Players of Marycliff University Box Set, Books 1–3

by Jerica MacMillan

  Chris’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, and his hands came up, palm out. “Sorry, man.” His eyes darted around the room behind Matt before settling on his face again. “You took her home, right? I didn’t think I’d be interrupting anything.”

  Letting out a breath, Matt forced himself to calm down. It wasn’t like Chris interrupted him on purpose. Crossing his arms, Matt leaned against the doorjamb. “Yeah, I took her home. It’s late. Did you need something?”

  Chris took in his face and shrugged. “I just wanted to say sorry, dude. You didn’t say you were bringing a chick home. If you had, I would’ve let you know we were on our way or something. Tell me next time. You know I’m not down with cockblocking friends.”

  Matt nodded. “Yeah, sure. Okay.”

  “Seriously, dude. If you’re going to bring a chick home, just give us a heads up. We’ll stay out of your way. Megan doesn’t mind, as long as she’s not going to walk in on you doing the nasty in the living room.”

  Matt laughed. “Doing the nasty? And seriously? I’ve walked in on you guys more times than I can count. And don’t even get me started on the shit I’ve had to listen to.”

  Looking relieved that Matt didn’t seem so pissed anymore, Chris grinned. “Yeah, that’s Megan’s phrase, not mine. And I’ve been telling you to get earplugs or something for a long-ass time. Our noise level isn’t gonna change. Or you can start competing. Whichever.”

  “Dude, that’s disgusting. I’m not going to bring some chick home just to see who can be louder.”

  Now Chris laughed. “That’s the first girl you’ve brought to the house since you dumped your old tutor—what’s her name—last year. Don’t be shy just because Megan’s here now.”

  Matt rolled his eyes. “You know I’m not a slut like you, dude. If I want to bring someone home, I will. I did tonight, after all.”

  Chris gasped. “I’m not a slut!”

  Laughing, Matt shook his head. “You were. I guess I can thank Megan that it’s just her now and not a string of randos wandering in and out like we used to get. At least I keep my one-nighters away from home.”

  “Yeah, you’re a true gentleman. Whatever. I just wanted to make sure there were no hard feelings.”

  Matt suppressed a snicker, glad that he’d kept his lower body behind the door. There had definitely been some hard feelings, but not like what Chris meant. “Nah, man. We’re fine.”

  “Cool. Night.” Chris turned and wandered back to his own room, leaving Matt on his own again. He ditched the boxers, still half-hard, but not sure he felt like doing anything about it. He was tired of jerking off to memories of Hannah instead of getting the real thing. He’d figure out a way to get her in his bed again. And God, he hoped it would be soon.

  * * *

  Hannah sat in her car in the parking lot of Eco Utilities locking and unlocking her phone, debating with herself. Matt had texted her on Saturday, asking if she wanted to get together and hang out, but she’d been in the middle of dealing with that stupid petition, frustrated with the other people working, and most of all that her ex had been there with her. He still seemed like he wanted to get back together, and she had no interest in that at all. By the end of the day, she’d been tired and annoyed and hadn’t responded to Matt’s text.

  Elena had cornered her and tried to force her to talk about what had happened with Matt. She’d given her the barest details, but hadn’t wanted to talk about it. Elena had made a face at her, but let it go. For now. Hannah knew her best friend better than to expect that Elena wouldn’t force her to talk about every minute detail so she could analyze it, as well as every thought and feeling Hannah had about the experience both during and after.

  Since Hannah didn’t know what to think or feel about it, it made it hard to know what to tell Elena. Now it was Monday again, time for her internship, where she may or may not end up face to face with Matt. She’d brought his sweatshirt with her with the intention of giving it back to him. Glancing around the parking lot, she hoped to magically know which vehicle was his. She knew he drove a green pickup, but there were three that she could see right now.

  “It’s probably locked anyway,” she muttered to herself as she got out of the car and locked it. If she didn’t run into him this afternoon, she’d text him at the end of the day to let him know she had his sweatshirt.

