by Debra Kayn
He offered her another slice. She shook her head, turning any more pizza down. He closed the box and carried it to the refrigerator. There was no way in hell he’d go out with her, as friends, roommates, or as a family acquaintance. He was walking on ice, and having Jules present wasn’t a strong enough buffer to keep him from doing something stupid.
“Fine. Be a boring dude who only lives for football and his big ass beautiful bed.” She leaned forward until her hair hung clear to the floor and her head was upside down. “Someday you’re going to wake up and realize life passed you by and that you really should’ve spent more time with me while you could. I won’t always be around to entertain you, you know.”
He stared at her, not following the conversation. She was right here. Where was she going, except to her own apartment when she earned enough money?
“Where do you think you’re going?” He leaned against the counter, keeping his distance, and talked to her from the kitchen.
She turned her head, flipped her hair, and straightened. “I’m just saying, you never know what will happen tomorrow, next week, or in a year. I might live in Japan making a million dollars next year or I could get in a car crash and—”
“Okay, I’ll go.” He pushed off the counter and rubbed his tightening chest. “Don’t say shit like that. Shit. Make it one of your house rules if you have to, just don’t go there.”
The thought of losing her from his life hurt. He never had her to himself, but to think she believed her life could end at any moment was too morbid for him to think about.
“It’s true. Nobody knows what will happen in the future.” She studied him, frowning. “Haven’t you ever thought about how cruel life is sometimes?”
“I don’t think about it,” he muttered.
“Sorry.” She sighed. “But I’m glad you’ll go out with me. We’ll have fun.”
“Yeah.” He crossed his chest with his arm and slapped a hand on his opposite shoulder, rotating the joint. “I’m going to go out for a jog and wear off some of this pizza.”
“Okay.” She reached for the television remote.
He walked to his room and put on his shorts, socks, and shoes. Jogging was the last thing he wanted to do, but he had to get out of here. Angie was messing with his head. He’d had no idea she thought about what could happen to her. Yet, it made sense. She’d lost her mom as a teenager. He’d seen her struggle with the loss, and fear death visiting Drew next.
She’d been old enough to understand how cancer took her mom’s life, and too young to deal with losing the only parent who brought her security. It was understandable that she feared something else could happen to upset her life. He grimaced. Back when her mom died, he’d sat with her for hours, telling her nothing was going to happen. She’d believed him, but he’d pulled away from her.
Dressed to go out and exercise, he left the bedroom. In the living room music played. He glanced over to wave at Angie, and stubbed the toe of his sneaker on the floor at the sight of her.
She danced in front of the window with her back turned toward him, her arms above her head, her ass swaying, her hair flowing. He hardened, and all he could do was stand there like a fucking loser while ogling her.
He moved toward her and was halfway across the room when she turned. Instead of surprise at finding him there, she smiled and continued dancing.
“I love this song,” she said, continuing to dance her way closer.
He hitched his thumb over his shoulder. “I’m leaving.”
She nodded and gave him a thumbs up. He laughed. Shit, she was funny.
He walked out of the condominium and started out at a slow jog; until he lost his erection, he wasn’t going to make it out of the parking lot. He’d worried about her talk of death for nothing. She went from deep life questions to fluttering around his living room without a care.
He only had to survive six days, twelve hours, and too many more minutes with her and then he’d be back to playing football and taking his frustrations out on the field.
Chapter Five
Four nights later, Angie still couldn’t sleep for more than two hours at a time. Every single night since moving in with Gary, she’d fought with the blankets, finding herself restless and frustrated. She flipped over her pillow, hoping the cool side would calm her enough to go to sleep.
When was the last night she’d slept at least six hours? Not that she ever had an easy time sleeping since before getting the news that her mom had breast cancer.
She snuggled under the covers on a sigh. That wasn’t true. The last night she stayed at her brother’s house and slept in bed with Gary, she’d slept like a baby.
She hated the nights. In the quiet and darkness, she could never forget waking up and finding out her mom had passed away. Growing up, her brother would take pity on her and stay up talking through the night. Even Gary had indulged her need to stay awake, and would sometimes keep her company before he’d left for college. But as soon as she closed her eyes, she’d remember.
She tossed back the covers and grabbed her phone off the nightstand. Putting thumbs to the keyboard, she typed. U awake?
Several minutes later, she stretched out to put down the phone, thinking he was asleep, when the cell vibrated in her hand.
No.
Warmth curled inside her. Can I ask U something?
Go to sleep, A.
Please?
She waited. If he wasn’t asleep, what was he doing? She looked at the closed door to her room. He was right on the other side of the hall, but no noise came to her. Maybe he was restless too.
Her phone buzzed. She peered down and read. What?
She sucked in her bottom lip. If she texted him, what would she say? She was scared to sleep at his condo? She has never been able to rest comfortably alone? She groaned and put the phone on the table, swung her legs off the bed, and sat on the edge. He’d think she was a baby, and he already seemed to view her only as Drew’s little sister, as if she never grew up and became an adult.
