by Zoë Lane
Philly. Super Bowl champions in 2018.
I tried not to think about how our third game of the season would actually be our first real test. Against Super Bowl champs? No one would expect us to win.
And if we lost?
We’d automatically be labeled as a team who probably couldn’t make it to the Super Bowl, let alone handle the pressure of that game. Didn’t make a whole hell of a lot of sense, but neither did the commentators sometimes. The Eagles’ tight ends were some of the best in the league, which meant I wouldn’t have to step up my game to outdo them.
“That was a hard hit you took from Mike,” Landyn whispered. “You sure you’re okay?”
Landyn was a phenom quarterback partly due to his superpower: perception. He could read plays from the defensive line, making it nearly impossible to rush him.
Sometimes I hated how well he could read me.
“It’s fine,” I lied.
“Sure it is.”
“Really.”
Coach Hicks dismissed us to the locker rooms, and I ran ahead to avoid any further conversation. Landyn—that athletic beast—was right beside me.
“Cas, Mike is a big dude.”
“So am I.”
“Yeah, but—”
“But what?” I stopped and stared him down. “What, Landyn? I’m deficient?”
“Bro, I didn’t say that.”
“Casper!”
I turned at the sound of a woman’s voice. Siobhan was running toward us from the sidelines. I couldn’t help my smile. It’d been a long time since a woman had made me feel like...like smiling. “You came to see me?”
She put her hands on her hips. “Really? No. If I can catch practices, I like to be here to foresee any issues.”
Landyn arched a brow at me, and I knew what she was going to say.
“You took a hit back there that put you on the ground for a minute.”
“A couple of seconds,” I corrected her.
“I’d like to take a look at your shoulder, if you don’t mind?”
“I’m fine.”
She cocked her head, her brows bushing. “You don’t want a massage?”
I stepped closer. She visibly inhaled. “You’re offering?”
“Bro, that was...” Landyn shook his head in disappointment.
“It’s my job, remember? That was a rough practice. How ’bout an extra long one, just to work out any tension that’s probably settling in as we speak?”
“I like you taking care of me.”
She groaned and began to jog ahead of us. “Give me a few minutes to set up the table. Better yet, I’ll see you after you shower. You stink.”
“As does your game,” Landyn said with a laugh.
I shoved him hard enough that he stumbled. “I’m rusty.”
“You sure you want to...I dunno. What are you doing?”
I didn’t answer, because I couldn’t. I was rusty. I’d never thought I’d be in this position again. Liking a girl and wanting to see her more. If that was even what I was feeling. For years, I hadn’t had any interest in seeing anyone. Never wanting an emotional connection. No interest in sex. Only football.
Em had been it for me. We were supposed to be together for eighty years. Die holding each other’s hands like in The Notebook, surrounded by our children and grandchildren. She was the only woman in the world I wanted to have my children.
“I told you, you should’ve just—”
“Banged a few cheerleaders in college?” I said with a grimace. The idea of looking into someone else’s eyes that weren’t Em’s...
“Plenty of girls would’ve given it up, easy. At least you would’ve had...more practice in that area.”
“Siobhan is engaged.”
“You gonna let that stop you?”
“Well, apparently, I’m stumbling over my lack of experience,” I said dryly.
Landyn gripped my left shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll take you out. We’ll go to a—”
“Not a club. Rose would kill you.”
“Right, right. We’ll go to a...coffee shop. Work on talking to girls. Build up to the sex.”
I shrugged his hand off. “I don’t just want her for that.”
Landyn’s brows rose. “Ah, so you do want her!”
I groaned. “Shut up!”
“We can work with this.” He rubbed his hands together.
“No, we can’t.” I quickly removed my pads and shoved them into my locker, grabbed a towel and my shower stuff, and trudged to the showers. I stood underneath the hot water until I lost all track of time, and nearly broke Siobhan’s door down when I crashed into her room.
“Sorry I’m late.”
