“I can’t believe you actually handed out a syllabus.” He stared at the paper on his desk.
I shrugged. “It helps us all stay organized. I think today’s lesson went well, but I’m really looking forward to seeing how they answer the homework I gave them.”
Mike chuckled. “You actually gave my guys homework. During training camp.”
“Sure did, and they better do it, too.” The first assignment I’d given the team was to track all of their expenses over a seventy-two hour period. Three days. That’s all I needed them to do, but I was sure most of them wouldn’t.
“We’ll see. Brenda wanted me to nail down a date with you to come over for dinner. You know how she is about this stuff.”
I giggled. Brenda McClellan could be the sweetest woman you’d ever met, but ask her six foot, muscular, former football player turned coach husband, she was the biggest bully around.
“How about next week sometime? I’m open any evening except for Wednesday.”
Mike nodded. “I’ll tell Brenda and get back to you.”
“I’ll give her a call. You’ve got enough on your plate.”
He pushed out a breath. “Thanks.”
“I—” I was cut off by a knock on the door.
“Hey, Coach, you needed me?”
“Yeah, Ty, hang on.” Mike held up a finger as he answered his ringing cell phone.
I peered over my shoulder, seeing Tyler Townsend’s big, six-foot-three frame filling the entire doorway. I turned back to Mike. “I’ll see you next week,” I told him as I picked up my black leather Kate Spade briefcase to exit. I turned toward the doorway but was stopped from exiting when Tyler remained in place.
“Excuse me?” I glanced up at him but avoided staring directly into his eyes.
“Am I in your way?” he drawled.
I pinched my lips, anger mounting. “I only see one doorway, and since you’re standing in the middle of it, yes, youarein my way.”
My body stiffened at the sound of his deep chuckle. “You are feisty, aren’t you?”
“Mr. Townsend, cats arefeisty.I am a woman who is in a rush and has some work to do. So if you’ll excuse me.” I stared over his shoulder, emphasizing my desire to move past him.
“Tyler.”
“What?” I snapped my head backward, finally looking up at him in his eyes. I ignored the tremble in my knees that one look caused.
“Tyler. Not Mr. Townsend. No need for the formalities between us. Right, Ms. McDonald. It is Ms., correct?”
I worked my lower jaw, gritting my teeth. I just needed to leave this damn office and this damn gymnasium with all of this testosterone swimming around in it.
“Have a good day, Mr. Townsend.” I rolled my eyes and pressed past him. He moved just enough to let me pass, but his arm brushed up against my waist.
“I’ll definitely be seeing you around, Destiny.”
My steps faltered as I heard my name coming from his mouth for the first time. I urged myself not to turn around to steal one last look, but that’s exactly what I did. A tiny gasp escaped my lips when I saw Tyler watching me as he bit his lower lip, running a large hand through the right side of his red beard. Those magnetizing eyes of his actually sparkled. The mirth I’d noticed in previous pictures was intensified tenfold in person. And those eyes were unabashedly planted on my derriere until they rose to meet my eyes. A grin that looked like a warning and an invitation all in one spread across his face. And that look alone told me I needed to stay as far away as possible from Tyler Townsend.
I continued down the long hallway, only feeling safe once I rounded the corner that headed to the parking lot. I knew I was out of Tyler’s hungry gaze. I rolled my eyes, feeling both irritated and relieved at the same time. All professional athletes were serious womanizers. It was a by-product of having the world handed to you on a silver platter all because you could throw or catch or put a ball into a hoop really well.
“Well, well, well, Ms. McDonald.”
Sighing, I rolled my eyes at the condescending tone in Leonard’s voice. He was unfortunately in the parking lot heading in the same direction I was, since our cars were parked right next to each others.
“Mr. Riggs.”
