinxed,” he said. “Friday?”
“Mm,” I said. “Maybe.”
“Come on, really?” He extended his hands in front of him. Then he must have remembered where we were and that we weren’t alone.
“We’ll talk,” he said with a departing look. It sounded more like an order than a request.
I saluted and clicked my heels together.
Nik glanced back. “I saw that.” He waved a finger at me as he entered our reception area.
Alice laughed beside me and then hit my arm. “You didn’t tell me you had a date with Nik?”
“Didn’t I?” I frowned. “Mm, must have slipped my mind. Besides, I haven’t said yes to the date yet, I’m thinking about it.”
“You’re a strange one Sasha,” she said, narrowing her eyes at me.
Brenda, the CEO’s personal assistant who was ahead of me in the queue, had turned to watch Nik enter the building. She touched my arm. “Wild beasts would have to keep me from a date with Niklas, oh my he’s something,” she said.
“We haven’t had wild beasts attack yet, but don’t tempt fate, Brenda,” I warned her and she laughed. “Can you make mine a double shot please?” I asked Wendy our coffee van lady as I finally arrived at the top of the queue. I gave her Kay and Jim’s order too. Then I went back to thinking about Nik. It’s a good thing he is gorgeous or I’d make that suit so tight in all the wrong places he’d never sit comfortably. I smiled at the wicked thought; good grief, what was wrong with me?
*****
Back at my desk, I drummed up a statement that diffused any rumors about Nik being taken to the hospital overnight—a flat comment from the football manager just to shut it down. Then I whipped up a press release promoting this Sunday’s game which included information on the Saints, our current injury list, the Chicago Cats that we were playing against, how many times we’d won and lost against them in the last five years and other bits and pieces. I would send it out today to get interviews and interest for the week kicked off, and then send an updated version again on Friday with the current team list for the weekend.
I swanned around to see Shayne who signs off on my press releases and he had Nik, Tomás, and young striker Harry in his office. Lucky bastard. I waved the paper at him and told him I would come back. I could feel the eyes of all three men observing me, especially Nik who had an expression on his face as though he knew me better today having been in my apartment... maybe he did.
“Hey Sash, all good, leave them with me and I’ll get them back to you in thirty minutes,” Shayne said. Ah Shayne, so lovely—a former player who was still great eye candy and so sweet. I smiled and thanked him, pushing my way through the wall of muscled men in his office. I could barely squeeze in or squeeze out. The workplace hazards I had to put up with; it was disgraceful. Inching my way out, I returned to my side of the building and flagged with Jim that I was whipping over to do a quick stock take of merchandise. We might need some new stock before the weekend’s game—well that was my story, I really just needed to breathe some air that Nik wasn’t sucking in at the same time. Plus, I didn’t want a date debate in the office. This way, I would be out of the office if Nik did a loop past looking for me. I’m brilliant the way I come up with solutions sometimes.
As I did my stock take, I thought about Niklas Wagner—he was like a dog with a bone. I wasn’t convinced he really was that interested me. Hell, he could have his choice of women. I think he couldn’t understand why I wasn’t falling at his feet so he had to keep gnawing away at me. If he could conquer me, so to speak, he’d probably lose interest. Good luck buddy because I’m onto you and frankly, I’m busy.
I didn’t want to go out with a player and I needed another bossy boyfriend like I need another pair of black high heels—you know how it is, certain heel lengths suit some outfits better, hell I must have at least eight pairs. Is that too many? I must ask Alice.
I was doing just fine at the moment, enjoying my space, loving my Saints’ work, having time to design and sew after hours and feeling good about myself. I didn’t have time for a guy. Yep, I was just where I wanted to be—feeling on top, in charge, focused, and happy. Just had to get Nik out of my head since he’d somehow managed to work his way in there. Damn that hot body, sexy smile, crystal blue eyes and big dick! Yep, doing a great job of not thinking about him.
Chapter 3
I walked into my apartment, closed the door and breathed out. Coming home was my favorite part of the day—my pad was on the top floor of a four story block and I guess it was more like an attic with four large triangle shaped windows running from the floor to ceiling and looking skyward. It was my escape, my hideaway; I got it for a bargain given Dad was in property development and when I bought it, it was just a big open plan room. I’ve designed it with a catwalk right down the middle of the room, made of timber and about two feet off the ground. My brother Jason made it for me. When I’m doing fittings, most of the girls love it when I get them to do a run of the catwalk to see how their outfit falls as they walk. For the brides, it’s like walking down the aisle. Some nights I put on the music and just dance along it for a workout and it’s been a while since gymnastics but I can do four front flips in quick succession allowing enough room so I don’t fall off the end.
I also have a formal platform for brides and girls getting formal dresses to stand on when I’m fitting. It is a perfect timber square and about a foot off the ground. It shows the fall of the dress and with all the fabric and often petticoats of tulle, it lets me check every layer is where it should be. One wall is also all mirrors for clients to see their outfits and for me when I’m doing my gym workout. I push myself harder if I can see the muscles working. The mirrors also reflect the trees outside and as luck would have it, I had a great view of Nik’s back, shoulders and butt reflected in the mirror while I was fitting his front. Yep, when it comes to room design, I’m not just a pretty face!
Along the windows I have three antique mannequins that look super cool, a row of vintage hat boxes and hat stands, and two small two-seater white leather sofas facing each other but separated by a glass coffee table. A big screen television hangs on the wall and that’s my living area.
My bedroom’s on a timber suspended floor that juts out from the wall, supported by poles and reachable by a spiral staircase. There was no way Nik was going to get up there in his state last night. Underneath it was my private bathroom with a big bath and frosted glass shower doors that led to some great shadows if you wanted a peek show. On the other side of the room
was the guest room and en-suite with the Nik-christened-sofa—he was the first Saints’ player ever to lie there and, I hoped, the last. Plus, I had a special cat run near the large triangle windows for Prada. He loves to look outside and watch the birds in the branches of the trees and on the eaves. Mom’s worried that at twenty-three I’m too young to live alone, but I love my space and my place. I’m surrounded by people all day and here I can just let my imagination wander, play my music and create.
I gave Prada a hug, asked him about his day as I prepared his dinner and then changed into some jeans and a black hoodie. I heard my phone ping with a text. That would be Saffron my sister—twin sister—late as usual. She was coming over to discuss her wedding dress for the big day in ten months’ time—a big church wedding with one hundred and thirty guests, so far—and she was trusting me to make her dress. We were going to buy the four bridesmaids’ dresses, thank fuck for that, and of course the theme color was purple, the color of the saffron flower.
I was kind of envious, not of Saffron or of her getting married, nope all good with that, but she was marrying a guy whose surname was Flowers. So envious—she’ll go through life now as Saffron Flowers... I wish. My sister was a primary school teacher—she loved children and so did her fiancé who was also a teacher. They intended to have hundreds of kids which I was very pleased about—if they could just replace themselves and me in the world, that would take a lot of pressure off me.
I grabbed my phone but the text wasn’t from Saff, it was from Nik. I glanced to the clock; he must have just finished training.
NIK: So, Sasha, R we on 4 Friday? Would luv 2 show U a good time
Big head! Prada brushed against me and then leaped to his favorite position near the window where he could look down on the world.
“I know he’s gorgeous,” I told Prada, as I paced the room, “and I’d love to see him naked but this is not going to go anywhere good.” I looked to Prada again and he was listening attentively—he’s a great listener. I continued to tell Prada about Nik. “He’s a player, on-and-off the field, Puss, most of the team is like that, that’s the life they lead. He has a two-year contract and then he might go home to Berlin or somewhere.”
