by Tia Souders
His gaze trailed over her face, and he leaned in closer, likely presuming she wasn’t going to respond. “Jinny, I’ve liked you from the second I met you, and I’ve wanted to ask you out for just as long.”
“So, why didn’t you?”
“I wasn’t sure you and I were worth the risk, worth the consequences of being together.”
“What consequences?”
“Uh, your brother for one. He made it pretty clear the night of the party that you were off-limits to anyone on the team, let alone me. Apparently, my reputation as being a ladies’ man preceded me. And it isn’t just my friendship to him that was at stake, but my relationship to the team if it caused tension. I didn’t know you very well yet. It was early. It made more sense to cut it off.” He smiled ruefully. “Then, I got to know you a little better, but by that time you hated my guts. And you became my therapist, so my hands were pretty much tied.”
“And now?” Her eyes shifted to his mouth. She wanted him to kiss her. The desire was so strong and fierce it hit her like an uppercut.
“I can barely remember the reasons for being apart.”
She inhaled as he brought his mouth to hers without warning. She breathed him in as he kissed her.
For the first time in as long as she could remember, she let herself go, turned her thoughts off and stopped second guessing his intentions and just let herself feel. Let herself fall.
CHAPTER twenty-three
Emmett
Emmett watched Gabe’s retreating form. Until Gabe showed up during his therapy session at the gym, Emmett had enjoyed three whole days of not having to witness Gabe’s blatant attempts to score a date with Jinny. It had been bliss.
“That guy just doesn’t know when to quit, does he?” Emmett asked, watching Gabe’s retreating form.
Jinny snatched Emmett’s towel up off the floor and flung it into his arms. “Maybe he just recognizes a good thing when he sees it. You know, most men are nice to the women they like. They don’t fling insults at them.”
“Oh, I see. I humble myself and apologize, and now you’re suddenly hilarious.”
Jinny cocked a brow and crossed her arms over her chest. “I think I’m funny.”
“Okay.” Emmett nodded, smirking as he glanced back to the exit. “You know, since you like your buddy Gabe so much, I’ll just go grab him. Tell him that you’d like to ride home with him instead of me next weekend. More than thirty long hours with Mr. Snooze-fest.” Emmett hooked a thumb toward the door and started to walk backward toward it. “I mean, you like him better than me, so…”
Jinny’s lips twitched. “Go ahead.”
Emmett continued toward the exit to the gym and cupped his hands around his mouth. “Hey, Swanson,” he hollered out into the hallway.
The sound of footsteps approached, and he watched Jinny’s expression—the slight widening of her eyes—as panic set in.
“You wouldn’t,” she hissed.
“I just want to give you what you want.”
Gabe appeared in the doorway, and Emmett put a hand on his shoulder like they were old pals. “Oh, hey, man. Jinny and I were just talking and she—”
“Saw that you forgot your water bottle,” Jinny interrupted.
Gabe frowned and glanced at the blue water bottle next to the exercise ball. “Uh, that’s not mine. Wasn’t that yours, Emmett?”
Emmett tried to hide his grin but did a miserable job of it. “It is, actually.”
“Oh, whoops. Duh. I’m sorry.” Jinny scratched her head. “Gosh, all the traveling must be getting to me. My head is in the clouds,” she rambled. “Well, we don’t want to keep you. We’re done here, anyway, so we’ll see you this afternoon at the game.”
“Okay,” Gabe drawled, glancing between Emmett and Jinny like there was something he was missing. “See ya.”
“Later, bro,” Emmett said, then waited until he was gone before turning his smile on Jinny.
She narrowed her eyes at him and her cheeks flushed.
He sauntered over to her and brushed the back of his knuckles over the hot skin. “You’re so cute when you’re angry.”
She rolled her eyes, which made him laugh. “So, I’m right, then. You like me, while he bores you to tears.”
“If you mean that I, apparently, have feelings for an aggressive, overbearing, cocky, ogre. Then, yes, I suppose you’re right.”
