“She’s hot. Like, really hot. It never crossed your mind?”
It crossed my mind all the damn time lately, and I didn’t need Nate reminding me or telling me how hot she was.
I’d managed some sleep on the flight this morning, but when I’d wake, Stella still owned every damn thought. What was so different about her now?
As much as I hated to admit it, Nate had a point.
It was like a switch had flipped when I saw her again, a charge between us that had never been there before.
Her face was still the same: light eyes framed by long lashes, chestnut hair drifting down her back, and full pink lips that I hadn’t had to force myself not to fixate on until now. Her body hadn’t changed either, or maybe I’d just trained myself not to notice the soft curves that now cost me sleep.
“Did I say something wrong?” Nate asked with an aggravating smirk curling the side of his mouth. I’d taken a long time to answer his question since it had already been rolling around in my exhausted head.
“No. We’re friends. As much of a surprise as it may be to you, a man and a woman can be just friends.”
“I’m not saying they can’t. I have a few women friends.But I picked up on something between you when she came to see you.”
“You picked up on something?”
“Your face lit up like a Christmas tree, and you grabbed her like you’d just come back from war. She even squealed when you lifted her up. None of my women friends squeal for me. Women who aren’t friends, sure.”
“I was happy to see her. We grew up together,” I tried to explain, mostly to myself. “And she was happy to see me too, nothing to read into, like you’re doing.”
I went back to my notes, trying to avoid the skeptical arch in his brow. It was hard to sound convincing when I didn’t believe me either.
“Everything good?” Silas asked from the doorway.
“Everything is good, Coach.” Nate hopped off the table. “Just chatting with your boy about his hot new nanny.”
“Could you stop calling her hot?” I said, letting go of a long breath when I noticed the edge in my voice.
“If she’s just yourfriend, why does that bother you?” His wide grin pissed me off as he pointed a finger at me. “There’s that something. She’s got you all riled up, Doc.”
“If Lee cleared you, why don’t you go practice? Put the ballbusting energy into actual balls.”
“All right,” Nate said, holding up his hands. “I think someone needs to loosenhimup.” Nate tipped his chin to me and slapped my shoulder. “And since I know you’re going to ask me later, I’mfine. No pain and nice and loose,” Nate said to Silas before heading into the hallway.
“What’s going on?” Silas asked, his brow pinched.
“Nothing. You know Nate, a ballbuster, like you said.”
“He is, but he did get a rise out of you, which generally doesn’t happen. You’re usually a lot more zen.”
“Zen?” I narrowed my eyes at Silas. “Seriously?”
“Well, more than the rest of us. You’re usually all about health and wellness and how to stretch and relax—at least here. Is something up with you and Stella?”
“No,” I said quickly enough for Silas to squint at me. “Nothing has happened between Stella and me. She’s a good friend who’s doing me a big favor. That’s all.”
Silas’s lips twisted, but he stayed silent, bobbing his head in a slow nod.
“Not you too.” I dropped my head back with a groan. “Yes, she’s gorgeous. No, there is nothing between us. There can’t be.”
I clenched my eyes shut and pinched the back of my neck when I realized my slip.
“Why can’t there be? Other than the complication that she’s taking care of Bennie.”
“That isn’t enough? I’ve known her and her brother for half my life. They’ve been like family to me, and I can’t fuck that up. More than friends with Stella isn’t possible.”