Siobhan looked up from her magazine and stood from the chair near the sink. “For a while there, I thought you weren’t coming.”
“Then why’d you wait?”
Her lips formed a half-frown. “Dunno.” She pointed to the table. “You know where I want you.”
I chuckled and assumed the position. “I sometimes think you tease me.”
“No, I don’t.” She paused before touching my shoulders. “But I have thought about it.”
I looked up at her and grinned. “I’m wearing you down, aren’t I?”
She smiled easily. “I have a fiancé, remember?”
“That’s not a no.” I sighed heavily. “And, yeah, who could forget Phillip? I sure wish you would,” I mumbled the last sentence.
“How’s your shoulder? I saw that hit. Looked pretty hard. Surprised he went full force.”
I hadn’t anticipated her going in so deep that quickly. Or maybe she hadn’t, and I was more injured than I’d thought. Either way, my face betrayed me. “It’s nothing. Mike hits hard. I’m sure it’ll be fine by tomorrow.”
“Well, I saw that look. I’m going to work on it a bit. Ease you into it.”
I swallowed my laugh at another innuendo. “Not too hard,” I said in a rush. She didn’t know my history. The seriousness of the accident and the months and months of rehab I’d had afterwards.
“Sure. I’ll take it easy.”
She kept her word for thirty minutes, and I kept my face from reacting as the twinge morphed into the slightest, most annoying prick of pain. At the end of the session, she had me sitting on the table, my right arm out to my side as she moved it across my chest, demonstrating another stretch she wanted me to incorporate into my routine.
“I recommend you take an anti-inflammatory. We can have the doctor give you something. Keep stretching it, and don’t overdo it on the weights.”
“We’ll be playing a tough team this week,” I reminded her. “I won’t overdo it.”
“Even so, I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least give you a few recommendations. You might consider having the doctor look at it. Maybe he’ll—”
“Can’t be on the injured reserve this early in the season.”
“It’s not like it’s a bad thing. Plenty of people get hurt all the time. All you have to do is take care of the injury right away.”
“Landyn needs me out there.”
Her eyes went to the ceiling. “What are you two, joined at the hip or something?”
“We went to school together. We have a rhythm.”
“Rhythm. Right.”
It was okay she didn’t understand. I was too focused on how good she smelled. Sweet, like a jelly donut. Couldn’t tell Landyn that, or he’d ask me if I needed pointers on eating her.
I felt my body leaning in, but she was too focused on my shoulder to notice that the gap between us had narrowed. I inhaled again while keeping my eyes on her face. I found myself committing to memory the curves of her top lip, the shape of her straight nose with the top flattened out, and each crinkle in the outer corners of her eyes. Laugh lines? I rarely saw her smile. Maybe she was stressed out.
Phillip.
“Did you hear me?” she asked, giving me a strange look.
“Huh?”
“Where were you?�
��
“Nowhere.” I hopped off the table and made my way to the door.
Except I knew exactly where I wanted to be. Encased in her toned arms, her hands massaging more than just my shoulders.
“That’s it? No cheesy parting comment?”
I stopped and turned. I watched her gaze fall off my face and land onto my chest before boomeranging back to my eyes. At least she noticed me. I could build on that. “Do you want one?”
“Well...” She shrugged. “I guess I’m used to them.”
I smiled. “Goodnight, Siobhan. Thanks for the suggestions.”
Her mouth dropped, her pale cheeks coloring. “Goodnight, Casper,” she said softly. “Feel better.”
CHAPTER SIX
CASPER
I smoothed the front of my navy blue sports jacket after exiting my car. I stared at the castle—not mansion—this doctor owned.
Incredible.
Built with stone and complete with towers. Only a moat and drawbridge were missing.
Billy stepped out of the passenger seat and let out a whoop. “He’s got to be a plastic surgeon. No ER doctor is making this kind of money.”
“What does his wife do? Maybe her money helps.”
