LARRY SAID I aced the press conference. He had no idea what was going on inside my brain or should I say-sex organs. Sitting next to Aiden Patrickson was a lesson in unfulfilled desire. The man smells. His pores leak some kind of pheromone that grabs your insides, twists, and lights them on fire. Who knew? Most definitely not me. Whatever he bathes in, sprays on, or shampoos with is one hundred percent nuclear. All I could think about was licking him to see if he tasted as good as he smelled. He might have actually helped with the press conference because the butterflies disappeared as soon as I inhaled him.I'm standing in a toilet stall inside the arena with only a few minutes to spare, and what am I doing? I'm using my phone to Google Aiden Patrickson to see if he sponsors a cologne line. Why, might you ask? Because I'm ordering a case of the stuff and demanding any man I date wear the stuff twenty-four-seven.I have a whirlwind schedule in front of me and I can't get Aiden Patric
SHE'S AS COOL as a wide receiver on a Hail Mary pass into the end zone with no one around for miles. I just don't buy it. Before we entered the locker room and were waiting on Givens to come out of the ladies' room, her agent pulled me aside."I have something I want you to read. Keep it to yourself and take a look when you have time. Jordan tricked her way into my office. These are a copy of the papers she gave me," he said as he handed the folded sheets to me. "This is why I signed her as a client. Read them and give her a chance on the field." His jaw tightened. "She's earned it." He walked away and I stuffed the papers in my pocket.Right now I'm lifting weights and thinking about the pages he gave me. They're sitting in my locker unread. I'll look at them tonight."This is shit, you know that, right?" It's Randy Byer, one of the best fullbacks in the league. The problem is you wouldn't know it by the way he's played the past three years."I won't deny it," I answer after lower
I SURVIVED THE early morning show bedlam and answered the same ten questions three times in a matter of hours. I even signed a few autographs, which threw me for a loop. Larry stayed by my side up until we returned to the airport for our flight back to Albuquerque and his cell phone rang. One of his star athletes had a crisis and Larry changed his flight and left me on my own.I send off a quick text message to my college coach saying I'll call once I'm settled. I do the same for my dad and promise to call him tomorrow. I press speed dial for Reg."Holy shit, sister, I can't believe you've kept this from me." He's called me sister since he hooked up with Laura and discovered it was serious. To some, his use of the word might seem weird. But even when we had our friends with benefits relationship, we both knew we made better friends than lovers. It was only a matter of time before one of us found someone. Thank God it wasn't me."Let me talk to her, you phone hoarder," I hear Laura d
The call ends and I actually sigh. "This isn't a date, this isn't a date," I recite as I head to the bathroom. If it was a date I couldn't go. The fact that Aiden's speaking to me in a civil voice could go down as the first miracle of the season. Yeah, I'm reading way too much into this and I need to stop.I take a run to work off my nervous energy and find myself at the stadium gym. I show my ID and the guard lets me inside. He also gives me directions. After a couple of wrong turns, I find the gym."Oh my heck," I whisper when I look around. It's amazing, and the athletic smell of sweat I expected in the locker room is alive and well here. It does something to my insides. The odor may be repugnant to others, but for me it's like coming home.A couple of players walk in while I'm lifting weights. They don't appear happy to see me. "Good morning," I offer. One grunts and the other gives a quick "Hey" and then they both ignore me. Really there isn't much that could destroy my good mo
SHE LEAVES ME unbalanced, which doesn't happen often. She's so damn beautiful in a non-conforming kind of way. It's like she's unpolished and rough around the edges. It makes her sexy as hell. There have been a lot of women since I went pro but none has had this effect on me. I do my best to pay attention to the road so I don't drive on top of another car when she wiggles a bit and brings her lipstick out of her back pocket. This time it's bright pink. I use the truck's brake a little too forcefully at the light. She glances at me before pulling down the visor and flipping up the mirror.Christ.I'm heading to my mother's house with a hard dick. Music. We need music. I hit the button on the steering wheel and Hank Williams Jr. fills the cab."Who's this?" she asks after running the tip of the lipstick across her sexy mouth.That question deserves the quick "you've got to be kidding me" glance I give her. "Who do you listen to?" I ask without answering her ridiculousness."My favor
I walk to the fridge and grab four beers. "Want one?" I ask while plotting a way to kill my sister when no one is looking."Sure," Jordan replies and winks at my sister."I'll take one too," Candice chimes in with her serious voice but she doesn't fool anyone."Over my dead body," I grumble and hand beers to Jordan, Steph, and Ty.My mom heads into the kitchen as she is more than accustomed to the ongoing verbal jousting between me and Candice. She pulls out a large bowl of homemade bread dough and begins making dinner rolls. "I won't ask the same questions as the media, so tell us about yourself, Jordan," Mom requests.Candice responds before Jordan speaks. "I couldn't find your college stats on the internet. It sucks that community colleges don't post like they should."Jordan wiggles a bit and slips her phone from her back pocket. She scrolls through a few things and hands the phone to my sister. "Here are my stats." Candice takes the phone, sits down at the table, and goes in
I CAST A stricken look at Pamela, Aiden's mother. She's a gorgeous woman with sun-streaked brown hair cut short around her jaw. I absolutely know where Aiden gets his good looks. You see it clearly in all three of her children. I'll admit Ty's handsome for an older man but their large, expressive eyes and bone structure come from their mother.I stand from the bar stool and take a step after Aiden."Let him cool down," Pamela says.I stop and turn. "He shouldn't need to cool down. It's over and done. I don't care what that jackass on TV says.""The man in the store put his hands on you. That's wrong." Ty gives me a look that shows he's almost as angry as Aiden. "I think I'll go join Aiden for a few minutes." He walks out and I'm left with the women.I'm not sure what to say. "He didn't hurt me," is all I can think of. I'm also relieved I told my father about the incident. I'm sure it will be on every sports channel by tomorrow.Candice looks down the hallway where her father and
I'M BARELY HOLDING onto my shit right now and it's less than twelve hours until training camp begins. When I saw the video of the guy shoving Jordan, I lost my cool. I would feel the same way if it happened to my mother or sisters. That's what sucks about Jordan thinking she can play football in the pros. While others will be finding a way to get her off the team, I'll be protecting her or at least trying my damnedest. This can't be happening. I have enough on my plate and she's one huge distraction I don't need.There are so many things that haven't been thought through in this situation. I wasn't joking about her needing a psychologist. A team of bodyguards too.I didn't miss my sister's antics during dinner either. The next time I go home I'm gluing all her car keys to the dresser in her room. I'm not too old to get my revenge. And Steph with her smug appraisal of my wandering eyes didn't help matters.Damn, I want inside Jordan's pants so bad my cock is in permanent hard mode. N
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 lineI 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 se
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
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
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."
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
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