Her wanting to sleep in his bed with him was more than being afraid. There was something about him that gave her comfort. He had the best hugs of anyone she knew. It probably had to do with his size, since he was also bigger than anyone she knew. A defensive end who ate a balanced meal and kept himself in rock-hard shape: perfect for cuddling. When his hand laid on her back or he stroked her hair, she knew nothing would happen to her.
But needing him came from deep inside of her. He was comfortable, and no matter what, he’d always been around. She depended on him. Being with him brought normalcy back into her life, like it used to be before her mom passed away and Drew moved on with his own life.
She stood and walked to the door before she could change her mind. Texting him was a bad idea. What she wanted from him could only be said in person, so he couldn’t turn her down.
She crossed the hallway and knocked. He opened the door and leaned against the doorframe. She settled on the large expanse of chest at eye level.
“You should be in bed,” he whispered.
“I know, but…” She raised her gaze and stepped in front of him. “Can I sleep with you, please?”
He tilted his head and gazed at the ceiling. “Take the side of the bed closest to the window. Don’t hog the blankets.”
She threw her arms around his waist and buried her head into his chest. “Thank you. I’ll pay you back. Tomorrow, I’ll make cookies…or buy some at the Fifth Street bakery.”
Then she scurried around him and dove onto the bed, crawling across the massive surface before he could change his mind. Following his orders, she hugged the edge of the bed.
When Gary stretched out on the other side, she couldn’t even feel the indentation from his body, the bed was that large. She slid her arm under the pillow and snuggled on her side facing him. The sheets already warmed, she knew she’d taken his spot. Her stomach flip-flopped and she gazed at Gary in the dark. She couldn’t see his face, only his large outline. He hadn�
��t gotten under the covers, but lay on top of the comforter on his back.
He slept in his boxers. She puffed up her cheeks and let the air out. A solid rock of a man, he really was beautiful. She lowered her eyelids, peeking out between the lashes.
They’d grown apart over the last few years. She really knew nothing about his private life anymore. Since she’d been here, no girlfriend had stormed the condo demanding to know why he had a woman staying with him. Of course, she kept up with any news about his career and how he was doing through Drew, but she had no idea if he even had someone special in his life.
“Do you have a girlfriend?” she whispered.
His head turned toward her. “What kind of stupid ass question is that?”
“I value living.” She pulled her arm out from under the blanket and rested it on the bed. “I should know if you have anyone in your life that’s going to kick my ass for staying with you.”
“You’re Drew’s little sister. Why would it matter?” he asked.
She laughed into her pillow. “Okay, obviously the answer is no, you don’t have a girl in your life. Trust me, women don’t think like men. If you had a girlfriend, she wouldn’t like me being here, even if we’re family friends. Women are territorial. She’d see me as a threat, and wouldn’t trust you not to sleep in your own room.”
“Moot point, since you’re in my room,” he muttered.
“Huh.” She inhaled deeply. “But we wouldn’t tell her that…I mean, if you had a girlfriend that you were into. Not that it would be fair to her to keep secrets—that’s wrong, don’t ever do that—but it’d be easier for both of us if we just act normal. So, I won’t tell anyone, not that I was going to. Like, really, who would I tell? Drew? That’d be messed up, plus he wouldn’t care. Jules might like to know if I was sleeping with you, but she’d go all whacked and assume we’re really—”
“No one will bother you. Football season is starting and I don’t date when I’m playing,” he muttered. “Now go to sleep.”
Confused, she wondered if he was cranky over not having a woman around him or if abstinence really did drive a man mad after awhile. She rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling. Every time she’d run into him in the city, he was either with a couple of his friends who were also professional athletes or with Drew. There were always girls around, but nobody that stood out as someone he was serious about.
For that matter, she hadn’t been that serious with anyone either. Sure, she dated a lot and she had an okay sex life, but she’d never quite found Mr. Right. Not that she’d looked too hard—she was too busy growing up and trying to establish herself.
Feeling self-centered around her own problems, she decided from here until her first paycheck arrived and she could move out, she’d catch up more on Gary’s life. Always a loner, even in a crowd, he deserved all the good things that happened in his life. He had no one. His birth mother had given him up to the state when he was six years old, and he’d never connected with any of his numerous foster parents. That was why Gary spent most of his time with Drew growing up. It was hard to feel content at home when his guardians put him on an if-we-have-time-for-you list; which they never did. As soon as he turned eighteen, he was on his own.
That would all change now that she was back in town. She’d support him, and because of her new job, she’d also be at every game to cheer him on. A quiver of excitement went through her. She couldn’t believe she was the massage therapist for the Seattle Seahawks. Could life get any better?
No way would she ever have thought she’d get the job, but Gary had encouraged her over the phone to try for the spot when she’d moved to Deadhorse. She owed him for giving her the tip about the job.
In the next second, her thoughts shifted and she worried. What if she couldn’t do the job? She had experience, and she was damn good. But the boys on the team were big. They had muscles where normal people didn’t, and their bodies were their tool to earning a nice living.
Gary’s body was perfect.
She rolled to her side and stared at him in the dark. Better than perfect.
On the car trip back from Deadhorse, she’d noticed his thighs and forearms. How could she not, when there was nothing to view out the window? The way he handled the car fascinated her. He made moving look graceful and natural. She warmed and threw the blanket off her upper body. She hid her curiosity from him, but she wondered what he was like as a boyfriend.
