Shoving me away, Vee threw back the bed covers. “I’m supposed to meet with Don at seven this morning.” She hurried toward the bathroom. “I’ll shower fast, and I should make it.”
My torso made its presence known as I sat up on the edge of the mattress. I was reminded of what I told Vee after her car accident. The next day is always worse. Shrugging it off, I followed the trail of Vee’s sleep clothes into the bathroom. My cheeks rose in a grin at finding her naked at the vanity brushing her teeth. The shower was running, no doubt warming the water. Lifting my arm to the door jamb, I stared at her round ass.
Her stunning green stare met my gaze in the mirror and she shook her head.
“I just wondered why you’re meeting Coach Tilson so early.”
Vee spit and rinsed before turning toward me, completely nude, disheveled, and sexy enough to harden my already-hard morning wood.
Her smile dimmed as she looked down at my chest. “You’re bruised.”
I rubbed my fingers over my breastbone. “I keep telling you big guys want to knock me down.”
“But you’re okay?”
“I’m fine. They checked me out in the tent. Why are you meeting with Coach Tilson so early?”
“He told me last week that he and Dad had standing Monday morning meetings where they discussed the game without anyone else. He said he’d be to my office today at seven.” She walked toward the shower and opened the glass door. “I need to hurry.” Her eyebrows arched as her eyes pointedly looked down to my erection, not well hidden under my nylon shorts. “If not, I’d help you with that problem you have.”
I walked toward her with a grin. “I’m sure you could explain to Coach that you are going to be late.”
Vee shook her head. “Past experience tells me that you’ll be erect again. This is my first day-after-game meeting as owner, and I don’t want to be late.”
Leaning down, I brought my lips to hers. The vodka scent was replaced by minty freshness. “Let me get you some coffee.”
“Only coffee,” she said, stepping into the steamy stall. “I’ll worry about food after my meeting.”
I let out a long breath and watched as she stepped under the warm spray. I feared the familiarity Vee and I shared in the past would never be resurrected, yet it had, as effortlessly as slipping on a glove. We missed fourteen years of each other’s lives. Watching her lather her long hair, I wondered if maybe as devastating as it had been all those years ago, perhaps the end result was better. We both had our lives on our own terms. We were no longer children with ideals. We were adults who knew life’s ups and downs. It was time to find out what life could be together.
Her silhouette through the glass and steam was perfect. The Greek goddess Aphrodite, renowned for her grace, allure, and supreme physical perfection, had nothing on Vee. “I could join you,” I offered with a grin.
“No.” Her answer was immediate.
Chuckling to myself, I wondered if my day would get better or worse after starting out with a full-out rejection. On my way to the kitchen, I decided the view I’d just enjoyed was a sufficient consolation prize.
Vee was dressed and blow drying her hair by the time the coffee brewed. Stepping into the bathroom, I was bombarded with the sweet aromas of lotion, shampoo, and perfume.
“I found a travel cup,” I said, setting the hot Coopers’ cup on the vanity. “I figured you could take it to go. Cream no sugar.”
She turned off the dryer and turned to me. “Thank you. I didn’t get a chance to tell you good game.”
“Yeah, you did.”
Vee tilted her face in question. “We haven’t spoken since Saturday night.”
I reached for her waist and brought our hips together. “Every time I looked at you during the game. You were all sexy in that dress and cowboy boots.” My smile grew. “Every time I made eye contact with you, you were telling me what you thought.”
“I think I was more nervous about winning than I’ve been all season.” She took a ragged breath.
“Why was that?”
She shrugged. “It was the first game without Dad. I was afraid if the Coopers lost, it would be held against me.”
“By whom?”
Vee shook her head. “We can talk tonight.” Her eyes opened wide. “Unless you’re ready for some alone time. I’d under?—”
My finger landed gently on her lips. “I want to be with you.”
