Lying on my back in the middle of the soccer field in thelocal park, I toss the football high in the air and catch it when it comes backto me. I glance over and see Bryce walking from the parking lot. He passesthrough the fenced entry to the field and heads my way. His hands are in hispockets as he saunters over, looking like he doesn’t give a shit. But it mustbe an act.
I slipped out of the hotel aboutan hour ago. It’s been three weeks since I tried to seduce him at my place inDallas.
We’ve lost all three games since.Each and every damn one of them, so right now we’re 1-3 in the division, whichis humiliating as fuck for us to have such a losing streak after kicking assall the way to the Super Bowl last year. Coach Mally has been so pissed thathe’s made meets extra grueling, and between those and PR meetings, I haven’thad much downtime. Today is my only day off before two days of work until thenext game on Sunday against the Saints. And since this is my only day off, Iwasn’t going to spend it cooped up in my fucking hotel room.
I thought I’d slipped out without Brycenoticing, but obviously, he found me out. I’m kinda impressed. But I’m stillirritated with him. Since that night, I’ve felt his judgment. Every day on theway back to the hotel from meets, he seemed like he was just judging the shitout of me. I’m sure I’m projecting a little, but his dismissiveness has filledme with determination to catch him off guard. To get him in a precarioussituation where he won’t be able to deny me. Before, I just wanted to hit it sothat I could use him to my advantage. Not that he’s ugly or anything. Iwouldn’t mind having a regular thing with him, but this is more about winning.And once we’ve fucked, he sure as hell won’t be able to judge me for whateverthe fuck I’ve done.
Bryce settles on the sidelines,glancing around coolly.
Clever ass. He clearly just wantsto let me know that as much of a dick as I may be, he’s still going to bethere, doing his fucking job. If he’s not careful, I might actually end uprespecting him.
After I catch the ball once more,I hop up and head over to him, waving politely.
“What gave me away?” I ask.
“We’re the FBI. We snuck a trackerin your phone,” he says, his face stoic.
“What the—”
He smiles. “Kidding.”
“Lemme guess. The front desk? God,you can give them a twenty and they’ll blab to any random pap on the street.”
“If you just let me know, I canaccompany you on these little excursions.” His Maui Jim shades make itdifficult for me to read his expression.
“I was kinda hoping for a littleme-time,” I say.
He turns around. “There you go.All the me-time you could ever hope for.”
His playfulness is disarming, andI can’t help but laugh. “Actually, this is kind of perfect. Wanna throw theball a bit?” I step before him and toss him the ball. “Just throw it out of myreach so I have to work to get it. Don’t make it too easy on me. I like achallenge.”
“Like a dog?”
“Yes, like a dog. Gotta keep ontop of catching passes.”
I can tell by his expression thathe doesn’t think this is in his job requirements, but it’s harmless enough. I’mnot asking him to get me my fucking coffee. Just to help me run around and havea little fun.
“Okay, go long,” he saysplayfully.
“I figure that’s your only option,”I say, glancing at his crotch before hurrying back.
I’m curious to see his throw. Ifit’s shit, I’m gonna give him a hard time about it, but as I run across thefield, he tosses it with a perfect spin.
I race after it and have to leapto catch it. I spin around, holding up my victory before tossing it back tohim.
“Huh. Not just a suit and tieafter all,” I call out to him.
We toss the ball around a few moretimes.
“Not too bad,” I say, approachinghim. “You play football in school?”
“Just with some of the kids in myneighborhood. I wasn’t very good at it. I tried out for our high school teamand didn’t make the cut.”
“Ever wrestle in high school?”
“Why?”
“Your build. Looks like somethingyou would’ve done. Bet you crushed some guys, didn’t you?”