  The next few hours passed in a frenzy. The marketing team was preparing to roll out a new campaign, so they were frantically putting last minute changes and revisions in place after gathering the data from their test group. Hannah spent a lot of her time running things from one place to another, even getting snacks and coffee from the break room for the team.

  On one trip to the break room, she’d grabbed snacks for half the team, juggling two coffee cups, an apple, a banana, and three candy bars on her way out when she almost collided with someone. She looked up just in time to try to pull up short, and firm hands grasping her biceps kept her from smashing into the chest in front of her. A little coffee sloshed over the lip of one of the mugs onto the floor. “Shit!” She tried to step back but the hands on her arms held her in place. Raising her head, her gaze collided with Matt’s stormy blue eyes.

  “Hey.”

  One corner of his mouth tugged up in response to her lame greeting. “Hey.” His brows came together. “What are you doing? You’re not supposed to be doing grunt work.”

  She shook her head and tried again to step back. This time he let her, dropping his hands, but not before running them down her arms in a caress, much more intimate than a normal workplace exchange. “No, I’m not doing grunt work. Everyone’s just busy. We have a new campaign coming out this week, and I volunteered to get stuff for them.” The look on Matt’s face conveyed his doubt. “No, really. I’m learning a lot. I promise. They’re not taking advantage of me. I’ve been involved with the process as much as possible, given that they all know way more than me about everything. But I’ve gotten to look over the data from the test groups and see why they’re making the changes they’re making and even offer my opinion a few times.”

  “Okay, good. You’re sure?”

  Hannah nodded enthusiastically. “Yes. It’s great. I mean, we’ve talked about some of this stuff in classes, but it’s cool to see how it works in a real life situation, you know? And I love even more that we’re helping people, helping the environment, not just trying to make money.”

  “Well, money is an important part of it.” The corners of Matt’s lips had tugged up again, the smile more sardonic this time than amused.

  Hannah narrowed her eyes at him. “I know that, Matt. I’m not stupid. I get how business works. But I like being involved with a business that doesn’t rape the earth and destroy everything in the name of the bottom line. I like that we’re helping other businesses be more responsible with their resources, which benefits the businesses financially as well as benefitting conservation efforts. It’s a big part of why I wanted this internship.” She gestured with one of the coffee mugs, but stopped when she almost spilled coffee again.

  Matt’s sardonic look morphed into one of respect, though he did grin at her near-spill. “Yeah. It is nice. I agree. I like that about this place too.”

  “Well, good to see you. I gotta get going.”

  With a hand on her arm, Matt stopped her before she could step around him. “Hey, I don’t know if you got my text this weekend—”

  “Right. Yeah. Sorry about not responding. I had a busy weekend.” She didn’t know where he was going with that, but she didn’t want to have it out in the hallway outside the break room where anyone could overhear or interrupt. She vaguely remembered something from her orientation about a non-fraternization rule. But she’d been a little distracted by coming face-to-face with Matt again, and hadn’t been paying close attention. “Um, I have your sweatshirt in my car to give back to you. I’ll text you before I leave so we can figure out where to meet so I can get it to you.”

  He dropped his hand, nodding once.
“Right. Okay. I’ll talk to you later then.”

  Flashing him a quick smile, she scurried back to the marketing department where people were waiting for their coffee and snacks. Staying busy made the time go faster, but she kept an eye on the clock, the tingling in her belly—and lower—growing as the minutes ticked by. With the way they’d left things Friday night, she doubted he was satisfied with her half-assed explanation that she’d been too busy to return his text. The Matt she’d known had been persistent, and from what she could tell, that hadn’t changed.

  As she gathered her things at the end of the day, she slipped on her coat and pulled out her phone. Nerves and anticipation warred inside her, making her breath come short. She hesitated a moment, trying to decide what to say, settling on simple and direct. I’m done for the day. Meet me in the lobby?

