Page 24 of The Yips

I opened the door for Avery, and she beamed. “You’re going to kill him.” She assessed the emerald green body con dress, and at that moment, I felt beautiful and worthy of Sam’s attention. I blushed when I noticed the lingerie Monica had included, but after trying it on, I didn’t want to take it off.

I walked Avery through Crew’s bedtime routine and showed her where his bottles and diapers were kept. I had already bathed him, so it should be a relatively easy night for her.

Sam knocked on the suite door promptly at 7:30. Avery answered the door while I finished getting ready in the bedroom. Sam stood nervously in the doorway; his crisp button-down shirt and slim-fit dress pants accentuated his tall, lean, athletic build. His eyes crawled up my body, his mouth gaping; he took a step towards me, sucked in a breath, and stopped short.

“Kelsey, my god, I have no words.”

I walked towards him and stopped inches away, my body drawn to his but aware that I had no claim to him, and I was well aware that we had an audience.

“Monica helped; I only brought jean shorts and T-shirts.”

“You’re gorgeous in jean shorts, too, but Monica is getting a raise.” He leaned down, cupped my cheek, and kissed me sweetly on the corner of my mouth. I squeezed my thighs together as a surge of heat rushed over me. Shit, it had been far too long. I was melting at even the slightest touch.

Avery brought Crew over to me so I could kiss him good night. Sam reached for my hand, and as I placed it in his, I understood that I was putting more than my hand in his.

“Don’t rush back. Carlos is going out with the guys tonight. I have nowhere else to be,” Avery said.

CHAPTER 22

Sam

Idon’t remember being this nervous for a date as I stood awkwardly outside Kelsey’s suite door. When Monica had checked in earlier and asked for a budget for Kelsey’s clothing, I had told her to give her the world, but if Kelsey saw a single price tag, I’d fire her ass. I wouldn’t, and she knew it, but the empty threat conveyed the importance. Kelsey and I were from two different worlds where money was involved, and I didn’t want to add to that wall between us.

My heart just about stopped when Kelsey came out of her bedroom, face flushed and wearing a dress that I swore was now my second favorite color—second only to the golden color of her eyes. I kept glancing down at her as we walked hand in hand to the car waiting at the front of our hotel.

I brushed off the driver and opened the car door for her, waiting until she was settled in her seat before circling the car and entering on the passenger side. Once seated, I offered my hand and relaxed as she slipped her tiny hand into mine.

“Where are we going?”

“I let Monica pick for us. It’s in St. Paul. She said the chef was known for incredible five-course tasting menus, but you can also order a-la-carte.”

Kelsey swallowed nervously, “I’m assuming they don’t have a Juicy Lucy on the menu?”

“If you want a burger, I’ll find you one.”

“No, I’m a foodie. I love everything from oysters to shitty, fried carnival food. Burgers have a time and place; I’m not risking getting a single drop of melted cheese on this dress. Speaking of dresses, thank you. I’m in love with it. I also don’t think Monica can return the rest of the dresses she sent over; all the tags were removed.”

Yep, Monica was getting a raise.

“I guess you’ll need to keep them.”

“That’s silly. I don’t have any place to wear those clothes.”

“I’d like you guys to come on the road with me. For all my away games, I’ll find plenty of places for you to wear them.”

Kelsey hesitated, “But what about my job? If I can’t earn money consistently, I won’t be able to pay my bills and save for school.”

“I realize that I’m asking you to leave a lot behind, and I think it would be more than fair for me to cover the cost of your education in return for you attending my games.”

I felt Kelsey stiffen and realized I’d pushed too hard, too fast. She gazed silently out the window and leveled me with a menacing glare. “I don’t want to be your employee.”

Fuck. Kelsey, as my employee, was the last thing I had considered. I saw her on my arm, in my bed. Yes, it was something I would never consider doing with an employee.

“I don’t want that either. Yeah, it seems like it’s transactional,but outside of school and the games, everything else is optional.”

“What is ‘everything else’?”

I stroked her hand with my thumb, “This, taking you out. Touching you, desiring you, maybe kissing you.” I looked at her expectantly, watching her gaze soften. “That’s entirely up to you. But know that I plan to pursue you whether or not you take the other deal.”

---