“Wait till the sister gets here.” He gives me a surprised look. “I’ll explain later.” Should have before. “Moja greška.”My fault.
We walk through the treatment room to the locker room. My mind is a blur as I read the names and numbers on each cubicle. Number seven remains with the rookie, Stefan. I can’t help but feel hurt. I stop mid-step atByron Hendricks #19and reflect for a few moments, then force my gaze away only to land onBrandon Johns #22.
22
I look at Jobe, but he fails to understand the significance. Charlotte’s birthday is the twenty-second of February, and her twenty-second birthday was a special night for both of us.
“Who selected my number?”
He checks his cell and looks disinterested in small talk. “It was available.”
He acts like no thought went into it, yetCharlotteis going to hate it.
As though summoned, she appears in the doorway. “Sorry, I, um…” She hesitates and goes to pull the door closed.
The room falls into an awkward quiet. I can’t hear it, but my God, I feel it.
Her floral scent wafts in, and I’m reminded of every time our bodies were entwined, her scent encasing me and swaying my thoughts.
“Charlotte,” Franklin says loudly. “Our new recruit is here.”
She glares at Franklin, but I cannot take my eyes off her. I’m stunned into silence and frozen in time. She is more beautiful than I remember, but that’s not the reason I’m drawn to her.
Galaxies move, planets align. The universe moves for me, for us.
Her blonde hair falls over her shoulders, ruby red lips, and dark lashes framing her sexy blue eyes. She is wearing a white designer suit, and all I see is her angelic aura.
It’s not what I see but what I feel, what I have always known.
An undeniable pull between us.
The reason I have been resurrected.
I’m not here for nothing.
Hell is suddenly my heaven.
14
CHARLOTTE
My body shiversat the way he looks at me. I wish to hell he didn’t look as good as he does, especially the way his blue eyes are enticing me to come closer. He is so damn beautiful, and it only makes me hate him more. I’ve trained my heart not to react. Yet it feels awfully like a tight corset, and I’m struggling to breathe.
I hold out my hand. “Welcome to the Shark Tank. Try not to get eaten alive.”
My smooth, cold words fall short because he grins, and I want to smack it off his face. The warmth from his hand spreads through my body, the fire inside me lost, and yet it sparks something new, igniting the kindling.
He squeezes my hand again so I can’t pull away. “It’s good to see you. Not much has changed.”
I rip my hand from his as though it’s a hot coal. “A fucking lot, actually. For the better.”
“Lottie.” I ignore Franklin’s warning.
“Best to get it out in the open.” Jobe raises a hand. “It’s only us here.”
“Byron’s not here,” I snap and step away from Brandon, needing space to collect myself. I look up at the names on the players’ cubicles. “The fuck?” Now I can’t breathe. “Twenty-two! Really?” I spin on the spot. “You’re all completely incompetent at doing anything without my help.”
“What happened?” I hear Jobe ask before I storm out of the door.
