Page 39 of Hard Ruck

“I thought you would,” Doctor Stuart said. “They might not want you involved with the team on a full-time basis though.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?” Had any of them said anything to him about me? If they had, they might look forward to having more than their asses kicked.

“I mean there are times when I’ve missed birthday parties and special occasions because I’ve been called out,” he said. “My wife was not impressed. Fortunately for me, she never asked me to choose. I would have missed her.” He chuckled.

“Anyone you get involved with is going to have to understand the job comes first. They’ll want to celebrate a win while you’re setting a bone. Or treating a concussion. Or in a meeting with theother medical staff to make a plan for a particular player. This job is never boring.”

I noticed that the moment I stepped foot in the stadium. Even when the team wasn’t present, there was a buzz in the air. Staff were all busy doing something, from preparing the grass, to booking entertainment in the off-season. Just because it wasn’t footy season, didn’t mean we got to switch off. I loved it. Everything in me itched to be a part of that. I wanted to be one of those people who were here so long others joked they were practically part of the furniture. An integral part of the team, like the logo.

“They’ll understand,” I said. The team was important to all of us. We’d find a way to work it out.

“They might, they might not,” he said with a shrug.

A second or two later, we were both sprinting out onto the field as a player landed heavily, groaning in pain and clutching his leg.

Chapter Sixteen

Chelsea

“You good?”Dallas pulled a chair out and lowered himself into it. The feet scraped on the tiled floor as he dragged it back to the table. His hand was immediately on my thigh, fingers gripping firmly, but out of sight of anyone else in the cafeteria. “You look ready to stab some asshole.”

“I’m all right,” I said before he could offer to do it for me. “I have a lot on my mind.”

He slipped his hand up a little higher. “Happy to help you forget, but you look like you need to get it off your chest, not get off. Who fucked with you? Apart from…you know.” He managed a half smile.

I managed one myself, but it was watery at best. “I can’t say anyone in particular did. There’s a lot going on, you know?”

His brows knitted. “I feel like I’m missing something important here.”

He was, but I hadn’t found an opportunity to explain that to him yet. I would, but the right place wasn’t here, in front of a room full of people. I could fill him in on the other thing that was on my mind.

“Doctor Stuart gave his recommendation to the GM that he hire me,” I said.

“Okay,” Dallas said slowly. “That’s good, right?”

“It’s very good,” I agreed.

“You still look like someone kicked your puppy.” He ran his thumb over the top of my thigh.

“I’m worried he’ll hire someone else,” I admitted. “I’ve considered what I’ll do if I don’t get to work here, but not seriously. Maybe I should have.” I shrugged. “There’s no guarantees.”

“We could go on strike,” he offered. “I’ll tell the GM we won’t play unless he hires you.” He looked ready to stand up right now and stomp off to Bruce Fergus’ office to set him straight.

“Please don’t do that,” I said quickly. “I want to be hired because I’m the right person for the job. Not because you guys blackmailed him into it.” I made a mental note to tell my brother not to blackmail the GM either. That was something he’d do, under the misguided belief it would make me happy. Okay, maybe not so misguided, but I still didn’t want him doing it. I had to stand on my own two feet.

Dallas sagged slightly. “Okay, I won’t if you don’t want me to. But I’m not taking it off the table completely. If that’s what I have to do to keep you around, then I will.”

“It wouldn’t hurt you if I worked somewhere else,” I said. It might even be for the best.

He leaned in and lowered his voice. “It would hurt my cock. If my balls had hearts, they’d break. Right now, I’m resisting the urge to fuck you right here on the top of the table.” He looked pained. “I’m addicted and I don’t want help. I need to be inside you all the time.”

“If it’s distracting you from playing…” I started.

“It’s not,” he said hurriedly. “That’s the only time I can think about anything else. The moment training is over, or the game ends, you’re in my head. Move in with me.”

I blinked in surprise. Storm had tried to insist I live with him, but I’d put him off for now. Dallas hadn’t mentioned it before this, nor had Frost.

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” I said slowly.

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