Her shoulders deflate as she takes a deep breath. “Thanks for saying that. Unfortunately, that’s not how it is for women in male dominated fields. I can’t afford to be seen as anything less than professional. Any chink in my armor and it could all crumble down around me.”
“That’s not fair.”
“No, it’s not, but it’s how it is. I’m used to it.” She stares at our hands, turning mine over to trace the lines on my palm. The push and pull between us is confusing, but I’m starting to understand her.
“Is that why you don’t want me to call you Bree?”
She nods, refusing to make eye contact. “Part of it. No one can know that we hooked up. It’s not only against the fraternization policy…”
“I didn’t sign that,” I give her a cheeky smile when she looks at me. Her lips twitch before a soft smile graces her face.
“It would put my job in jeopardy. I can’t let what happened on vacation allow them to call into question my professionalismand ability to do my job. They do it enough with my relationship with Preston and Miller.”
“What do you mean?” My hackles rise at what she’s implying. If she’s being harassed in that office, I will personally end whoever makes her life hell.
“You know, they’re always making comments about us being together and insinuating that something more is going on between us. This is why women struggle in male spaces. There’s a double standard. No one bats an eye when a CEO falls for his secretary, but a woman does it and suddenly they’re a slut.”
“That’s harassment, Gabrielle.” Seeing her with Miller was nothing compared to what I’m feeling now. How dare those assholes manipulate her friendships into something they aren’t. “Names. I need names.” Heads are going to roll.
She laces our fingers together, tugging slightly until my vision clears and I look at her. “No, you don’t. I’m a big girl. I can handle it. I’m only telling you so you understand why this can never happen. We had fun on vacation. It was fantastic, but it absolutely cannot happen again. Okay?”
I hate it. If this conversation and the morning we’ve spent together shows me anything, it’s that I may have real feelings for this woman. But I won’t be another asshole to cause her problems. If this is what she needs, I’ll make more of an effort to respect our new roles.
“Friends?” Untangling our hands, I hold mine up for a handshake. She nods her head and accepts my hand in hers with a smile.
“Friends.”
We’re on break since the captains and Coach are in Atlanta for the All-Star Game, and I’ve been on mybest behavior since starting on the team five weeks ago. But now it’s time to let loose on a much-deserved night out with some of the guys who stayed in town over break and two of my former teammates who came up to visit for a few days. Since my conversation with Bree a couple days ago, I’ve been thinking about what she said. She’s made it clear nothing is going to happen between us. I agreed to being friends, and the only way I know how to do that is to let off some steam and find another distraction for the night. The last month of seeing her around the stadium wearing someone else’s jersey, and getting cozy with Miller despite the assurance they’re just friends, sparked a jealous streak I’ve never possessed before. Who could just be friends with a woman like that?
Just seeing her sucks for me because I can’t have her. Touch her.Wanther. But I also wish I could do all those things. She calls to me whenever she’s around, and even sometimes when she’s not. Like in my dreams when I’m back to where it all started, surrounded by her scent and the feel of her body that has me jerking off as soon as I wake up. I tried to fuck her out of my system after I got back from St John, but it didn’t work. I haven’t tried since I saw her again and that ends tonight. My balls might fall off if I don’t come inside someoneinstead of on my own stomach, shower wall, or hand. Pathetic. That’s what I am. Lusting after a woman I can’t have who wants nothing to do with me.
But what if she does?
The small voice in the back of my head is what keeps me on the line. That also ends tonight. She said friends. I need to move on.
“Are we ready to show up and show out?” I ask the guys huddled around the windows in my downtown condo. Variations of “hell yeah” and “let’s get this show on the road” fill the air, so I pick up the tequila shot and down it before leading the group out of my condo and into the elevators. Raucous conversation swirls around me. I don’t pay much attention. The alcohol is swimming in my bloodstream, and I’m ready to hit the bars. It doesn’t take long to make it to Broadway. As soon as we top the hill, the neon lights glow beneath us. Crowds of people are everywhere, even on a Sunday night. The main strip is closed so people can walk in the middle of the road instead of only on the sidewalks. The side streets are still open and police monitor the crosswalks so that no one gets run over. It’s perfect madness and I love it.
“Where to, Chaser?” Brady asks, walking beside me.
Surveying the options, I see a line of women headed to a bar known for its rooftop and DJ.
“Follow the bachelorettes, boys. We’re having some fun tonight.” I pat him on the back and push him towards the women.
“There’s always a list they need to cross off,” one of the guys says, rubbing his hands together excitedly.
“I’m more than happy to help with that.” Whoops of agreement surround me as we fall in line behind them. They catch sight of us immediately and giggle to each other. We’re so getting lucky in here tonight.
Hours later, I’m three sheets to the wind on beer and liquorin the VIP area of yet another bar. “We should get out of here.” The sultry voice tickles my ear. She’s got deliciously curvy hips and a huge rack. Her bleach blonde hair is pulled tight in a high ponytail and her long nails run down my chest.
Unfortunately for me, she’s not doing it for me at all. I’ve tried to get my dick on board with the hottie grinding in my lap to the music. He’s not influenced in the least. I could go back with her and try to make it work, but it won’t help. Those words just threw me back to when Bree whispered the same thing in my ear. Unsurprisingly, thoughts of Bree have my dick stirring in my pants.Fucking great.
I need to get out of here and away from this woman before things go south. I tip my head at the guys letting them know we need to head out. The girl on my lap takes that as her cue to get up too.
“I’m just going to the little girl’s room to freshen up before we leave,” she says, pressing her tits into my chest and ogling me with lustful eyes. I watch her and the other girls leave and turn to my boys.
“We need to get out of here. Right now.” A few of the guys protest leaving because they were wanting to take their ladies home. I don’t wait for them to decide whether to stay or leave. I book it out of the bar like my ass is on fire. I need to get far away before she comes back from the bathroom and throws a fit.
Running out of the bar, I weave through the crowd and out onto the main drag. Laughter catches up to me from the guys trailing behind me.