Billy arched a skeptical brow. “You know she’s not doing anything but spending that dude’s money. Fucking hate housewives. That’s why I’m not getting married. Can’t have a ho spending all my money.”
“A ho? What? You wouldn’t marry one of those.”
Billy laughed. “True.”
We walked up the cobblestone drive to the massive stairs leading up to the equally gigantic wooden doors that looked more than a few inches thick. We were greeted by the wife, who looked exactly like Billy had predicted: a housewife.
Blonde bob, expensive looking dress, her neck encased in diamonds and her forehead so smooth, I could guess who was her doctor.
“Welcome, boys. You’ll find my husband—Dr. Kavoska—in the formal dining area. Our maid will show you where to go.” Her pleasant expression briefly hardened when she looked at the maid—a petite girl, with dark brown hair and equally brown, sad eyes—waving her off. Mrs. Kavoska turned to give us one final fake smile.
“You were right,” I whispered to Billy when we had moved passed Mrs. Kavoska.
“Don’t ever doubt me.”
The formal dining area was packed wall-to-wall with people spilling out into the kitchen and other areas. I recognized several guys from the team as well as the team doctor, a couple of golf pros, I think a state senator and—
Siobhan.
Scowling in the corner, standing next to a very animated Phillip, who held court with several guys—one of them being Bat, our wide receiver.
“Man, I didn’t know this many people would be here,” Billy said, letting out a whistle. “Ah, there’s Vero.”
“Who?”
“Veronica Mendez. Next to Bat.”
She was as tall as Siobhan, with jet-black hair that covered her shoulders.
“She’s a nurse on staff. The tightest ass at HQ. Dismisses me like she can do better,” his voice ended on a bitter note.
“Huh...” I said, my eyes still scanning the room. “All this so his kid could meet the team?”
“Well, these rich guys hold parties for other things, you know.”
I shook my head. I was newly rich. I didn’t yet know the rules.
“Let’s mingle,” Billy said. He took a glass of what was probably champagne off the tray of a passing waiter and led the way into the overcrowded room.
My gaze kept straying to the redhead in the corner, who looked more annoyed with each passing second. I mapped out a route to get to her, but with Phillip standing there, I hesitated to start the trek.
Instead, I maneuvered my way toward the kitchen, my eyes still on her form. Eventually she looked up. I winked and angled my head for her to follow. She bit her lip and looked at her fiancé. I continued on, and she followed me to the punch bowl. I picked up two glasses and handed her one.
“Didn’t think this was your scene,” I said.
“Based on?”
“It’s clearly Phillip’s.”
She groaned. “He meets all sorts of people being a bartender. I didn’t want to come tonight but he...” She took a sip and averted her gaze.
“He?” I tried to sound casual, but goosebumps started to spread down my arms.
She rolled her eyes. “He threatened to tell our therapist that I wasn’t following the plan.”
“What plan? And you two see a therapist?”
Her eyes flashed anger. “There’s nothing wrong with therapy.”
I put a hand up. “No judgment.” I’d done plenty of it after Em died. I believed that, after a certain point, you had to master your own destiny. If you didn’t wake up every morning with the will to be in control, then everything—and everyone else—would beat you down.
“Well...yeah, we see a therapist.”
“And the plan?”
Her mouth slanted down to one side while her eyes went to the ceiling. “Phillip doesn’t think I spend enough time with him, so we’re supposed to be...spending more time together.”
I snorted. “I can understand. I barely know him and I don’t want to spend any time with him.”
Siobhan gave me a small smile. “Not helping, Casper.”
“Neither does being here, I think.”
“He’s my fiancé,” she argued gently. “Shouldn’t I be giving this a chance?”
I shrugged and then downed the rest of my drink. It had a kick to it and gave me a buzz, boosting my confidence. “Depends. Is he going to be dragging you to things like this for the rest of your life?”
“Ugh, I hope not.” She threw back her glass and set it on the table.
“Then...you’ve got your answer.”
