Page 12 of Hot Stuff
Leaving Drake with Mischa, I stride from the conference room, head high, gaze straight ahead. I don’t want to make eye contact. The last thing I need is to have to lie to someone about why I’m here. I’d rather tell the team in person, or maybe I’ll send out a group text after I speak with Shelby.
Tomorrow.
Today I’m going to spend time with a woman who might just be my salvation.
My injury might have ended my dream, but it also might have given me a life.
I’m the first to admit I haven’t really thought about what I’d do when my playing career was over. Oakley stumped me earlier because what I told her was true.
I believed I’d play into my late thirties.
I’m twenty-nine in a month.
Ten years ahead of my plan.
Not that I’d really had a plan. Play, train, rinse, repeat—that’s the extent of my plan.
I blew more than my knees all those months ago. I scrambled my brain and blew up my life.
Or what there was of it.
Shit. My personal life was already in the toilet when I took that hit and that fiasco had only gotten worse.
Kristina had already been in my rearview mirror, not that she’d accepted we were over, and that’s when the real drama with her started. If I wasn’t already down, I’d kick myself for ever falling for her.
Then again, the only time I thought deeply about our relationship was when she brought it up.
I never thought about her when we weren’t together. Not like I did once I’d broken up with her and she wouldn’t leave me the hell alone, and none of those thoughts were with affection.
I’ve known Oakley James a grand total of seven hours and I’ve thought more about her than any other woman beside my sister.
Is it because I want to fuck her?
Or is it the lifeline she’s offering me with this new franchise?
Either would be fine. Except, I have a feeling it’s both.
How that will play out is yet to be determined. I still haven’t made my decision about the job…
And yet, I’m heading for her hotel to talk about it.
There isn’t really anything else to discuss. She gave me the bare bones of the deal. I just need to give her an answer.
Am I ready to do that? Or am I hoping I’ll get to shuck my pants in front of her again?
I need to work out what I’m doing before I see her.
I’m either heading to her hotel to talk about the Rogues or to strip her naked and fuck her against the nearest flat surface.
It amazes me that both those scenarios have an equal level of excitement fizzing through my veins.
Especially when sex hasn’t been on my mind at all in over a year.
One look at Oakley James and I’m a drooling Neanderthal unable to think about anything but my base needs.
Exiting the team offices, I pause on the sidewalk and look up.
The sky is still blue and still above my head.
