Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 54710 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 182(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54710 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 182(@300wpm)
Even her smirk is sexy. “I think smooth is overrated. I like rough better.”
Oh, hell. I’m fully hard now. My free hand twitches with the urge to touch her as I take another sip of my drink. “You’re pretty uninhibited for a woman who hasn’t had a sip of that drink.”
“All I got from that is that you think I’m pretty.”
I smile and blow out a breath. “A ten, remember?”
“I do.”
I shake my head and finish my drink in a faster, longer gulp than I’d like, setting the glass down on the bar. “You’re a workplace hazard, Jules. Good night.”
“Not going to offer to walk me to my room?” Her gaze slowly moves from my face down, stopping at my crotch.
“I think we both know that’s not a good idea.”
She looks like she’s about to say something, but instead she looks down at her glass. I hate the disappointment that flickers over her face. If I could, I’d put my hands on her waist and lean in to kiss her neck and whisper my room number in her ear.
“Good night, Noel.”
Her voice is neutral again. Not sultry and playful, but not angry either. It takes all my willpower to turn and walk away.
I want her. Christ, do I want her. But I’m in a position of power over this team, and indirectly, her. I never, ever would, but I could make her work environment uncomfortable. And that’s just one of the reasons I can’t cross a line with her. Even though I want to, so badly my chest aches as I get farther away from her.
CHAPTER TEN
Jules
I should be embarrassed by how openly I flirted with Noel last night. But every time I think about it, a nervous thrill thrums through my body.
He flirted back. His hungry gaze raking over me as he said things meant only for me was more intoxicating than any drink. I felt like a danger he can’t seem to stay away from, and I loved it.
It’s game day in Vancouver. I dress in a charcoal suit with a black blouse beneath, pinning a Crush logo pin on my lapel. There’s not even a choice between the sensible black flats and the black heels I packed—heels all the way.
I’ve just started putting on makeup when my phone rings, a picture of Blair with both boys kissing her on the cheek pops up on my phone screen. I slide my finger over the screen to answer.
“Hey, how’s Coop?”
“Much better. He’s getting toast crumbs all over my bed and watching a show. Puke-free since yesterday at three p.m.”
“Good. Tell him I said hi.”
I hear him in the background, asking me to send pictures from Vancouver.
“Tell him I’m just at a hotel, but I’ll send pictures from the game later.”
She relays the message, then says, “So how’s it going?”
“Am I on speaker?”
“No.”
“Noel flirted with me last night.”
She sucks in a breath. “The coach?”
“Yes.”
She squeals softly. “I’m adding him to my spreadsheet.”
“Fuck your spreadsheet, I have no interest in anyone but him.”
“So I’ll put him on top of the spreadsheet.”
“He belongs on top of me, Blair.” I lean closer to the mirror to make sure I’ve blended my makeup in fully.
“Right. So make it happen.”
I exhale deeply. “He won’t make a move. He called me a workplace hazard.”
“Oh wow. I’m moving into the bathroom to continue this.” She seems to be running, slightly out of breath when she says, “Okay, tell me everything.”
“Okay, so first of all, he knew about Coop’s stomach bug. I was specifically careful not to mention to anyone from the team that it’s a stomach thing, because I thought they might be icked out and worry about getting it. I just said he’s sick. But he said stomach bug, and I don’t know how he knew that.”
She squeals louder. “Maybe he’s stalking you! I know it’s not actually hot, but romance books make it sound hot. And how bad can a rich, hot stalker daddy be?”
I scoff. “He’s not stalking me, B. He doesn’t have that kind of time.”
“Okay, then we need to figure out how he knows. What else?”
“He told me about his daughter, Audra, Talia’s sister. She’s having marriage issues, and he was in the hotel bar last night because he’s worried about her. That’s where all this happened.”
“Cares about his daughter. Green flag. How old is she?”
“I don’t know ... twenties?”
Blair snort-laughs. “So, your age.”
“Who cares? Have you seen him?”
“Hey, I’d be thrilled if he’d stalk me. I’m just saying—that might be why he doesn’t want to start anything with you.”
I run a dry wand over my lashes to separate them. “There are lots of reasons he doesn’t want to. He mentioned last night that he’s been divorced twice and he tried to tell me he’s not a nice guy sometimes.”
“What, like in bed? Don’t threaten me with a good time, stalker daddy.”