She eyed me curiously. “But you’re here.”
I raised a brow and took a step closer. “You mean you’d come to these things if I were here?” I smiled.
She backed away. “I would never cheat,” she said, her voice low and hard.
My head snapped back. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
I meant if I kept seeing her at one of these things, then maybe one night she’d leave with me.
Wait, why am I thinking that?
I grabbed another drink and threw it back.
Her expression softened, but her wary gaze still looked beyond me, toward the dining room. “Sorry. I’m...I’m a little on edge.”
No kidding.
“No worries.”
“Casper! What the hell are you doing over here? Oh, hey therapist lady,” Billy said.
He draped an arm around my shoulder, the twinge on my right side causing me to stiffen.
I had avoided as much contact as possible during practices, but had still managed to get tackled a couple of times. Nothing I couldn’t shake off, but the discomfort was really annoying the shit out of me.
“Her name is Siobhan,” I said looking him straight in the eye. “Not therapist lady.”
Siobhan’s cheeks went pink. “Hi, Billy.”
“See, she knows your name,” I chastised him.
He drew his arm back, taking my shoulder with it and the pain tunneled deeper. I grimaced and quickly forced my face muscles to relax.
“Sorry, sorry!” Billy said with hands in the air, one of them holding a beer. “Didn’t know you were her knight in shining armor.”
“He’s not,” Siobhan said quickly. Thanks, she mouthed to me.
“Come on, Casper, there’s a few guys I want you to meet.”
“I’m kind of busy here,” I declined, angling my head toward Siobhan.
“No,” she started, “I should get back to Phillip.”
“Who’s Phillip?” Billy asked with his brows bunched.
“My fiancé.” The words dropped like a rock.
“Yeesh, sorry,” he said. “You should probably run while you can.”
I shook my head. “Billy has
a thing against marriage,” I explained.
Siobhan nodded once. “Yeah, okay. You two have a good time.” She walked off with a wave.
I watched her go, something I hadn’t done to a woman in a long time. Short, black mini-skirt that made her slender, ivory-colored legs appear even longer. Her pale green top tucked into the waistband riding just above the curve of her small, yet round ass. She definitely had a runner’s body. Fire-red hair in a thick braid hung neatly down her back.
“You thinking of hittin’ that? ’Cause I’m definitely game. Mmm! Look at that ass!”
I shot Billy a narrowed look, jamming my hardening fists into the pockets of my Dockers. “Don’t.”
He raised both brows. “You laying claim?”
No. “Yes.”
Billy grinned knowingly. “Okay, okay. You got dibs. Let me know when you’re finished.”
Not happening. Not in a million years would I let Billy anywhere near her.
“How do you plan on getting past the fiancé? She seems committed.”
I smirked. She and Phillip might be in counseling, but she didn’t seem keen on the “plan” to help their relationship. I heard my voice before I even thought of what to say. “I won’t. I’ll go right through him.”
Billy howled.
“Come on, Casper, there’s some guys I want you to meet.”
Billy steered me toward a few of our teammates, who stood near the doctor’s son and some other guys I assumed were either athletes, rich, or both. The kid fawned over all of us until he was called away by his mother to meet a few other people.
“Billy, you got the stuff?” One of the golfers asked.
“Yup.” He produced a small brown parcel from his inner jacket pocket. “You’re good to go now.”
The golfer slipped the package into his jacket pocket. “Thanks, man. This is really going to help me.”
Did I just witness a drug deal?
Billy looked at me. “It’s not what you think. Perfectly legal.”
“Uh-huh,” I said.
“Oh, absolutely,” the golfer spoke up. “It’s stuff that naturally enhances performance. I can’t get enough of it.”
Addict.
“Multi-level marketing stuff,” Billy added and then shrugged. “I know, I know. I’m making all this money and then do this on the side, but every little bit helps, right? I’ve got a lot of clients so it pays for itself and then some. You should try it. Be a consultant.”
