Page 3 of Lucky Baller
Jeremy and Autumn walk toward the tables, and I stare after them. “Did you have fun today?” I ask JJ.
“Daddy.” He points to where Jeremy and Autumn are filling their plates.
“Look.” I point up to the Jumbotron that has Jeremy’s smiling mug on display, trying to distract him. He’s daddy’s boythrough and through. Slowly, each member of the coaching staff gets their turn before it moves on to the players. Of course, the first player would be their starting quarterback, Landon Barker. His dark hair, those ocean blue eyes, and his cocky smirk are enlarged on the screen. I stare at him and take in his features. The hint of his dimple winking through his beard and the sparkle in his eyes. “Lucky Bastard,” I mumble under my breath. He was born with good genes that I’m sure has panties dropping all over Los Angeles—hell, all over the world if I’m honest.
“Maybe you should pull out your phone and take a picture,” a deep voice rumbles from over my shoulder. His hot breath dances across my skin.
Turning my head, I see Landon. “Nah, just comparing your stats to Holland’s. You’ve got some work to do.” I have no idea if what I just said is true. I love football, but I’m not one of those keep-all-the-stats kind of football fan. I’m more of a kick back, drink a beer, eat some wings, and yell at the TV kind of girl. Oh, and don’t forget the pants. I like to think of myself as a connoisseur of football pants. Not just the pants, but the asses that fill them. Trust me, ladies, if this is not something you’ve witnessed, tune in on Sunday afternoon and see for yourself. I promise that you won’t be disappointed.
“You’re something else, you know that?” There’s a smile playing on his lips, and part of me feels relieved I haven’t offended him, and the other part is irritated that I didn’t. It doesn’t make any sense, and I can’t believe I’m letting him have this kind of effect on me. “Why don’t—” he starts, but I step away from him when Autumn turns to wave at me.
I don’t stick around for whatever lewd comment I’m sure would have come out of his mouth. I’m not here to take part in a sparring match with the sexy quarterback. No, I’m here to support Jeremy and be the sidekick to my best friend. That’swhere my priorities lie today. One step after another, my feet carry me to Jeremy and Autumn.
“You hungry?” Autumn asks JJ as I set him in the chair beside her.
He doesn’t answer her but reaches for a piece of fruit from the plate she placed in front of him. “I’m going to go grab a plate. You guys need anything?”
“Maybe a few extra napkins.” Jeremy chuckles as he watches his son shove another handful of sticky fruit into his mouth.
“Got it.” Making my way to the tables filled with food, I’m impressed. I may be a Mavericks fan, but the Cougars obviously know how to go all out. Today has been fun. To see how the other side lives, bumping elbows with professional football players and their families. Sure, they’re not my team, but I can accept this day for what it is, which is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
“You know…” A deep, sexy voice appears beside me. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were trying to avoid me.”
“Look at you, hitting the nail on the head,” I say, dismissing him as I fill my plate. I’m not trying to be a bitch, not really. I just know what these guys are like. I see them in the tabloids with a different woman on their arm each time. I know they’re just living their best lives—a new woman to fill their bed in every city. I’m not judging. To each their own and all that. It’s just not me. I’m not about that. I don’t do casual, even for the sexy football god that is Landon Barker.
“Right,” he sniggers. “Look. I’m here for three more weeks, but maybe once training camp is over, we can have dinner.”
“Dinner? Is that what all the cool kids are calling it these days?”
He smirks.
Fucking dimple.
“No, thanks.”
“Come on, sweetheart, don’t leave me hanging.”
“First of all, my name is Tessa, and second, I don’t date players.” Not just football players, but men in general who look at dating as a sport. I’m not interested in all that or the STDs that come with it.
“Tessa.” His voice is deep and husky, and it sends a shiver through me. My body needs to get on board with the no-players thing.
I take my time as I finish filling my plate and grab a large stack of napkins before I turn to face him. He has the same pose as earlier—legs spread apart, arms folded across his chest, and all the sexiness that he is on full display. “Go out with me.”
“Thank you, but no.” With that, I turn and walk away. There is a very big part of me that wants to turn around and yell “SIKE” and ask him when and where, but as I get closer to the table where my friends are sitting, I remember why I don’t. Jeremy has JJ on his lap, and his head is bent as he places a kiss on Autumn’s shoulder. I want what they have, and dating the sexy Landon Barker isn’t going to get me any closer. I’m not naïve enough to think I can change him. A tiger doesn’t change its stripes, and that’s fine; I’m good with that. I just can’t bend my will and date him when I know it’s not going to go anywhere.
Taking my seat next to Autumn, I pass her the extra napkins. I focus on my food and my friends and try like hell to ignore my body’s reaction to Landon. I ignore the way I have to wiggle in my seat to ward off the desire that my body craves. I won’t deny he would be fun. Hell, I’m not even sure that fun describes what it would be like to be with Landon Barker. More like an out-of-body experience, and I’m sure it would be a moment I would never forget, but I also know me, and sex leads to feelings… and that would be tragic. As if my eyes are connected to him, they seek him out. I find him standing about fifteen feet away, laughing and cutting up with a few of the players, without a care in the world. He obviously isn’t having the same struggle I am.He’s not warring with himself over my rejection. He’s not trying to cool his body’s reaction to me.
Lucky Baller.
Chapter Two
Landon
It’s been a long three weeks of camp, but we’re ready. Both rookies and veterans are on point, and I can feel it. This is going to be another great season. The final whistle blows, and a collective cheer goes up among us. Mostly because we’re ready to get to our own beds, and for those who are married and have kids, home to their families. Me? I’m looking forward to my bed. It’s pillow-soft and exactly what I would imagine it feels like to sleep on clouds, and it’s calling my name. But first… “Baldwin, wait up,” I call to our new kicking coach, Jeremy Baldwin.
He stops and turns to look for whoever happens to be calling his name. I jog up to him and grin. “Can I ask for a favor?” I’ve been thinking nonstop about Tessa, and it kind of pisses me off. No other woman has managed to keep me on the hook this long. Then again, I’ve been tied up at training camp. It might also have a little something to do with the fact that she turned me down. Cold. That’s never happened to me. Not that I can remember. It’s also a little her. She’s a fucking knockout. Long, dark curly locks and green eyes I could get lost in. That’s if I let myself. I canimagine the way they would heat as I pushed inside her. I shift my stance, my cock already on board with my imagination.
“Depends,” he says with a laugh.