“So, you have feelings for me now?”
“No.” Jinny blanched. “I didn’t say—I didn’t mean… Would you stop looking at me like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like that.” She waved toward him. “With that smug smile on your face and those undress-me eyes.”
“I like the way you think, Kimball. But I assure you, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
He stepped toward her, all the joking gone from his voice. “Maybe I’m looking at you like this because I have feelings for you, too.”
Her breath caught as he reached out, running a hand over her hair. It spilled over her shoulders and smelled like vanilla. With a contented sigh, he pressed his forehead to hers, breathing her in. Something tugged on his heart. Some invisible, intangible thing he’d never felt before.
He was falling head-first for Jinny Kimball.
∞∞∞
Jinny
The Pumas were down by ten. Jinny watched as her brother took a pass from Taylor, then pivoted and made for the hoop. The ball soared in the air and drilled into the net.
Gabe clapped beside her while Emmett’s stony gaze followed his teammates as they played.
She sat, wedged between the two men, wondering how in the world she got there. Talk about awkward.
Then she remembered Emmett’s smile as he took the last seat on the bench, next to where the therapists and staff sat. He thought it was funny—sitting next to her, teasing her with every brush of his thigh against hers and the sidelong glances she tried her best to ignore.
Every so often, he’d curl his hand over the edge of his seat, trailing his pinky over the outside of her knee. Meanwhile, on her other side, Gabe seemed oblivious to the gut-clenching heat in the pit of her stomach. Every five seconds, he’d lean in close to her and comment on the game. But she hardly listened. Even the game was having trouble holding her interest. Instead, her gaze continued to flicker to her right, to the hazel-eyed hunk who was watching the game with rapt interest.
She pretended to watch the play on the court but kept peeking over at him. His gaze followed his teammates as he shouted out directions and encouragement. His feet twitched as they moved like he might jump up at any moment and join them. The longing in his eyes was so intense it tugged on her heart.
This had to be difficult for him. She knew how badly he wanted to play, to feel the ball under his palm, to fly down the court with his opponent on his heels, shouting out plays like he owned the place.
How many games had she watched him, pretending to be oblivious to how amazing he was? Or how sexy he looked when in control of the ball, navigating the court, dominating the game, like he could do it in his sleep?
Simmer down, Jinny.
When Emmett’s gaze met hers, she forced herself to glance away. She watched a few more minutes before she risked another quick glance and was rewarded with his dimples.
When Gabe leaned over her shoulder and said something about how their defense needed to tighten up, she fought the urge to roll her eyes. That wasn’t why they were losing.
She pressed her lips into a tight line and stared straight ahead at the game, biting her tongue. Their defense wasn’t the problem. They just weren’t driving the ball into the hoop on offense. They played a solid first two quarters, but in the second half they stopped driving the ball and weren’t drilling their outside shots. Defense had nothing to do with it. If you don’t score, you don’t win. Simple.
He murmured something else to her about setting screens, and she rolled her eyes.
Normally, he didn’t bother her this muc
h, so why was he irritating her so badly now? Maybe it was the way he continued to hover over her shoulder as they watched the game. Or the way he continually encroached on her personal space. Whatever it was, she’d had enough.
Her eyes slid to her right, and Emmett grinned, raising a brow just as Gabe asked her something. Jinny set her jaw then turned her attention to him. “What?”
She shook her head, trying to ignore Emmett mime-sleeping beside her. When he started fake-snoring, she had to mash her lips together to stifle a laugh.
“I asked what you thought of the city so far. If you’ve had a chance to see much of it.” Gabe said.
Jinny hesitated, wiping the palms of her hands over her pants. She knew where this was headed, and she needed to navigate the question carefully. She needed to turn Gabe down, and if he continued his advances without taking the hint, she would have to tell him there was no chance of anything between them. She needed to be blunt because the guy clearly wasn’t getting it. But for now, she’d try for tact. The last thing she wanted was any awkwardness between them, considering she still had to work with him.
