AidenThe sun’s down by the time we leave evening meetings. It’s been a long first day and things will grow tougher from here. I head to my apartment for dinner and my bed. Carma will have something waiting for me. She’s my housekeeper, primary cook, and shopper. She does all the things my mom made me do myself when I was at home. That’s why I love Carma so much. She doesn’t mind taking care of a man who is more than capable of taking care of himself. She’s in her sixties or I might consider marriage just to lock her into the position.The elevator takes me to the tenth floor. There are two large apartments on this floor. A banker owns the other and we occasionally pass in the corridor with a brief hello. I’m new money and he’s old. He’s rarely here and only uses the apartment to stash his latest girlfriend. I figure his wife is fully aware he’s a cheating douche. Not my problem if she isn’t.When it’s time to finally settle down, I want a relationship like my mom and Ty. Until then,
AidenJordan also takes a bite. She closes her eyes as she slowly chews. She’s not wearing lipstick, but that doesn’t detract from the sensuality of her lips. She slowly opens her eyes and puts another bite on her fork. “Lane is helping me on that score. We’ve got this covered,” she says after swallowing.I make a low, deep sound in my throat and my fingers tighten on my fork. I’m surprised the damn thing doesn’t bend in half. So this is what jealousy feels like. “Lane, huh?” I ask in a deceptively mild tone.“Yeah. You know, the punter?” Her mouth opens and she slips the fork between her lips again. She licks her bottom lip after swallowing the bite and I almost come in my pants. I swear she’s driving me crazy on purpose.“I know who Lane is.” The words slip out much harsher than I planned to let on and Jordan misses nothing.She gives me a closed mouth grin and chews another bite. Very daintily, she wipes her mouth. Hell, I’m fascinated with everything to do with this woman’s lips.
JordanAiden Patrickson is the most aggravating human being alive. He has a strong mother and two strong sisters and he still can’t get over the realization that a woman can possibly play football.I sink back against the couch cushions when the door closes behind his amazing ass. Today’s practice wore me out physically and emotionally. Aiden showing up with dinner doesn’t help. Aiden might be fucking gorgeous but he’s also a class “A” dick.After a long sigh into my clasped hands, I go to bed. Tomorrow will be rougher than today and since I didn’t manage sleep last night, I really need to catch a break tonight. I toss and turn for about an hour and then exhaustion wins out and I fall into a deep sleep.My alarm goes off long before sunrise. I splash water on my face and pull on my running clothes and shoes. I decide not to risk the chance that Aiden is waiting for me at the side door and head straight to the front lobby. It’s too early for the media to be here, which is a relief. The
JordanHe’s being a goof and when he winks at me, I go back to being comfortable with him. “One ass slap after a field goal or extra point is in our rulebook.”“The other players have no idea what they’re missing.”“We’ll keep it that way.” We banter until we reach the restaurant. Lane comes around the car and helps me out.“This will be good for the team,” he assures me. “You need to see them when they let loose a little and they need to see you in the same light.” He takes my hand and gives it a gentle squeeze before releasing it. He opens the restaurant door and we enter Dominque’s Grill. A section in the back is sectioned off for the team. From the sounds coming from their direction, the drinks are flowing freely.This is a team-only dinner—no family, wives, or girlfriends. This could be the first time a woman has desecrated their season kickoff party. We enter the back area and several players toss out hellos to Lane. Besides the long stares at my body and a few whistles, I’m ign
AidenThe two ibuprofen I swallowed last night have zero effect on my pounding head when I wake up. It’s pitch dark in the room because of the blackout curtains, and I slam my hand down on the nightstand trying to find my phone and turn off the loud and insistent alarm.“Fuck.”Once the sound stops, I turn on the bedside light, squinting into the room with a groan. The bus leaves in forty-five minutes. Thank God I’m packed and ready to go. I take a quick shower, pull on board shorts and a T-shirt, and grab a protein bar on my way out of the apartment. The entire time I’m heading to the bus, small glimpses of my drunk-fest last night flash through my head.I drink a few beers here and there and don’t usually go overboard. I have no idea what got into me last night. My lack of enthusiasm for this coming season and my desire for a sexy little kicker could have something to do with it.I should have left the party early like I originally planned. Seeing Jordan all buddy-buddy with Lane fl
JordanI managed some sleep and feel like a new person. I was just too exhausted to search out dinner and my brain needed the downtime. Luckily, I’m one of the few players without a roomie. Being the only female has its perks.A bus will transport us to the practice field at seven-fifteen sharp. It’s already hot outside when I head to the hotel lobby for a quick breakfast before leaving. I jump on the bus with a bottle of water and apple that’s half eaten. Most of the players are on board and I’m relieved when I don’t see Aiden. I assume he is on the other bus. I take one of two free seats up front and Lane joins me a few minutes later. He looks rested too. Nervous energy is in the air during the short bus ride.Lane doesn’t say more than a quick hello. I watch the scenery closely on the way to the practice field. Rolling white sand dunes surround the stadium that we’ll be calling home for the next three weeks.The stadium isn’t as large as our home turf, but it has the necessities an
