The Player

by Aliyah Burke

  Watching her, he compared this woman to the one he remembered from childhood. This Faye had grown into her own. Confidence poured from her but not in a way he was used to seeing on a lot of women who were doing their level best to land a football player. Thiers was forced and contrived. Not Faye.

  All natural.

  It took him a minute or five to see the girl that had trailed after her brother and him with her hair up in pigtails, her eyes watching him with adoration. Honestly, he’d liked her. She didn’t mind getting dirty with the two of them. And she was always able to get them out of trouble, because the adults believed her when she watched them with her big brown eyes.

  “Can we talk about this?”

  Another two people recognized him and he caught the clenching of her jaw but her expression smoothed it away before anything came of it. One was a fan, the other, not so much.

  “You,” the man accused. “You were the worst fucking thing the Storm could have done for the team. Who cares if you’re a good player, you’re a fucking shit teammate.”

  He rose to his feet, but Faye slipped between them. “Sir.” Her voice was level yet firm. “I’m going to have to ask you to mind your tone and words in here.”

  “Mind your business, girlie. This is man talk.”

  “Actually, there are children around, including one in this conversation. You have a problem with him, you find another way to get to him. But I won’t put up with you yelling foul language in this place.”

  His eyes shot fire. “Who the fuck are you?”

  Fuck no, he wasn’t about to let any jackass talk to her that way. Kaeden stepped forward but stopped when she held up her hand, palm toward him. She didn’t look away from the guy at the counter.

  “I’m the owner of this store. The one who is about to call the cops because you’re disturbing my other patrons. So, you either walk out now, or you get removed.”

  There was a third option. The asshole left on a gurney. Kaeden kept that to himself though. Fucker took one more step toward her, and he wouldn’t say it, he’d show them.

  “Do you know what he did last night with some of the other guys on the team?”

  “I don’t care. What I care about is that you’re in here threatening people in front of children, impressionable children. People come in here to read and enjoy a spot of quiet. Not listen to some man rage on about a game.”

  Ouch, so that hurt. And she’d done enough of her own raging earlier.

  “I’ll fucking take my business elsewhere.”

  “And as tragic as that will be, I’m sure I will survive. I don’t need customers like you in here anyway who just open their mouths without considering there will be consequences for their actions.”

  Why did that statement feel like she had been addressing him? Kaeden relaxed his fist, he knew his speed. Knew how long it would take for him to get to her side and between them. So he stayed put.

  The guy with the troublemaker, eventually got him out of there and the shop settled back into a bit of a rhythm. He signed a few more autographs but didn’t have to put up with any more pissed off fans. Just adoring ones, which typically he didn’t mind, but the cloying scents of the perfumes that clung to him, nauseated him. They weren’t the scent he wanted. Two more women got to him on an aisle of car books after he’d ventured out from behind the counter. But overall, he wasn’t bothered too much.

  Randy walked by to put some books on the shelf.

  “Can I ask you something?”

  “Not sure, but you may.”

  He shelved two of the books for her. “Most people don’t give a damn that I’m in here, aside from that first wave.”

  “Her brother and some of the defensive players are in here often. Then there are the other people she knows. Like the rugby players, hockey players and more.” Randy ran her gaze over him and chuckled. “Sorry, you’re not the only superstar who comes here.”

  “When’s she take a lunch?”

  Randy shook out her dress. “Probably when she’s hungry. Not sure. She’s not here.”

  His brow furrowed. “What?”

  “She went to class.”

  He moved by her and checked the entire store. The one who worked the café only confirmed what a smirking Randy had told him.

  This woman. After trying and failing to get her number from the women, he left.

  We’re far from over, Faye.

  He wanted to do this for reasons he couldn’t quite pin down yet, but he wanted it. And what he wanted. He got.

  αβ

  “What do you want Mitchell?” She hurried down the two flights of stairs from her class to the door that would let her back out into the sunny day. They may not have tons of them here in Vancouver but she loved them when they were around. Right now, she had an hour till her next class and she wanted to eat outside.

