The Perfect Play (Southern U O'Brien Brothers)

by Cookie O'Gorman

  "What makes you so sure?"

  "Like you said, your son is amazing." Thinking about Chase, I felt the corners of my lips turn up in a smile. "Chase deserves someone as good and wonderful as he is."

  She lifted a brow. "It seems like you've given this some thought."

  "Not really," I said. But a second later, unable to hold back, I added, "Well, I have thought about it a little. Chase and I are friends after all."

  "Please, go on."

  "Well, Chase needs a girl who'll make him put down the book he's reading every now and then and interact with the real world. She should be tough. Chase is way too nice sometimes. He needs a girl who'll stand up for him and tell everyone else to back off. She should be someone who's excited to go to his games—even if they are outdoors in the heat and seem to last forever. She'd want to be there just to cheer him on."

  Coach O'Brien looked like she was fighting back a grin, but I couldn't be sure. Unlike her son, she had a pretty good poker face.

  "Anyway," I said, feeling my neck turn hot, "that's just what I think."

  "And one more time, you don't believe you're his soulmate?"

  I held up my hands. "No. I know I'm not. We are so wrong for each other. It's not even funny—which I've tried to tell him a few times. But Chase is surprisingly stubborn."

  She nodded. "He gets that from his father—and okay, maybe a little from me, too."

  "I hope this conversation set your mind at ease, Coach," I said as we walked to the door.

  "It did." Stopping and turning to me, she said, "And you can call me Daisy."

  "Okay."

  "It might be good to be on a first-name basis since I think we'll be seeing a lot more of each other."

  My brow pinched. "How do you figure?"

  "Well, if you're Chase's soulmate, I figure it's a safe bet."

  I was struck speechless for a moment.

  When I finally regained my voice, I said, "But…I told you I'm not her."

  "Which is exactly why you probably are," she said.

  Seeing my confusion, the coach gave me a soft smile.

  "Do you know how many girls would've jumped at the chance to say they’re Chase's soulmate?" she asked. "Too many to count. Every one of them would've spent the last five minutes trying to convince me they're perfect for him. But not you."

  She held up a hand when I went to interrupt.

  "A lot of people want Chase for the money or the fame. He's destined to be a star in this sport—in a lot of ways, he already is one. Few can see past all that. And yet, you do."

  My mouth snapped shut.

  "Not going to lie, I was nervous at first about you being his PT," she said. "You're so pretty, and you didn't seem to care a lick about baseball. I thought you might be a baseball bunny."

  I gave a mental scoff at that. Me? A jock chaser? As if.

  "But you helped heal my son," she went on. "You guided him back to what he loves. And I'll be forever grateful to you for that, Charlie."

  "Coach O'Brien." When she gave me a look, I amended, "I mean, Daisy…that's really kind of you. I've been more than happy to help Chase with his recovery. But I meant what I said: I'm not his soulmate."

  She tilted her head from side to side. "Maybe you are, maybe you aren't."

  I watched her lips form a genuine smile.

  "But don't you want to find out?"

  Before she left, Coach O'Brien aka Daisy gave me one last piece of advice.

  "You should give Chase a chance," she said. "Thanks for the talk, Charlie. Have a good night."

  The door closed, and I was left stunned. Whatever I thought she'd come to say, it hadn't been that.

  Did I want to find out?

  Was I dying to know what it could be like between Chase and me?

  I knew the answer.

  Now, I just needed to decide what to do about it.

  CHAPTER 20: Chase

  Chase, you can't give that to her," Dex said.

  "Why not?" I asked, looking at the paper in front of me. "It's a perfectly good list."

  "She already turned you down once. If you give her that, it's like asking to get hurt."

  I shrugged. "At least she'll know how I feel."

  My younger brother sighed. "Your funeral."

  Dex was sitting on his bed in our shared hotel room. He kept throwing a baseball up and catching it, over and over. I saw him shaking his head out of the corner of my eye, but I couldn't disagree more. I'd spent a lot of time thinking about what to do, how to really get my feelings across and show Charlie I was serious. My words had fallen short. I'd thought I was being clear, but for some reason, she still had doubts. This was my Hail Mary.