AidenThe look on her face pushes my cock harder against the zipper of my shorts. Her eyes are closed and her beautiful lips partially open in ecstasy. I’ve accomplished everything I set out to do this evening.“You’re not into him, are you?” I ask as I run my fingers along her calf.“Into whom?” she moans.Whom, I love it. “Lane,” I clarify.“Is that what this is about?” She peels open her eyes and gives me a glare. I dig into a small ball of muscle and her eyes close again.I change the subject. “If Kelson becomes a problem, at least talk to Morely. If I hear through the grapevine that you’re putting up with shit and not reporting it, I’ll handle it myself.”“You will, will you?” She doesn’t bother opening her eyes this time.My fingers dig in and travel farther up her leg. She smells heavenly. Once I’ve reached the stopping point, I skim my fingers across the crotch of her shorts. Her eyes pop open and I lean up and kiss her. Her moan into my mouth is better than the others combine
JordanI never imagined in a million years that this many girls would show up at the airport, and it fills my heart to near capacity. Larry being here is another plus. He sent me a text about the fans with pink footballs waiting for me. I didn’t receive it until we landed, so I had no time to mentally prepare.Eventually, the crowd dwindles and I’m able to autograph the last few balls. I give Larry a quick squeeze before joining the team on the waiting bus.“Fan club finally thin out?” one of the players asks when I board.For the most part, the players ignore me, so I’m surprised there’s no animosity in the words. I offer a faint grin and move to the empty seat beside Lane. He puts his arm up. “No big heads allowed in this section. You might want to move to the back.”I bat his hand away and sit down. “This big head needed relief from first-game jitters. Now I feel better and oh so popular.”“Pink footballs are something I never thought I’d see.”A voice from behind us adds, “Yeah. W
I hid in Italy for three weeks. Greg came with me and kicked my ass on the court. He actually made a great practice partner. I was back to clean eating and drinking only water. It surprised me when Greg brought a bottle of wine to my room one night. “What’s this for?” I asked when he gave me one of his golly-gee smiles. Greg was cute. And, married to a lovely woman who worshipped him. “I’ve been your coach for three months now and I have no idea what makes you tick. It’s time for a come to daddy talk. Or in your case, come to coach. I figured the alcohol might make it easier.” “You’ll need more than one bottle,” I told him. He came back to my room ten minutes later with two more bottles in his hands. “Does your wife know you’re getting drunk with a slutty tennis star tonight?” I smiled to take the sting out of calling myself a slut. “She suggested it. We’ve had many long conversations about you.” “How romantic.” He poured our first glasses and tilted the edge of his glass against
I never returned to the hospital, which was entirely unfair of me. My anger at my father carried over to Brack. I was horrible. The man I loved hadn’t fully recovered and I left him at the hospital alone. Okay, he had his parents and his team. But, bottom line—I was horrible and a coward. I ignored the calls from Brack and my father. Again… coward.I needed complete control of my life. It took me two weeks to come up with a plan. During those two weeks, I hired a new coach and trained until I could barely walk. I trained with a purpose. I’d had my own money. Not just from tennis but from my mother. I’d never used it. That was the way I punished her and myself. Now, for the first time, I paid for my own coach.I liked him. I could actually smile over the fact that my father paid for Jerry all those years while the two of them hated each other. Greg, my new coach, kicked my ass. I had no idea if I had a chance this season. But, winning the Grand Slam was in my peripheral vision and not
Two days later, the doctors discontinued the medication that kept Brack in a coma. My father showed up the morning after surgery and made me go home, shower, and change clothes. Brack’s parents were staying in shifts. His mom promised she wouldn’t leave his side until I returned. I hadn’t really spoken to them. We stayed relatively quiet in Brack’s room. I whispered encouragement and told him I was there. They gave us privacy, too. That’s when I told him I loved him. Again and again, I whispered the words.My father and Senator Jacobs were cordial. Brack’s mother treated my dad like a family friend. Apparently she’d been friends with my mom. I tried not to think about the ramifications of our two families tied together through me and Brack. It was too much to take right now.Brack still had the ventilator. The doctor reviewed best and worst case scenarios with us. I refused to listen to brain damage, paralysis, learning to walk and talk again, and so on. My focus was full recovery. I