  “Kaeden told me about this morning. Said you stormed into his place and read him the riot act.”

  “I know what I did. Why are you calling me to tell me something that I did?”

  “Damn you, Faye. I don’t need you to yell at him. I did what I did. Have you forgotten who is older?”

  She narrowed her eyes as she pushed out into the sunlight. “Have you forgotten how to act like a decent person and not start fights in a fucking strip club of all places? He’s not even here for a week and you get your name in the news, for a reason you know mom and dad aren’t going to be happy about.” Finally finding her sunglasses, she slid them on with a relieved groan. “And what does it say about your best friend that he runs to you instead of confronting me about it. Just like when you two were kids. And we both know his parents aren’t going to be pleased either.”

  Silence for a bit then he cleared his throat. “It was a misunderstanding.”

  “You punching someone is a misunderstanding.” She didn’t bother making it a question, just drolled it out, laced with sarcasm.

  A fact that wasn’t lost on her brother.

  “Stay out of my life, Faye. I’m a fucking adult and I don’t need you sticking your nose into my business.”

  “Fine.” Anger pushed through her veins and she was extremely proud of herself for remaining calm and not screeching at her brother like a harpy. “Are you at practice still or have you left?”

  “Still here. We have a few more hours.”

  She hung up, furiously blinking away the tears that burned the backs of her eyes. “Damn you, Kaeden.” Hastening her step, she jogged to the parking lot instead of walking as she normally would. He thought she was interfering, just because she was looking out for his best interests? Fine.

  Tossing her bag of books in the passenger seat when she finally got the door open, she slipped behind the wheel of her Subaru. She drove toward her destination before she changed her mind. In the lot, she shook her head over the incredible amount of overpriced luxury vehicles there.

  Seriously, who needed a Hummer when she knew for a fact, he didn’t leave the city, couldn’t be bothered to go into the country and get a bit dirty. She liked the lineman it belonged to, but always thought these men could spend their money better.

  After flashing her badge, she got into the facility. Walking to the field, she smiled at some of the staff as she moved by them. The sounds of flesh hitting flesh reached her and she hid her smile.

  Yes, football was a violent sport, but she loved it. Scanning the field, she paused as she realized it wasn’t the defense she watched running drills. Of course not, it was the offense. She should have known right away because that annoyingly persistent tingle that settled up over her entire body when she was in Kaeden’s world reminded her, there were dusty bits on her that could do with some attention.

  Man may have been an ass, but he was pure fucking poetry on the field. She bit her lower lip as he threw a tackle to protect the running back. Violence shouldn’t look so sexy to her. And normally it didn’t. Just…this man was doing it.

  “Think he’ll make a difference?”

  One
of the assistant coaches, David Teller, walked up and stopped beside her.

  Hands in her pockets, she rocked back on her heels. “Yes. Kaeden always makes a difference. He’s a fucking great player.”

  David didn’t speak for a moment and she knew he watched her. “But?” The question was soft, almost like he didn’t want to actually hear her answer.

  “He knows it and thinks his shit don’t stink.” Gesturing to the field, she rolled her eyes. “Case and point.”

  Currently the object of their discussion was lighting into another player and a few others had to get in the middle of it.

  “He’s got some rough edges.”

  She couldn’t help it, she burst out laughing. “Barnacles have rough edges but they can be smoothed away. Doesn’t mean I’d want them on my ass.”

  He chuckled and crossed his arms. “I forgot you knew him before—”

  “His head grew to astronomical proportions?”

  “Not quite what I was going to say.” He clapped a hand on her shoulder, the gesture familiar and paternal. “Guess I should get back to work.”

  “Always good to see you, David. Please give my best to Molly and Shari.”

  He walked toward the field, waving a hand over his shoulder in acknowledgement. She, on the other hand, pivoted on her heels and walked down toward the locker room. Knocking on the door, she pushed it open.

