Relief hits when the door opens and Hugh Landry strides in, all crisp suit and quiet authority. Alongside Evelyn, he’s the Railers’ other owner. “Do you have a moment?”
Her spine straightens, a subtle bristle I’ve learned to recognize. “Sorry, we’re in the middle of something.”
The atmosphere between them crackles. Whatever this is, I don’t need a front-row seat for it.
I shoot to my feet before I self-combust in Evelyn Kingston’s pristine office. “I, uh, need to run to the restroom. Be right back.”
“Take your time,” Hugh says, gaze locked on my boss.
“Sure, no problem.” My heels click a little too quickly across the tile as I escape into the hallway. The phone buzzing in my pocket only intensifies the ache I’m trying to ignore.
Bathroom.
Cold water.
Pull it together, Rina.
You’re better than this.
I round the corner, focused on making it there before I go up in flames, when a door jerks open and a hand shoots out. I yelp as fingers lock around my wrist and tug me inside. The door slams, plunging the room into shadows that smell of sweat, ice, and leather polish.
The squeak that leaves me is swallowed up by the pounding of my heart as my back hits a solid chest and strong arms band around me, pinning me in place.
“Let go!” I twist, then freeze as my body recognizes who I’m pressed against.
Oliver Van Doren.
He looks dangerously good with sweat-dampened hair, black T-shirt molded to his biceps, and eyes that gleam with mischief.
Then there’s the cocky, sinful smile that destroys my composure every single time.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I hiss.
The deep rumble of his chuckle vibrates through his body.
“You know how much I hate when you ignore me, baby.” His tone drips with wicked satisfaction. “I was just trying to get your attention. Did it work?”
His mouth dips close to my ear, breath hot against my skin. “Besides…” His finger drags lazily down the front of my blouse, stopping at the undone button I forgot to fix. “We both know you were headed to the bathroom to give yourself a little relief.”
He’s right, but there’s no way in hell I’ll admit it.
I force a haughty tone. “Are you insane? It’s the middle of the workday.”
“Only when it comes to you.” He leans closer. “And now that I’ve got you exactly where I want you…” His hand tightens at my waist. “I’m not letting you go.”
I hate the part of me that wants to melt into him and stop pretending I’m immune to his charm. “You don’t get to decide that, Oliver.”
But the worst part—the one I can’t admit, not even to myself—is that when he lays his hands on me, I never want him to let go.
And for one dangerous heartbeat, I forget about every rule I swore not to break.
4
Oliver
The second she’s in my arms, the restless energy that’s been crawling under my skin all day snaps into razor-sharp focus. Everything else—practice, the media, the noise trying to press in—collapses until there’s only the warmth of her body and the quiet hitch of her breath.
My workout was a disaster. One of the rookies wouldn’t stop mouthing off, and the press twisted one of my postgame quotes into something it wasn’t meant to be. I’ve been wound tight ever since this morning, and the second I saw Rina walking toward Evelyn’s office, looking poised and untouchable in that polished way she has, it all broke loose inside me.
