Page 14 of Offside and Off-Limits
I glance down at my bare, glistening chest, my towel wrapped low around my waist—not exactly the kind of attire that doesn’t attract attention. But it wasn’t like I planned this. Asher told me some guy wanted to talk with us, not Clara. And how was I to know everyone else would be dressed already?
I make my way to my locker and take my seat.
“Dude, did you know you're just in a towel?” Weston stage whispers to my left.
“Yeah, thanks, I got that,” I say back with a roll of my eyes.
“So, I'm looking for volunteers,” Clara says, and although I've got no idea what she wants volunteers for, I raise my hand along with Weston and Asher.
Despite my new leaf being turned here in Maple Falls, I’d like to spend some more time with this hot, gorgeous woman who doesn’t seem to like me—but who blushes at the sight of my bare chest.
Yeah, I kind of liked that.
Clara’s eyes glide over me once more as she lifts her lips into a smile. “Awesome. Thanks, guys. Stay behind and we can chat about the campaign, okay?”
“You got it,” Asher responds.
“Campaign?” I say under my breath to Weston.
“Social media. Weren't you listening? No, wait, you were stillin the shower getting close and personal with a bar of soap,” he replies with a smirk.
“Whatever,” I say, returning my attention to Clara, a much prettier prospect than my teammate.
Man, she’s so pretty in a total girl-next-door kind of way, with her porcelain skin and full lips. She’s not in her mom outfit today, but rather something more professional: a pencil skirt that does everything for her curvaceous hips, and a pale blue cotton shirt that enhances the blue of her eyes. Her blonde hair is tied up in a low bun, and I can't help but imagine loosening her hair to see it fall in soft waves, like the way she looked at the bookstore.
Geez, stop.
I can't go thinking about her in that way. I'm here to clean up my rep, get a new start as the man I want to be. And what do I do? Start fantasizing about the first girl I’ve met.
“Thank you, Ms. Johnson. I'm sure all the guys will help you out with these campaigns over the coming weeks and months,” Coach Hauser says. “Isn't that right, men?”
“Yes, Coach,” I say along with the rest of the team.
“You’re free to go. Back here seven sharp tomorrow,” Coach says.
And then the guys start to collect their things and leave, and I throw on a pair of jeans, and a T-shirt, ready to meet with Clara and the other two in the players’ lounge, adjacent to the locker room.
A couple of the guys are already in there watching some old footage of a game, so the four of us sit at the other end of the room on some comfy sofas by the coffee machine.
Clara’s back is as straight as a rod, her hands clasped on her lap, and I wonder if she’s nervous. “First of all, thank you all for volunteering for this campaign. Everyone on the team will get the chance to work on one or more of these, but it’s great to start small with just the three of you.”
“Sure thing, Ms. Johnson. Anything you want,” Weston says with a grin.
“Yeah, we got you,” Asher adds.
“That’s great, guys. Please call me Clara. I’m probably about your age and I’m new at all this. So…yeah.” She lifts her lips in a smile.
Yup, definitely nervous.
“You're Asher Tremblay,” she says, pointing at him. “And you’re Weston Smith.”
“That’s right. You’re a quick study.” Asher flashes her a smile, and I'm not sure if he's interested in Clara or he just likes everybody.
“And I'm Cade Lennox,” I add when she doesn't refer to me. “Even though you already know that since we’ve already met.”
“Wait, what?” Weston asks, his gaze darting between us.
“Yeah, we go way back. Right, Clara?” I say, throwing her a wink.