  “Mitchell?”

  “He’s in an ice bath, love.”

  “Thanks Ricky!” She enjoyed Richard “Tank” Liksome, he was a teddy bear off the field. The man was one of the front seven who protected the teams quarterback, Jason Draz. Backing away from the door, she turned and sucked a sharp breath.

  Kaeden sauntered up to her, hot and sweaty from practice and damn if she didn’t want to climb him like a fucking tree and have her way with him. Praying that didn’t show on her face, she ran a cool gaze over him. Then turned to walk off but he shifted in front of her, blocking her in.

  “What do you want?”

  “Come here looking for me, sweetheart?”

  God, his arrogance. Besides turning her on, annoyed her. “No. I came to talk to Mitchell.”

  He placed his hands on the wall beside her head, keeping her blocked in. All her lady bits perked up to an annoying level. Kaeden’s hair hung forward as he watched her, and she wanted to push her fingers through the strands.

  Who gave a shit he was sweaty from practice?

  Not me.

  It took a few reminders, mentally of course, for her to pull herself back under control. “I’m not looking to be a notch on your bedpost, or whatever bed you’re lying on now. Back off.”

  He didn’t. Instead, he bent his arms, lowering his, hard, sweaty body closer to her. Her pussy wasn’t playing fair, but then neither was he.

  “You used to want to be a notch in my bedpost.” A lazy shrug. “Doesn’t even have to be a bed. I’d love to be notched inside you. Think we can make that happen?”

  “Just going to fuck me here, against the wall?” His eyes deepened but he didn’t pull his eyes from her mouth. “Never mind. I’ll pass. And if you cared, I used to do a lot of stupid things. I’ve grown up.”

  “Trust me.” His voice was a low sexy whisper. “I’ve noticed.”

  Fuck, she had to get going or she would embarrass herself. Ducking his arm, she walked off, doing her best not to run, like every instinct told her to do. She understood predator and prey. If she did run, he would have been after her like a shot. Praying he didn’t follow her, she continued calmly before she knocked on the door and stepped in to where the ice baths were.

  “Mitchell,” she said rounding the corner to see him seated in one, headphones on as he watched a screen on the wall he faced.

  She cut her gaze and noticed it was tape he watched and listened to. He never took time off. The ringing in her ears from when he’d been yelling at her on the phone rushed to the forefront shoving back any and all gentler emotions for him. Moving up beside him, she waited for him to realize she was standing there.

  “Yeah?”

  God, he was still so full of his self-righteous condescension.

  “Returning your key. You weren’t in the locker room, so I’ll put it right here.”

  “Key? What for?”

  She spun on her heels and walked away, ignoring the sloshing as he moved in the tub, followed by the cursing when, from the sounds of it, the key dropped into the water as well. She pushed out of the room and walked away. Tears burned her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. This place was like a second home to her, and she was going to miss it. She lifted her chin and continued to head back to her car.

  Chapter Three

  Kaeden leaned against the wall in the shadows and watched Faye walk out of their training facility. His cock hadn’t gone down from his interaction with her earlier. The fucking woman smelled like sin, and the kind of sin he was more than willing to indulge in.

  As many times as she’d allow him to do that very thing.

  He’d not realized how much he’d missed her until she stormed into his house and back into his life. Standing that close to her today was hell because he wanted nothing more than kiss her and go from there. Her curves were to fucking die for.

  Readjusting himself, he pushed away from the wall and tossed the ball in his hand up as he headed out after her.

  “She’s nice enough but I wouldn’t touch her. At least not with the lights on. Too much there, you know?”

  Kaeden slowed, the football in his hand flattened a bit as he turned to find two of the linemen standing there, staring after his woman.

  “Right, you know she’d probably give it up, heavier girls are grateful when someone pays attention to them.”

  Rage pulsed through him. Resting his shoulder against the wall, he cleared his throat. Both men jumped. He didn’t know them all that well but at the moment was liking them even less.

