Page 61 of Thunderstruck
“Fine. I get it. But…” I swallow and strangle the strap of my bag. “I really don’t like the dark. At all.”
Something touches me and I shriek, only to be tugged off balance and into a solid chest. “It’s just me,” Cole says softly. “Sorry.”
I don’t care how sweaty he is. I wrap my arms around his torso and grip the back of his jersey. Kit? I think it’s called a kit. It’s surprisingly tight on his body, but I hold on to it anyway.
“I’m sorry,” Cole says again, and his arms wrap me up in a protective hold, just like he did on the field. His hands are warm on my back as he envelops me, and it feels so nice to be in his arms that I start to panic about how much I want this. How much I wanthim.
How did that happen?
“Cole?” I whisper into his firm chest.
“Hmm?”
“You smell terrible.”
He laughs and tries to pull away, but I hold on tight. This could be my last chance to be held by him because I can’t let myself fall for this man. I have to stay focused on my job and make a new career for myself. It’sas much about avoiding Cole’s very public life as it is building a rapport with the team so they trust me to look after them.
“I know,” Cole says, and I realize with horror that I was speaking my thoughts out loud. “This can’t happen.”
“Because of your curse?” I ask.
His hold tightens. “Yes. But also…the guys are all hoping for a shot with you, and if they hate me now…”
I tilt my head back, trying to see his face in the darkness. I can’t see much, but I can tell he’s looking down at me. “Are you trying to say they’d be jealous of you if we started dating?” A chill runs through me at the thought, and it’s probably a sign that I have a serious problem.
Cole’s hand moves up my back to my neck, then around to my jaw. “You have no idea,” he murmurs. “Which is why this is a very bad idea.”
“What’s a bad idea?” I murmur back because I can’t tell if he’s leaning in to kiss me and I would very much like him to do that.
“Everything when it comes to you.”
His nose brushes mine at the same time my phone starts ringing in my bag. He’s instantly gone, leaving me breathless as I dig into my bag to silence the stupid interruption before someone hears. But when I see that it’s Darcy calling, I figure I should probably answer it.
“Hey.”
“Don’t youheyme, Carissa Lynn Paxton! What is this about you and Cole Evanson? Is any of this article true?” She’s so loud that Cole snickers, probably hearing every word.
I heave a sigh, wishing I had saved this conversation for when I was alone. “Are you going to shout at me this whole time?” I ask calmly.
Darcy scoffs. “That depends on the answers to my questions. Tell me you’re not hooking up with one of the players.”
“I’m not hooking up with any of the players, Darce. Would you relax?”
Cole coughs.
I reach forward to smack him, but he catches my hand and presses it between both of his, pulling me close again. Even if he can’t see my expression, I glare at him. “This is not a game we should play,” I whisper, shivering when he chuckles.
“What?” Darcy says. “Are you with someone? Are you withCole?”
“I’m not dating Cole!”
“You’d better not be.”
I frown, momentarily distracted from the warmth of Cole’s hands. I can almost see him now as my eyes adjust. “What does that mean? What do you have against Cole?”
Darcy scoffs again. “He’s a professional athlete, Rizzo.”
“And?”