  CHAPTER NINE

  Matt’s phone buzzed on his desk, and he picked it up to see Hannah’s text. He thought for a moment about the best course of action. It would be safer for both of them to meet elsewhere, away from the prying eyes and listening ears of their coworkers. The new HR manager escorting the marketing intern to her car would definitely catch people’s attention, sending gossip flying through the office. Even though her text made him want to grab his jacket and leave, he couldn’t give in to that impulse. He needed to finish his work before he left, and this would also protect Hannah and himself. And the fact it meant he’d get to spend more time with her was just a bonus. At least that’s what he told himself before texting her back.

  I still need to finish up a few things. Meet me at Twig’s on the corner. I’ll be there in 15 mins.

  He turned back to his computer to finish up and close everything out, keeping his phone next to his keyboard waiting for her response. Satisfaction coiled in his chest when she texted back right away.

  Okay.

  Matt didn’t think he’d ever finished his end-of-day work as fast as he did today. He planned to buy Hannah a drink and invite her to join him for dinner. See if he could convince her to spend more time with him.

  When Matt walked into the place he’d picked ten minutes later, he let out a low groan. He spotted Hannah right away. As well as what looked like half the marketing department, all of the interns, several of the sales guys, and even the head of HR. Damn it. He should’ve known better than to pick somewhere so close to work as their meeting place.

  Hannah raised her eyes, her gaze connecting with his. She shrugged one shoulder and offered a sheepish smile before turning back to the person next to her and resuming their conversation. He watched for a moment, enjoying the way her face lit up in laughter at something the woman next to her said, appreciating the way her lips closed on the rim of her glass, drinking in the elegant way her fingers wrapped around her glass, wishing he could’ve felt them wrapped around him over the weekend.

  “How many?”

  The hostess’s voice interrupted his lustful thoughts. Tearing his eyes away from Hannah, he offered the hostess a weak smile and gestured to the group of his coworkers. “I’m with them.”

  With a polite smile, she handed him a drinks menu and gestured for him to join his friends. He took the only open seat, down at the end away from Hannah, next to Janine, the head of HR.

  She gave him a friendly smile. “I didn’t know you’d be joining us.”

  “Yeah. I, uh, found out people were coming here just before I left and thought I’d come too.” His answer sounded stupid and forced to his ears, but Janine didn’t seem to notice.

  “Well, the waitress should be back soon, and you can get a drink then. A few of us are splitting some appetizers. You’re welcome to have some if you’d like to pitch in.”

  “Thanks. I’ll just stick with a drink.” He tried to keep up with conversation around him and not seem like an antisocial jerk. But he didn’t give a shit about any of it. Frustration that he’d made such a bad choice colored what should’ve been an enjoyable round of post-work drinks with his coworkers. He’d met up with groups here like this before, and he’d gotten to know the people he worked with better. But today his gaze kept drifting back to Hannah, even though he tried not to stare. He caught her looking at him more than once, and each time she gave him a rueful smile that he returned.

  “Careful there.” Janine’s voice pulled his attention back to her after one such exchange.

  “I’m sorry, what?”

  Nodding in Hannah’s direction, Janine took another sip of her martini. “You two seem to be flirting across the table. She’s an intern, and you’re in charge of the interns for the semester. Don’t do anything stupid. Use your big head, Matt, not your little one.”

  Matt spluttered, choking on his drink, not used to having his boss, a woman who was about the same age as his mother, make casual dick references in conversation. He coughed a few times before regaining control, and he saw Hannah shooting him a quizzical look from the other end of the table, several people turning their attention his way after his coughing fit. He ignored them all, though, instead focusing on Janine. “What?”

  Janine gave him a knowing look. “Just a friendly reminder about the company fraternization policy. I like you, Matt. You’re a good worker, and you have a lot of potential to go far. I don’t want to see you do anything stupid to jeopardize that.”

  Matt opened his mouth to respond, but Janine cut in before he could. “Don’t bother to deny anything. In fact, don’t say a word one way or the other. I’ll pretend I didn’t notice anything as long as you keep it to no more than this.”

  His mouth now a firm line, he nodded once and finished the beer he’d ordered in a few chugs, even though it had lost all appeal. Time to go. He pulled a few bucks out of his wallet and tossed them on the table to cover his drink, muttering goodbyes to the people around him.