  “Hope the two of you aren’t talking about Faye Reynolds.” My Faye Reynolds.

  Darryl Handler shrugged. “So what if we were?”

  He held each of their gazes until they broke contact first, looking away. “I mean I’m new to the team but even I know better than to talk shit about Mitchell Reynolds’ sister.” His words were slow and drawn out, his southern accent all the more pronounced.

  They both paled and he shrugged aware this move of his was very threatening. He was counting on it.

  “Add into that, you’re talking shit about one of the nicest women you will ever have the chance to meet, in front of her boyfriend.” He slammed the ball he held into Andy’s chest hard enough for him to lose his breath. “I hear it again and I’ll fucking put you both in the ground. Mitchell won’t have a chance to tear you a new one.”

  He jogged off after her, body tired but something about the thought of being close to Faye, pumped energy through him. Lengthening his stride when he hit the asphalt of the parking lot, he hollered out her name.

  “Faye?”

  As he closed the distance between them, he watched her stiffen then relax only slightly before turning to face him. Her expression, blank.

  He slowed to a halt before her and flashed a grin. One she didn’t respond to. A spike of warning, altered him that it was more than irritation with him to give her such a dead expression. He pushed that to the side, however.

  “Have dinner with me.”

  “No.”

  She walked away from him. Her instant rejection didn’t register right away because, well, because of who he was. By the time his brain had found its way to stop staring at her ass and how it filled out those jeans, she was at her car, opening the door.

  “Why not?”

  The look she shot him over her shoulder could have gelded him if she’d had a weapon. But that was it, there was no engaging him in an argument, she just got in her car and drove away. Hell, she probably didn’t even look in the rearview mirror.

  That could have gone far better than it did.

  As
his keys were in his pocket, he didn’t bother going back into the facility, just headed home and frowned as he strode in the door. Music played and he could smell something cooking.

  Who the fuck is in my house?

  His agent walked into view moments later. She was, as always, perfectly put together. He’d never seen her with anything out of place.

  “You’re in my house, drinking and cooking. What gives?”

  She passed him a bottle of water, expression calm and collected. “I want to meet your girlfriend. Or are you two going with the guise of her being your fiancée?”

  He uncapped it and took a long drink. “She said no.” Acid rose in his belly with that announcement.

  Lannie pivoted and walked away as fast as she’d arrived. He never understood how she could move those tiny legs so fast, especially when she was in heels such as she wore. Trailing her into the kitchen, he dropped his keys on the island and finished off the water while he waited for her to say what the fuck she was doing in his house.

  She cut her green gaze over a silk covered shoulder. “You’re inside. Why are you wearing a hat?”

  It was like his mom stood there. With a muttered curse, he yanked it off his head and dropped it on the marble slab. One he swore he would be fucking Faye over. Sooner rather than later.

  “Invite her to dinner. Tonight.”

  “Pretty sure I just told you she refused.” Irritation spiked and he crumpled the bottle in his hand.

  “Do you think I come down and cook for just anyone? Of course not. You need to get her over here so we can plan. Dinner will be ready in forty five minutes and I expect to be across the table from the both of you.” A tense moment between the two of them before she slowly lifted one eyebrow, her gaze never wavering from his. “Shouldn’t you be moving to shower and then going to pick her up?”

  Why was it he had women in his life who felt they could order him around? Then again, why am I listening to them? Mom is one thing but Lannie is my agent. She shouldn’t be able to boss me around like this.

  However, he wasn’t about to start arguing with her. He knew he’d gone against the grain when she’d approached him about his career and how she could help. Other players had laughed at him for dropping the man he had previously and signing with her. Doing so was by far the smartest thing he’d ever done since going pro. She didn’t manage a lot of clients because of the attention she liked to give them and there was that stigma of being a woman, but he wouldn’t drop her for anything. And he didn’t want her to drop him, either.