  "Hey Dex." He looked up as I turned to face him. "Do you think Charlie wants me, too? I mean, I thought she did, but…I don't have a lot of experience with this stuff."

  He tilted his head. "Women are complicated."

  "Yeah," I said, "I don't want to be pushy. But I also don't want her to doubt my intentions. It's kind of confusing. You know?"

  "Yep," Dex said, "sounds like you love her."

  Alright, my brother got it.

  "I already told you what I think. Emmy says Charlie likes a challenge." He lifted a brow at my blank stare. "Just lay back and let her come to you."

  Easier said than done, I thought.

  "It's been hours since I saw her downstairs," I said. "How much longer should I wait?"

  Dex threw the ball again and caught it. "As long as it takes."

  My brow furrowed.

  "But what if she never comes?" I asked.

  "Then I guess you won't get to give her that embarrassing list," he said, "which you'll thank me for later. You're welcome."

  I rolled my eyes while tapping my fingers on the desk. It must've telegraphed my nerves because Dex suddenly grinned.

  "Bet you twenty you can't last another hour," he put in.

  I scoffed. "You're on."

  Sixty more minutes should be easy. I'd already waited much longer than that. I was patient. I could do this. And he had a point. Maybe it was better to let Charlie come to me…

  Dex caught the ball two more times before I caved, standing from my chair.

  "I'm going to go see her," I said.

  Dex pretended to check the non-existent watch on his wrist. "Didn't even last fifteen minutes. I'll expect my money by the end of the week. Cash, check or credit cards accepted."

  As I went to move, a knock sounded at the door.

  Lifting a brow at Dex, he shrugged, and I went to answer. I opened the door and was shocked to see Charlie there. The look on her face was determined as she stomped into the room.

  "Okay," she said, "let's do it."

  "Do what?" I said slowly.

  "The relationship thing."

  She turned to me with her hands on her hips.

  "I'll probably be horrible. I don't know the first thing about this. And you've never been in a relationship either, so it's already doomed to failure. But I can't stop thinking about you," she said quietly, almost as if speaking to herself. "So. Let's go for it."

  My lips twitched. "Okay. I'm game if you are."

  Charlie gave a nod.

  "I was just about to come see you actually."

  She crossed her arms. "Your mom stopped by earlier."

  "Really? What did she say?"

  "Nothing much," she trailed off. "Just wanted me to give you a shot."

  Bless you, Mom, I thought.

  "Ah, she's the best." I smiled, pushing my hands into my pockets. "I'll have to say thank you the next time I see her."

  Charlie didn't seem to hear me, her eyes taking me in from head to toe. She swallowed. When her eyes met mine again, there was unmistakable interest there.

  "Why aren't you wearing a shirt?" she asked.

  I shrugged. "I took a shower and just never put one on."

  "Ah…and the baseball hat? We're indoor
s, you know. No sun in here. Is there a reason for that?"

  "Yeah, it's my thinking cap."

  Charlie bit her lip. "You have an actual thinking cap?"

  "Oh yeah," I said. "It helps me organize my thoughts, especially when I'm dealing with a difficult question or situation."

  "You have a lot on your mind?"

  I shook my head. "Just you."

  She lifted a brow and took a step toward me. "Hmm, well, you seem a little tense."

  As her hands eased up my chest to my shoulders, my eyes fell closed.

  "Maybe we can do something about that."

  "Sounds good," I murmured, leaning closer to her.

  Something hit the ground with a thud, making us both jump. I'd been so caught up in Charlie I hadn't even remembered Dex was there. He'd dropped the ball he'd been tossing, and it rolled across the floor to hit my foot. I shot him a look that clearly said you've-got-to-be-kidding-me. Dex held up his hands.

  "Sorry," he said. "Don't mind me. Pretend I'm not here."

  My look turned into a glare then.