“Um, I’ve been to a few of the restaurants and have done a bit of sightseeing—”
An ear-piercing whistle cut her short, and she jumped.
They glanced toward the sound to see Emmett remove his fingers from his mouth, then clap as a slow-spreading grin grew over his face, seemingly unaware of the conversation beside him. But Jinny knew better. He’d been listening to them the whole game.
She gritted her teeth. He was enjoying this, and she’d make him pay.
Any normal man would be annoyed at Gabe’s continued pursuit of her, or they’d be jealous, or something. But not Emmett. Emmett was too confident, too secure in himself. It was ridiculously attractive but also inconvenient, since he found Gabe’s interest in her more amusing than anything.
She took in his playful smile and dimples. Too bad he was so kissable. His proclivity for irritating her was unmatched.
It would serve Emmett right for her to agree to a date with Gabe. And she was a hair’s breadth away from doing it, too. Just to prove a point. With her luck though, he’d let her go through with it as punishment; he knew she wanted to go out with Gabe about as much as she wanted a hole in the head.
Gabe stared at her, waiting.
Crap. What had he asked her again?
Oh, right. Had she seen any of Vegas? Her thoughts drifted to her afternoon at the Neon Boneyard, her dinner last night with Emmett, and breakfast that morning before their therapy session. The stolen moments between work and after games. They had taken every opportunity to sneak in some time together. Only two days left before they’d head for home. The week had all but flown by, thanks to him.
“Actually, I—”
“Aw, come on! That was a foul.” Emmett jumped to his feet, waving his arms in vain.
Gabe glared. “Can you keep it down, Hall?”
Emmett pretended not to hear him, an amused smile curling the corners of his lips as he sat back down.
She was going to kill him.
Next to her, Gabe shook his head. “Where were we?”
With a mirthless laugh, she placed her head in her hands. What had she gotten herself into?
This last quarter was going to be a long one.
CHAPTER twenty-four
Jinny
After the game and post-game interviews, they boarded a bus for the hotel.
Jinny sat alone, thankful for the silence, and more grateful than ever that Gabe had occupied himself chatting with Coach Bannon. It gave her time to think about Emmett and how badly she wanted to see him again tonight. Although they hadn’t made any official plans, spending their free time together, when she could skirt Dean, had become a given.
They piled off the bus at the hotel, and Jinny headed toward the elevators, intent on ordering room service then texting Emmett about going out. Maybe they’d catch a show. Then Dean grabbed her elbow and pulled her aside.
“You seem quiet. You okay?” he asked.
“Sure. Fine.” You know, just pining after your teammate. That’s all.
“Well, the guys are going out tonight. You game?”
“I don’t know. I was planning on staying in.” By staying in, she meant seeing Emmett in private.
“Come on. It’s already Wednesday and we only have two days left. Other than the first night, you haven’t come out with us at all. You can’t spend every night in your room. It’s a crime.”
“Hey, I was game yesterday morning for brunch, but you had better things to do.” Although, she’d wound up being rather grateful for that because she and Emmett had found this amazing little restaurant…
“It’s not my fault Callie called me about wedding venues. She said it couldn’t wait.” Dean pulled a face. “She made me click on, like, a million links to different places. She was so excited. Then she’d ask me questions about which I thought would be more romantic, and all I wanted to do was tell her I’d marry her in my living room for all I care. But she didn’t want to hear that. She wanted to hear about the angle of the sunset, and the view, and do I prefer the beach or the mountains, or—”
“I get the picture.” Jinny waved him on. At this rate, they’d be there all day. “But that still doesn’t mean I need to go out with you guys.”
Going out with them meant no alone time with Emmett. The last thing she wanted was to spend time with him while Dean and Gabe breathed down her neck.
“Too bad,” he said. “You’re going. And when I mentioned it to Emmett, he agreed.”
Ugh. Well, that settled that. A night out with the team. Yay.
A little over an hour later, they were huddled around a blackjack table, watching the men lose more money than she’d make in a month.
