“That bastard Beasley should retire.”
The first smile of our conversation curled my lips. “That would be great news.” I lifted my head. “Drive safely. I hope the stallion can be healed.”
“My dad’s upset, but the truth is we’ve got a lot of frozen sperm. Maximus can go on to sire great stallions for years.” There was a pause. “Vee, are we good?”
Fun to be around.
Charismatic.
Dependable.
A collie.
“I want us to be,” I answered honestly. “Leigh thinks I have commitment issues.” As the words came out of my mouth, I remembered telling Fin he had the same issue.
“Leigh’s wrong. I’ll call you when I know when I’m returning. Let’s go out, a date, just the two of us. After all your memorization, you can rattle off play calls, and I can try to figure them out.”
A laugh bubbled from my lips. “Yes, to a date. No, to play calls.”
“Sounds good. Vee, I love you.”
No, it wasn’t the first time he’d said it. That didn’t make it sound less confining, like my clothes were shrinking around me. “Yeah. Stay safe and call me.” I hit the disconnect button and laid the phone on my desk as my office door opened.
Jen peeked around the door jamb. “It’s after five. I’m headed out. Do you need anything before I go?”
“Do you know how to decipher offensive play calls?”
She pursed her lips. “Sorry, no.”
“It’s okay.” I stood, pushing back my chair. “I think I’ll head home too. I’d rather go through these plays in pajama pants and without a bra.”
Jen laughed. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
With my tablet, Pratt’s playbook, and other essentials in my leather tote, I made my way out of thefootball center, adding one more person to the mad exodus. My mind was on the play calls, trying to come up with a system to remember them when I looked up. The large black truck parked beside my car belonged to our newest signed quarterback. I wouldn’t have known if not for the handsome man standing at the driver’s door.
CHAPTER 11
Vee
It was a split-second decision. Would I acknowledge Fin’s presence, or just pretend not to see him?
“Ms. Hubbard,” he said, spotting me coming closer. “Are you stalking me? I hear that the Coopers has strict sexual harassment rules. I’d hate to have to report you to HR.” His smile was too wide to be serious.
“Walking to my car.” I stopped near my tailgate. My white Mercedes-Benz AMG GT 63 was dwarfed beside his monstrous truck. I lifted a brow. “Overcompensating, are we?”
Fin laughed. “Not even in the slightest.”
In the Kentucky heat, he leaned against the side panel and crossed his ankles. Although his blue stare was covered by sunglasses, I felt their focus singeing my skin. The button-down shirt was wrinkle free, except the sleeves were now rolled, showcasing his tanned forearms. Fin looked as put together as he had earlier in my office. Me on the other hand…I wished I’d worn my jacket. I couldn’t exactly blame hard nipples on the eighty-three-degree day.
“I like a vehicle that can actually carry things, people, cargo, whatever I might need.”
“I suppose it comes in handy for someone who moves around as much as you do. No need to hire a moving company.”
Fin tipped his chin toward my car. “With that tiny back seat, how do you even grocery shop?”
My head tilted to the side. “I avoid buying in bulk.”
Fin nodded. “It really is good to see you again.”