  "Or I could go." Dex shot up off the bed and walked toward the door. "Yeah, I'll give you two some privacy. No problem."

  "Thanks," I said.

  "Not sure where I'm going," he mumbled to himself. "But I'll figure it out."

  As he was passing by, Charlie reached into her pocket and held a key card out to him.

  "Here," she said. "You can take my room. It's just me in there, so you'll have it all to yourself."

  Dex took the key and smirked. "Sweet."

  "Don't go through my stuff. Don't rent any dirty movies or drink anything in the fridge," she warned. "I'll know if you do."

  "Relax, Charlie," he said. "I'll be on my best behavior—unlike you two. Have fun."

  With a wave, he left, and Charlie dropped her head to my chest.

  "I honestly thought we were alone," she said. "I didn't even see him there."

  I laughed. "Yeah, because you were too busy ogling my body."

  She lifted her head and gave me a look.

  "Can you blame me?" she said. "You're walking around without a shirt, flexing your muscles, wearing that damn cap pulled low, those sweatpants hugging your hips, and I'm supposed to be immune? Please. I'm a woman, Chase. I'm sure I'll get over seeing you like this eventually, but that day is not today."

  I felt heat rising to my cheeks, and she pointed to my face.

  "And that blush? Gah, could you be any cuter?"

  My brows furrowed. "I'm not sure 'cute' is the right word."

  "It absolutely is," she said. "You're 100% cute. Never thought I'd be into that, but I am."

  "I hope you never get over it," I said.

  At her questioning look, I explained.

  "I'm glad you like looking at me, makes me feel good. My heart skips every time I see you, so it's only fair."

  Charlie opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

  "And seriously," I added, running my hand down her cheek, "don't worry about Dex. He doesn't get shocked easily."

  "Good to know." Her gaze moved over the room, stopping on the desk. "What were you two doing before I got here?"

  Before I could answer, Charlie walked away. She was heading right for—

  "Hey, is that my name?" she asked.

  "Charlie, wait…"

  But it was too late. She'd already picked up the list, and her eyes widened as she read the title aloud.

  "Reasons I Can't Get Charlie Off My Mind," she said then looked to me. "What's this?"

  I ran a hand over my neck. "I thought it would be obvious."

  "Number one," she said, "her heart. She's caring and loves helping people—even hopeless baseball pitchers who've pretty much given up. Charlie never gives up—which I love."

  A smile rose to her lips as she kept reading.

  "Number two, her sense of humor. She makes me laugh without even trying. Number three, her beauty. She's a stunner inside and out. Her gorgeous looks are only matched by the beauty of her soul." She shot me a look then went back to the list. "Number four, her eyes. I see them in my dreams. Number five, her voice…it never fails to soothe me. Number six, her kisses. I love kissing her. Number seven, her sarcasm and quick wit. Number eight, the way she distracts me from my thoughts. Number nine, her healing touch. Number ten, how she can make even the worst day better just by being her."

  Charlie looked at me, and her eyes were bright.

  "You wrote this?" she asked.

  "Yeah," I said.

  "For me?"

  I nodded. "Dex didn't think I should give it to you. But I wanted you to know how I feel."

  "I was kind of surprised that my 'beauty' was only number three," she said.

  "Well, it's a rough draft," I said. "Still under construction."

  "Chase…there's like twenty things on here."

  I gave her a shrug. "I ran out of room to write more."

  She didn't say anything else. Her face was blank, giving nothing away, so I had no idea what she was thinking. Although, her eyes still held that light gleam in them. Feeling odd and unsure, I reached forward to take the list back.

  "Here," I said, "I'll work on it…or not. It was a dumb thought anyway. I just—"

  "No." Charlie sniffed and jerked the paper out of my reach. My eyes widened as she quickly folded the paper and put it in her pocket. "You made this for me. I think I'll just keep it. Thanks."

  A smile tugged at the corners of my lips.

  "So, we have this room all to ourselves," she said. "None of your other brothers are hiding somewhere around here, right?"

  "Nope," I replied.

  "And you just wooed me with your cute letter."

