Page 11 of Go Deep (A Bad Boy Sports Romance)
After running through a few more routines with my partner, it was time to call it a day. Slade waited patiently on the sidelines, eyes trained on me right until the last drill ended. When it was done, he came and sat beside my bag just before I got to it.
“Anything I can help you with? Or is this the painful reminder gloat that you got your way with Dr. Taylor this morning?”
“Maybe both. Or maybe I was admiring the view,” he said with a raised eyebrow.
I looked back at the rest of the cheerleaders. “Anyone I can help you with?”
“For me? I don’t need help in that department.”
Wasn’t that the truth.
I threw on a t-shirt over my sports bra and picked up my bag. “Well, which one? Maybe I can set you up.”
He grinned. That was the look he’d always get when he was in search of some shit to stir up. “That’s not why I came over here.”
Miranda came over and quickly picked up her things. “I’ll see you back at the dorm, Cass,” she said, heading off. “Good work out there, Slade.”
“Yeah, thanks,” he absently answered without looking away from me. Why was he acting this way all of a sudden? And why was it that all his staring made my cheeks heat and my heart race? I couldn’t believe my own body betrayed me like this. It had been years since he had this kind of effect on me.
“Just tell me what it is you want, Slade. I’ve got things to do.”
“I was thinking a study date.”
“For what?”
“You and I need to get together and get a handle on this project, remember?” I tried not to groan and roll my eyes. I knew what would happen if I agreed to any kind of date with him, study or other. “I was thinking my place,” he added, his voice heavy with the suggestion of what would happen there if I agreed to it.
“Absolutely not.”
“We still have to meet.”
“You know, it’s good you brought this up. I have a proposal for you.”
Slade took a step closer. “Really. What did you have in mind?”
I put my hand on his chest, trying to get him out of my personal space. The big guy was immovable, firm, solid, with heat radiating from his body. Christ, I needed some distance between us. Taking a step back instead, I told him, “I think I can handle this project for both of us.”
He cocked his head, confused. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, I’ll take care of everything and you can get your name on the end product. It’ll be easier that way.”
“What? Why would I do something like that?” He studied me, as though the answer was somewhere on my forehead. “Wait. You’ve got to be confusing me with someone else, Cassidy. I pull my own weight. Always. Besides, why would I let you do all the work when we can put our heads together and have a better end product?”
“Our heads, huh? Pffft. Sure.” I’m sure he wanted more than just our heads to get together. “Okay forget it. We’ll get it done as a team. Just don’t expect me to enjoy any part of it. So for this project meeting, let me think…”
I needed it to be somewhere neutral. I couldn’t suggest my dorm room, either. He’d definitely make a move, and if Miranda happened to be around, she would probably maul him or something.
“Let’s just do the library or the cafeteria. We can meet up there tomorrow afternoon.”
“We’ve both got practice,” he reminded me. “After practice is better. Like after seven.”
“No, definitely not. I was talking about before practice. Early afternoon, tomorrow, at the library. I’ll be there, whether you show up or not.” I decided not to be like other girls with him. I wasn’t going to let him walk all over me. I’d stand my ground and bend him to my will, or die trying. “If push comes to shove, Slade, I’ll just get it done. You can review everything along the way if your schedule’s too busy to fit this in.”
He looked at me like I was being stubborn. Well, just because every other girl went along with whatever he said all the time didn’t mean I was about to toe the line. He’d figure that out now that we were forced to work together.
“Okay. Deal,” he said. “Now, how about I give you a ride home?”
“I know how to find my way there,” I told him, walking off before he could push the issue.
