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