Page 47 of A Little Crush
“Cat got your tongue, Coach Thorne?” she quips.
The sass makes my dick harden even more, and I shift forward, resting my elbows on the table separating us. “It says you trust me.”
“I do trust you.”
And maybe you shouldn’t, a small voice whispers in the back of my mind. Somehow, it manages to cut through the light buzz from the alcohol, though it’s not enough to sober me. Instead, it only spurs me on.
Oblivious, she takes another sip of her drink, adding, “Actually, I trust you won’t touch me so much that I’d bet a thousand dollars I could be lying on this table, naked, and you wouldn’t even steal a peek.” She takes a long pull of her drink then licks the moisture clinging to her lips. “Isn’t that right, Mr. Goody Two-shoes?”
“Pretty sure your boyfriend would kill me if I did anything else.”
“Pretty sure you’re using him as an excuse, but don’t worry. My ego’s already been battered by you before.”
Frustration surges through me at the reminder of that fucked up night. She’s never gonna let either of us live itdown despite already admitting I did the right thing. I guess it doesn’t take away the sting of rejection. If only she knew how disconnected the little kid she used to be is to the woman sitting in front of me. Hell, sometimes I forget they’re the same person until she orders a lemon drop martini and I’m reminded of how much she was obsessed with all things sour. Maybe that’s the problem. Maybe she still sees herself the same way. As a shy, innocent little girl who simply wanted to share her first kiss with someone she trusted. Someone she loved.
“Pretty sure you’re not an innocent kid anymore,” I tell her.
“Pretty sure you’ll always see me as a kid.”
“Pretty sure I haven’t seen you as a kid since the moment I recognized you in the swimming pool.” I don’t mean to say it. Fuck, I shouldn’t have said it. Shouldn’t have blurred the line between friends and…how fucking gorgeous I think she is now that she’s all grown up. But it’s too late. The confession hangs heavy between us as her eyes fall to my mouth. The air charges, leaving the hair along my arms standing on end. I could backpedal. Say it was a joke. Say anything at all to break the tension.
“Pretty sure I’ve had enough to drink for one night.” Clearing her throat, she tucks her hair behind her ear. “I’m going to, uh, I’m going to hire a Lift, and, uh, if you could make sure your assistant sends me your itinerary, that would be great. I’ll be where you need me to be.” She stands but loses her balance at the last second before her hand grapples for the edge of the table. Once her footing is solid again, she slips her purse back onto her shoulder and rubs her lips together, forcing herself to give me a final look. “Thanks again for the drinks.”
Then, she walks away.
17
RORY
So, Poppy is adorable, and watching Jaxon in his element is strangely…hot. I don’t bother trying to tell myself any different as he crosses his arms at the bench, ordering Reeves to cut sharper. They’ve been doing drills for at least the past thirty minutes. At first, Poppy was somewhat invested, though she fell asleep a few minutes ago and is curled up in my arms while Hades rests his head on the top of my foot, proving he’s as equally exhausted as Poppy. I guess a long walk through the park will do that to a dog. Sweat drips down the players’ temples, and one of them lifts the hem of his jersey to wipe at his face, showcasing one of the most toned sets of abs I’ve ever seen in my entire life. Hell, they’re chiseled enough to rival Dodger’s, which is saying something.
“Seems you’re a little out of shape, Crowther,” Jax calls, but the rest of the team only laughs.
Crowther’s a rookie this year, brought up from the AHL. My dad’s gushed more than once about how excited he is to see what the guy brings to the Lions’ roster this year. And from a completely unbiased yet feminine viewpoint, I haveno doubt his pretty face will fill more than a few seats this season. Seeing him mesh well with the rest of the team is an added bonus.
“All right, hit the showers,” Jaxon announces. “Good work today.”
As most of the team heads down to the locker room, Jaxon opens the glass partition and takes the stairs two at a time up to where I’m sitting with Poppy and Hades in the stands.
Hades lifts his head, keeping himself between me and whoever’s approaching, though when he sees who the footsteps belong to, he swishes his tail and lies back down.
“Hey, Hades,” Jaxon murmurs before he takes the open seat next to me. “How is she?”
Tilting the sleeping baby in my arms toward him, I answer, “Out like a light.”
With a soft smile, he drags his fingertips along the swell of her cheek, then looks at me. “And how are you?”
“Good. And impressed,” I add, motioning toward the ice. “You guys are not quiet, and Poppy still managed to fall asleep with all the chaos.”
“Yeah, she’s a pretty heavy sleeper so far.”
I smile down at the baby in my arms, taking in her pouty lips as she lets out a quiet sigh. “I hope it’s all right we came. I know I didn’t give you a heads-up?—”
“You know you’re always welcome.” He leans closer and peeks at his baby girl again. “Besides, it’s probably good to keep exposing her to the chaos, don’t you think?”
“It’s why we’re here.” I grin. “My mom says they did the same thing with me, brought me to all the games and even some practices whenever my dad was checking in. Although from the horror stories my mom tells me, I never learned to sleep like the dead, unlike this little one.”
“Nah, you bawled the whole time unless your mom was holding you,” Jaxon offers.
