Page 17 of Overtime
And like it’s an entrance announcement, Colt’s in the room a second later looking just as sweaty and wet—his shirt plastered to his chest, his hair wet and slicked back, his cheeks flushed. He looks like he just had a marathon sex session. Flashbacks of him in my bed years ago come flooding back, and him sliding his hand between my thighs in the shed come right on its heels. I really don’t need to be seeing this. Even in my imagination. It’s going to destroy what little self-control I have left.
He nods at me and Violet briefly. “Mind if I get a glass of water?”
“Of course. Go ahead. There are some electrolyte packets in there too if you want them.” Violet points to the drawer.
“So what about us on a date?” Ben asks.
“I have those tickets to that event at the aquarium. Part of the membership thing we got for donating, remember? I was about to call to see where you were. We’ll have to hurry up and get ready if we’re gonna make it. I thought if we were going to be downtown, we could go out for dinner. Joss is worried about being a third wheel though.”
“Colt could go. We’ve got four tickets, don’t we?”
My eyes lift to Ben’s, and I see the devious grin on his face. I raise an eyebrow at him before I let myself look briefly—so very briefly—at Colt. His back is turned though, and I can’t read his reaction.
“Colt?”
“Hmm?” He looks at Ben.
“You want to go to the aquarium and then dinner? We could see if we can get in at that one place with the cheesy fried rice ball things. God that sounds so fucking good after this run. If you’re up for it, I mean.”
I don’t know what Ben is up to, but he’s about to get kicked in the shins if he’s not careful. I glare at him, but he just ignores me.
“Uhh… how soon are you going? I need a shower.” Colt turns finally and waves his hand over his sweaty appearance.
“You could take a shower here. Guest shower’s open,” Violet offers.
This devious bitch. I can’t glare now because he’d see.
“I have clothes in the car, but are you sure? I don’t want to be in the way.”
“Definitely not in the way. Then Joss doesn’t have to worry about feeling weird either,” Ben says as he heads down the hall for his own shower.
“It’ll be perfect. Please, Colt?” Violet gives him an endearing look, and as the defacto mother of this little group they have, I can see him look at her and then fall into line.
“All right. As long as I can use your shower.”
“Definitely. Joss, could you get him some towels out of the guest closet?”
“Sure.” I plaster on a smile, hoping she sees how much she’s going to pay for this in my eyes.
“Thanks!” She just grins at me pleasantly.
“All right. Grabbing clothes and I’ll try to hurry,” I hear Colt say as he walks away.
I grumble to myself as I walk down the hall and into the guest room, opening the closet to pull out a couple of towels for him.
“Hey Betty,” I say, using the nickname I’ve given my phone assistant. “Text Violet ‘Colt, oh please go with us on this double date. Please use our shower, Colt. Please strip down naked just across the hall from Joss. Because she doesn’t already have self-control problems when it comes to him. Let’s torture her. You and your meddlesome husband are lucky I love you as much as I do!’ Send text, Betty.”
I hear the phone mumble a response back in my pocket, and I close the closet behind me, walking the towels back to the guest bath. And of course, I’m not paying attention, so I nearly collide with the sweaty six-foot-four quarterback who somehow still manages to smell amazing despite his state.
“Sorry. Wasn’t watching. Here are some towels.” I hold them out.
“Thanks.” He gives me a small smile.
“Yep.” I turn and make a beeline for my room because the last thing I need to do is spend any time alone with him. I hear him shut the door to the bathroom, and I feel some relief that there’s at least that barrier between us again. I have no idea how the hell I was going to survive this trip if I was going to have to see this man around every corner in addition to photographing him naked. Assuming I could convince him to do that. First, I have to find the courage to pose naked under this kind of pressure.
When I get back into the bedroom to change into something to wear out tonight, I pull my phone out to see if my traitorous friend has responded. When I see nothing, I click my tongue. Thinks she can just ignore me. I see how it is. I pull up the window to text her again and my heart sinks. Because the last text sent is to Colt.
I feel sick. I flip it open praying that I did not do what I think I did.