  He could feel Hannah’s eyes on him as he did so. With barely a glance, he nodded at her once and left, the beer he’d drunk churning in his guts, making him feel like puking even though he’d only had one. As he walked to his truck, Janine’s warning rang in his ears, warring with the desire to make Hannah his again. He didn’t know what to do about either of them. Could he stay away from Hannah until after her internship?

  No. He really couldn’t. His job required him to check up on her regularly. Plus she’d agreed to model for Megan.

  With a groan, Matt started the car and dropped his head against the steering wheel. He was fucked. And not in a good way.

  * * *

  Matt tossed his keys on his dresser and hung his coat on the back of the desk chair in his room, his phone vibrating in his pocket. He pulled it out to see a text from Hannah.

  Sorry about the crowd. A few of them were already there when I got there and invited me to join them. They wouldn’t take no for an answer.

  He sighed, trying to figure out how he should navigate this situation. No problem. It’s a popular place. I should’ve thought about that when I suggested it.

  I still have your sweatshirt.

  Moving to the kitchen, he grabbed a beer out of the fridge, even though he’d just had one at the restaurant. He took a long pull before responding again, trying to decide what to do. Should he invite her over? Offer to go get it? Tell her to keep it until she came over to model for Megan? He should choose the last one, Janine’s warning fresh in his mind.

  But he’d been aching to see her since Friday, and the brief touch in the hallway outside the break room when she almost ran into him didn’t cut it, much less sitting across a crowded table from her where they couldn’t even talk. Fuck it. He was going to invite her over. What Janine didn’t know wouldn’t hurt anyone.

  Want to bring it over? I was just about to figure out dinner. You could stay and eat with me.

  He forced himself to set his phone down on the kitchen counter and take a few steps away instead of checking it every three seconds like a crazy man, willing her to respond. Instead he leaned against the counter on the opposite wall, drinking his beer, staring at it like it might exp
lode.

  He’d finished his beer by the time her text came in. He reached for it with steady hands, despite the anticipation coiled tightly inside of him like a spring about to snap. I can’t tonight. I have an early class tomorrow and lots of reading to get through. Matt’s heart fell at her words, the tension releasing with a twang that he felt in his gut.

  Then another text came in. A single word that renewed his hope.

  Tomorrow?

  CHAPTER TEN

  Hannah took a deep breath before turning off her car. She checked her phone again to make sure the number on the little brick house she’d parked in front of matched the address Matt had given her. It looked familiar, but with her nerves she wanted to be sure. Everything looked different in the fading twilight than it had Friday night. Plus, she hadn’t been paying close attention to what the house looked like, too distracted by Matt to care.

  Checking her back seat, she reassured herself that she had Matt’s sweatshirt as well as her backpack with a change of clothes and a couple of her textbooks inside. She kind of suspected that she might end up spending a while at Matt’s house this evening. Much longer than it would take just to drop off his sweatshirt. He’d invited her for dinner the day before, so she assumed that he was planning for that again when he’d accepted her suggestion that she come over today instead.

  She’d brought the change of clothes and homework because she figured that if she were going to hang out for a while, she didn’t want to stay in her work clothes. But she still felt kind of presumptuous for bringing them along. So she just grabbed the sweatshirt and made her way up the driveway to the front steps, watching where she walked on the cracked concrete, dark gray with age.

  Matt answered the door almost immediately, like he’d been standing on the other side waiting. Her eyes drifted over him, from the messy blond hair that still reminded her of the surfer boy she’d met three summers ago to the piercing blue eyes, over the broad shoulders and carved chest hidden by a faded blue T-shirt that said Steepwater Surf Shop, down to worn-looking jeans that hung low on his hips. His bare feet peeked out under the hems, and Hannah sucked in a breath at how delicious he looked in casual clothes. She also felt awkward and overdressed in her fitted green sweater over a white button-down blouse, gray dress pants, and low-heeled black shoes, topped with her gray pea coat.