Emmett nursed a drink, having barely touched it. She knew this because she had been watching him all evening.
He stood across the table from her, watching her with rapt interest as Gabe tried to give her pointers on blackjack—like she cared—and Dean wasted far more money than she thought reasonable. Every time she tried to slip away, Dean stopped her. It was almost like he wanted her with Gabe.
She watched as a blonde in a tight black dress made eyes at Emmett from the bar. Thankfully, he seemed completely unaware. Either that or he didn’t care. Both possibilities made her happy. But to Jinny’s horror, the woman eventually mustered her courage and made her way toward their table.
When she sidled up next to Emmett, Jinny’s stomach sank. Leaning into him, the knockout blonde said something, then tipped her head back and laughed.
Jinny rolled her eyes and stiffly waited on Emmett’s response. With a polite smile, he murmured something to the woman that Jinny couldn’t hear.
Whatever it was, the woman’s smile fell before she scurried away, and when he turned back to the table, their eyes locked. A wave of relief washed through her, to which he shot her a questioning look, his brow furrowed, as if wondering what she’d thought would happen. She offered him a small shrug, and when he moved to her side of the table, a frenzy of butterflies took flight in her chest.
But Gabe hovered over her. “Do you want to get out of here?”
The sound of his voice startled her. She brought a hand to her throat, where her pulse raced.
“Why don’t we go somewhere quieter and get a bite to eat?” he asked.
Next to her, Dean paused mid-game, jostling the giant chips in his hands and widened his eyes meaningfully at Jinny, giving her a subtle nod.
Frowning at her brother, Jinny grabbed Gabe’s arm and tugged him aside in an effort to get away from the table and her brother’s prying ears. Dean had been acting bizarre all night.
“Gabe, listen. You’re a really great guy, but I think maybe you’ve gotten the wrong impression. I’m sorry. I’m just not interested in anything more than friendship.”
Gabe shifted on his feet, his expression unconvinced as he said, “I thought we seemed to have a lot in common and
—”
“We do. It’s just…I really want to focus on work. I’d like to stay friends and avoid complications. Keep our private lives separate. I hope you understand.”
“I hardly think it would complicate things,” Gabe argued.
Great. She may as well be talking to a box of rocks for how well he was listening.
Gabe stepped toward her and trailed a hand up her bare arm. She cringed at his touch, wanting to turn and run the other way, but also not wanting to make a scene. Then Dean appeared.
Thank goodness. She almost sighed with relief until he opened his mouth.
“Jinny and I talked the other day. Just for the record, I think the two of you would be…” Dean’s voice trailed off as a familiar scent enveloped her.
Emmett drew her to his side and draped an arm over her shoulders. Every nerve ending in her body snapped with tension and hummed with the feel of him so close.
Dean scowled at Emmett while Gabe narrowed his eyes.
Beside her, Emmett tensed. His hand on her shoulder tightened.
“Is there a problem, Hall?” Gabe asked.
Emmett smiled, but there was nothing friendly about the dark glint in his eye. “I don’t know. Is there? Seems to me that Jinny shot you down, and you’re having a little trouble understanding.”
Dean stepped between them before Gabe could act on the murderous glare in his eyes. “What the heck, man? You’re wrong and way out of line. Jinny and Gabe have something going. You’re the one interrupting.”
Jinny’s eyes widened, and she gaped at Dean. He thought… Oh, no.
It took her a moment to wrap her mind around it. Dean thought the man she liked was Gabe—that he was the one she had been talking about that first night at dinner.
Stunned speechless, she watched as Gabe crossed his arms over his chest, smirking, like he’d been vindicated.
“Dean, can I talk to you for a second?” Jinny asked, finding her voice.
When he didn’t immediately respond, she gripped his shirt in her fist and yanked him off to the side while Emmett stared a hole through Gabe. They were like two battering-rams, ready to fight, but she didn’t have time to worry about them. She had her own conversation to take care of.