  I shook my head. "It was a list—and for the record, I still object to the word 'cute.'"

  "It's a compliment, Chase."

  Charlie walked toward me again.

  "Want to try something?" she asked.

  I reached forward, placed my hands against her waist and drew her toward me, loving the way she gasped.

  "Whatever you want," I said.

  And I absolutely meant it.

  Last time, we'd spooned because it was something I chose, and it was amazing. But right now, in this room, I wanted it to be all about Charlie.

  "Okay…" She leaned forward until her lips were pressed against my ear. "In that case, I want you to go sit in that chair. Then I'm going to take off my clothes and give you a lap dance. It's kind of a fantasy of mine."

  I gulped. "I…yeah, me, too."

  "But don't worry," she said. "I still remember what you said about your 'wife.' I won't take anything that isn't mine."

  Translation: We weren't going to have sex. I was good with that. But I still had to tease her a little.

  "Thought you said we were in a relationship," I joked.

  "I did." She released a small laugh. "But that doesn't mean I'm ready to put a ring on my finger just yet."

  There must've been something wrong with me because her words only made me want her more.

  Charlie straightened, and following her instructions, I took a seat, watching as she stripped down to a tempting black lace bra and panties, my eyes taking in every part of her as it was revealed. God, her body was beautiful. Rounded breasts and hips that called to my hands, a slight dip to her waist, the creaminess of her skin. She walked over to me until she straddled my legs.

  Her hands went to my chest, and as she lowered her hips, I just prayed I wouldn't embarrass myself. She began grinding against me, rolling her hips in this hypnotic rhythm. I was still wearing my pants, but I swear I could feel her warmth through the layers of clothing.

  "Put your hands on me, Chase," she whispered.

  I gripped her hips like I'd been wanting to the whole time.

  "Gah, that feels good."

  Better than good, I thought.

  "Do you like it?" she asked.

  "Yeah," I said, my he
artrate picking up speed. "I love the feel of you against me."

  My hands moved lower, and she moaned as my fingers bit into her skin. I wasn't sure when it started, but my hips began moving in sync with hers. Hot, intense, indescribable pleasure. As her breathing and mine accelerated, she leaned down even more. Each of her words fell directly onto my lips.

  "I could do this all night," she panted.

  "I'd let you."

  Taking her mouth, I kissed her long and deep.

  "It'll never be enough," I said.

  "Any other guy would've probably flipped me over by now."

  "But I like you grinding," I growled. "I just wish you were naked on top of me."

  She moaned.

  "Oh, I wish that, too."

  "Charlie," I breathed against her mouth.

  "Chase."

  This wasn't something I wanted to end any time soon. But as Charlie moaned my name and our hips moved together, harder with more intent, I knew it couldn't last forever. The feeling was too much—even with our clothes on. She reached between us and found me, pulling, tugging in the perfect way. She tilted her hips and sucked on my tongue, and...

  "I'm close," I grit out. "Are you?"

  Charlie hummed. "Don't worry about me."

  "But I want you to get there, too."

  Kissing her, I worked my hips against hers.

  "And after that," I whispered, "I'm going to taste you…until you're the only thing on my tongue."

  I felt her body tense and lose its rhythm, heard her moan in my ear. Her hand tightened around me at the same time. My body went off a second later. The pleasure seemed to go on and on as she slowly brought her hand and hips to a stop. She let out a breathy sigh then laughed against my lips.

  "Well, I can say one thing," Charlie said and laid her head against my shoulder. "You're definitely no saint in the bedroom, O'Brien."

  I hummed, taking a moment to bask in the afterglow. With Charlie curled up on top of me, I never wanted to move from that spot.

  But I sat up and got to my feet, lifting her with me and then placing her back in the chair.

  "Going somewhere?" she said. "Oh well, that's fine. I'll see you later."

  I nearly laughed. Charlie must've really been out of it. She actually thought I was leaving? After that? No way in hell. I still had more to do. Plus, my legs felt like jelly, and I didn't think it was safe to go far.