Page 54 of Behind the Bench

The bartender shows up within seconds with a security guard I hadn’t even noticed before. I let go of Grayson and shove him toward the two men who then escort him and his buddies out of the bar.

Once they’re gone, Ellie runs straight to me and throws her arms around my neck. Her body melts into mine as my hands find her lower back. “Thank you, Lincoln.”

I take a deep breath, inhaling her intoxicating scent. “Anytime, Coach.”

Last night was amazing. Well, except when Grayson’s drunk ass tried to ruin our night out. Lincoln looked pretty good when he got all protective over me, though. Besides that, it was the perfect night.

It was also almost catastrophically stupid with another almost kiss.

Lincoln and I have always been oil and water, but lately we seem to be more like flint and steel—two objects being drawn together. Each time we connect it’s like another spark, a spark that is wildly dangerous and yet irresistible. It’s only a matter of time until that spark ignites a flame.

The only issue is, is that flame going to burn bright, or are we destined to burn each other?

I roll over and throw my pillow over my head, groaning loudly with frustration.

Lincoln keeps showing me other sides of himself that have me questioning the type of man he really is. Sure, as kids he was a total douche, but this man I see every day—it’s like he’s peeling himself back layer by layer, each time, revealing a piece of his true self to me.

Is he still the stubborn, sarcastic man wholoves to banter with me at every turn? Absolutely. Except these days, the banter is less infuriating and more charming. Hell, it even feels like foreplay sometimes.

But he also seems to be my calm in the storm.

Never has a person affected me so much, in a way that is completely out of my control. It’s both exhilarating and frustrating.

To make matters worse, he’s my boss. Well, sort of. I’m his assistant coach which makes him my superior. There’s no way in hell I can cross that line and jeopardize everything I worked so hard for.

My frustration wins, and I scream into my pillow. “Ugh! Damn you, Lincoln Scott!”

“Uhh, should I come back?” Sadie asks from my doorway.

I crawl out from underneath my pillow and sit up in bed. Sadie stares at me, leaning against the doorjamb with a smirk on her face.

She still doesn’t know about the moment between Lincoln and me in the coaches’ room after our first press conference. She also doesn’t know that he leaves my favorite caramel pistachio espresso on my desk every Monday morning before our meeting. Hell, I figured it was Hunter leaving me coffee since we’ve gone together a few times. It wasn’t until I saw Lincoln sneaking out of my office one morning that I discovered it was him.

Sadie slowly makes her way to my bed and climbs in next to me. She doesn’t say anything, just sits back against my headboard and patiently waits for me to speak first.

“Lincoln Scott is going to be the death of me.”

Maybe a tad dramatic, but it gets the point across.

Sadie snorts and looks over to me. “Will the cause of death be sexual frustration? Because your auras were burning the brightest shade of red I’ve ever seen. I could almostfeelthe desire burning between you two. Now, what the hell aren’t you telling me?”

I stay silent, questioning how much I should divulge to my best friend.

“Don’t try to tell me ‘nothing’ either. That man almost devoured you last night. Both Hunter and I saw it with our own eyes. So, spill.”

There’s no use in hiding it anymore, so I don’t.

I tell her every little detail, from the spark of electricity that runs through my body at every little touch, to the calming waves that soothe me whenever Lincoln comes to my rescue mid blow up. No detail is left untouched. Not even the details of being seconds away from devouring his mouth with mine.

After I let it all out, I feel both relieved and anxious. Anxious because Sadie is looking at me with such disbelief, I’m afraid what’s going to come out of her mouth next.

“Let me get this straight…you had the chance to kiss that man not once, but twice, and you have yet to close the deal? What the hell is wrong with you?”

I bury my face in my hands and groan. I look up at Sadie and see that she’s waiting for my answer. “I can’t go there, Sadie. I want to. Hell, I want to rip that man’s clothes off every time I see him. But we work together.”

She crosses her arms. “And your point? Is there anything that says you can’t partake in some adult activities because you work together?”

Hmm. Is there a rule against workplace relationships? I have no idea because never in a million years did I think I’d be interested in such a thing. I’ve always been so completely focused on achieving my goals and dreams that I’ve never let anything get in my way. Sure, I have the occasional one-night stand. A girl has needs, after all. But I never even entertained the idea of having that type of relationship with a coworker. It’s just too messy.

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