Four hours later, I was passed out against Mack’s shoulder when his cell rang. My brain registered the noise and I was pulled quickly from sleep.“Yeah,” he answered quietly. He listened for several minutes before responding. “I have her here with me. We’ll be there in a minute.” He slid his phone back in his pocket and looked at me. “He’s in recovery. It was touch and go, but he pulled through. They have him in a sedated coma. He has a stent in his skull to relieve swelling. The doctor told his parents he came to before surgery and demanded to see you. His mom wants you up there if you think you can handle it.”I was up and walking out of the emergency room before he finished, my heart pounding a hundred miles an hour. “What floor? I’m not waiting for you to waddle behind me.”Snickers came from several of the guys. “I’ve got her,” Molly said.“Second floor.”The elevator took so long I almost turned to the stairs. I’d do anything to get to him. Brack asked for me and I had to see hi
I ran toward Brack, who had fallen to the floor. There was so much blood and I tried wiping it off his face. My hands turned dark red.“You did it, baby,” he whispered before his body went completely limp.Sander and a woman who must be Molly ran into the enclosure with guns drawn. I could barely hear them. Echoed gunshots continued ringing in my ears.“Call an ambulance and please someone check on my father. He’s in the van,” I said as I held Brack’s head in my lap. Blood soaked my panties and covered my legs. Head wounds bleed, I kept saying to myself. Sander practically jumped over us and went straight to Ty’s body. He turned back when he had assured himself Ty was no longer a threat.“Where were you?” I asked softly. I didn’t want Brack to hear me yelling at his team.Sander sat down next to me and took Brack’s arm checking his pulse. “The bastard used some kind of scrambler. It took us a while to figure out the van didn’t leave the premises. We recovered the phones. Brack had a t
Kids laughed. A mother scolded a young child for attempting to go under the bar and get closer to one of the cages. Brack and I stood in the center of the primate exhibit. My phone chirped. It didn’t startle me this time; I was too numb. “Yes.”“Walk over to the primate exhibit sign and you’ll find another cell phone behind it. Exchange it for the one you’re using. Have Mr. Jacobs leave his phone behind, too.”Brack followed me to the sign and I did exactly as told. The phone was there. I picked it up and lay mine down. “He said to leave yours, too.” Brack took his from his jeans pocket and placed it beside mine. Thankfully, no one paid attention to us. I had no idea what we needed to do next. The phone in my hand vibrated. This time I clicked the call button without saying a word.“Go to your left and keep walking on the path. Did you bring my present?” I carried a bag with the dress inside so both of Brack’s arms would be free. He carried a gun in a hidden leg holster.“Yes, it’s in
The inside of my father’s home was a crime scene. We sat on the couch in the front room away from the forensic team that arrived a few minutes before. The media camped at the gates added to the growing chaos.Even knowing Ty would eventually call, I jumped when my cell phone chirped. The display read “Unknown.” My fingers trembled as I picked it up and answered, “Hello, Ty, or should I call you Leo?”His husky laugh sent goose bumps across my arms. “I told you not to call the police. You wouldn’t listen and you’ll pay for disobedience.”My voice remained steady. “It wasn’t me. You killed your mother, so what exactly did you expect? She worked for my dad for over thirty years. One plus one equals two, Leo.” Fuller and Brack told me not to push him too hard. I had to make him believe I hadn’t gone to the police, though.“My mother had cancer and it was eating away at her. I did her a favor. She didn’t walk in God’s light. By making her repent and then killing her God may show mercy.”He
My heart stopped. Dread and terror filled me. Colors danced before my eyes making it hard to see. The whoosh of blood traveling into my head made it hard to hear. I had to get control of myself. I gulped in air. “You goddamn son of a bitch. If you hurt my father I’ll kill you.”“He that blasphemeth the name of the LORD shall be put to death and stoned. Remember that when you feel the pain of my hand, Olivia.”Brack startled me by gathering me close and placing his head against mine so we both listened. “Where’s my father?” I demanded.“That’s better. I have instructions for you, Olivia. You will follow them to the letter. Please bring that man with you. The one you’ve been with lately.” His voice took on an eerie quality. “If a man commits adultery with another man's wife, both the man and the woman must be put to death.” He breathed heavily and then gave a sadistic laugh. “You may choose your father or lover to pay for your sins. One shall die and the other walks away.”“But…”He lau
I don’t know what I expected love to be like. Violins playing, little cupids flying around with bow and arrows, hell maybe just cuddles in bed for hours. That wasn’t what happened the following morning. Brack paced across the carpet of my living room with his cell to his ear listening to one of his men on the other end. He cast a glance or two my way. I could tell before the call ended that he would try his non-communication shit with me again.I was right.“What’s the news?” I asked the second he lowered the phone.He came over and sat beside me. “Nothing to worry about.”I gave him my I’m-about-to-slam-you-with-a-tennis-racquet look. “Bullshit.” I was beginning to notice his tells. The fingers traveling through his hair was a sign that he didn’t want to enlighten me. I waited.He breathed out a slow and steady breath of air. “Mack didn’t see his attacker, but he heard him before he lost consciousness.”My heartbeat accelerated. “Okay. Spill it.”“Mack told Herman that most of it was