All she’d ever experienced were his great hugs. Once in a while, she’d kiss him to show him thanks for helping her out, but he always pulled away or held her shoulders, distancing himself. Just one time, she’d like to experience his full lips for more than two seconds.
She leaned up on her elbow and studied Gary’s form. His breathing came deep and even. Getting up on her hands and knees, she carefully crawled closer. When she was beside him, she slowly lay down. With her head on his chest, she let herself relax, content to be near him.
She closed her eyes, aware of Gary’s warmth, the rhythm of his breathing lulling her to sleep. Promising herself she’d move back to her side of the bed before he woke in the morning, she settled down for the night.
Chapter Six
A car horn outside woke Gary. He blinked sleep away, aware of a pleasant warm weight lying atop him. Lifting his head off the pillow, he gazed down his body.
Angie lay between his sprawled legs, her head cushioned on his stomach, the heat of her body pressed against the biggest hard-on he’d ever had. His head hit the pillow and he stared up at the ceiling. 12 to 11 in the fourth quarter with twenty seconds remaining. The running back has the ball. I stand between the opponent and the end zone.
He groaned. Quoting football plays wasn’t going to work this morning. Angie was soft and pliable. He was hard, and he wanted her. There was no way he could extract himself out from under her without waking her up. There was also no way she would miss his erection when she became conscious. He lifted his hand, hovering his palm over her hair. He curled his fingers into a fist and dropped his arm onto the bed without touching her. Shit.
Being Drew’s friend sucked. He should call him up and tell him he was never going to see or talk with him again. Their friendship was over, because Gary was going to have sex with Drew’s little sister. He’d…
Fuck, I sound like I’m breaking up with Drew.
Angie squirmed. He flinched, bracing for the pain when her shoulder settled in his crotch. Only more pleasure came his way, and his heart threatened to burst out of his chest. The room compressed in on him and all he could feel was the pressure of Angie on him.
“Gar…?” She rubbed her cheek along the bare skin of his abdomen and opened her eyes.
The moment she spotted him, her gaze warmed and she sighed heavily, perfectly content to cuddle against him. “Morning.”
He cleared his throat, buying time to unstick his tongue from the roof of his mouth. “Hey.”
“What time is it?” She stifled a yawn.
Her mouth opened and then her warm breath tickled his skin. His cock responded, his balls tightened, and he groaned as he lunged, hauling her off him in one swoop. She bounced on the mattress, and he jumped out of bed, keeping his back toward her.
“Time to get up. I’m going for a jog.” He strode across the room and escaped into the bathroom.
One cold shower later, he peeked out into the bedroom and breathed in relief to find the room empty. He quickly pulled a pair of sweats and a T-shirt out of the drawer, and dressed. For the next hour, he’d have an excuse to stay away from her.
The cool morning Seattle air, the separation of mind and body, and physical exertion would get Angie off his mind.
He exited the bedroom at the same time Angie walked out of her bedroom. He stopped, sweeping his gaze over her. A bad feeling came over him.
She tightened her ponytail. “Ready?”
“For what?” He crossed his arms.
She wore a skimpy pair of shorts, an oversized sweatshirt,
and a pair of running shoes. Dread mixed with curiosity raged against each other inside of him. He’d really love to see her running in those shorts, but there was no way in hell he’d let her go jogging with him.
“I’ll partner with you this morning. I haven’t exercised in over a week.” She patted his chest. “It’ll be good for me.”
“If I told you I like to run alone, would you stay home and leave me in peace?” He followed her down the hall.
“Fine.” She pushed up her sleeves and glanced over her shoulder. “I’ll jog behind you. You won’t even know I’m there. If you think you can lose me, feel free to try. I know my way around and will run my own route.”
“I don’t need a personal trainer,” he said.
“Not trying to be one.” She shrugged. “It’s just if you want to be alone, you better be faster than me. That’s all.”
“You think you can out run me?” He laughed. “Really?”
She arched her brows and pursed her lips. “Whatever, big bad football star.”
He shook his head in amusement, but his humor fled at the weary gaze that darted away and stared at the floor.
She grabbed the door handle. He planted his hand over her shoulder on the door, and stopped her from going out. This close, he inhaled the vanilla scent he was getting used to recognizing as her.
He sighed. “What are you doing, honey?”
She turned and put her back to the door and looked up at him. “I want to be with you.”
“I’m not stopping at the nearest convenience store for donuts and chips.” He studied her.
She scoffed. “Just because you have a problem with all the junk food I eat doesn’t mean I don’t try to balance the food groups with exercise.”
He remained silent. She was avoiding his question. Twice now she’d crawled into his bed, and he wanted to know why. Now she wanted to hang with him while he exercised. No, something was going on in her head, and he wanted to know what she was thinking.
“You’ll jog in front of me, and when you get tired, we’ll stop.” He straightened. Two could play at this game, and if she wanted to prove a point, he sure in the hell could enjoy the scenery of her jogging in her tight blue shorts while she figured out what she was doing.
