by Virna DePaul
But on the next play he ran the wrong route, which resulted in an interception by the cornerback.
"Murphy!" Coach shouted at him. "What the hell are you doing?”
"Sorry, Coach!" was all Gabe could say as he lined back up next to Young.
"It's a big play book and you're brand new," Young said, nudging him with his elbow. "No worries, eh?"
Gabe nodded, trying to shake it off. But the rest of the practice was a shit storm. He tripped up the running back who would have had an open seam to score had it not been for him. He missed a block he was supposed to pick up leading to Young getting sacked. He dropped more balls than he'd caught all day and even managed to trip over his own feet on the single catch he had since Zoe arrived at practice.
Twenty minutes later, the whistle blew and Coach called everyone together on the sidelines. Gabe felt like shit. He had hoped to really impress his new coach and his new teammates. But instead of instilling confidence in his play on a new team, he'd only managed to cause doubt. The last thing he needed was Coach cutting back his reps, dropping him in the depth chart, or asking around the league to see if anyone wanted the busted and broken Gabe Murphy.
"Fellas, we've got a lot of work to do as I'm sure you are all aware," Coach said, rocking back and forth on his heels. "There were some standouts and there were some… well, we'll keep working at it, right? Now get out of here, would ya?"
He clapped once then patted everyone on the back while the team made their way into the locker rooms, but paused at Gabe.
"Don't make me regret my decision to take a risk on you, son," he said in a low voice. "Prove to me that you're still the star you used to be."
"I will, Coach," he said. "I won't let you down."
Gabe took off his helmet and walked to his sister and Zoe, stopping just below where they sat. Zoe was wearing jeans, a tank top with a knot in the front that sexily showed off a little midriff, and a light sweater over it. As always, she looked good, but her eyes were slightly red, her skin a little pale, and he wondered if she was getting enough sleep or coming down with something.
“Not a good time to lose one’s head,” Murph said with a giggle.
“Yeah, yeah, very funny,” Gabe said.
“He’ll never be the head of a major corporation,” she added. She was reciting lines from the Austin Powers movie. Mimi had told them their parents loved that movie around the time they got married, so he and his sister had watched it as kids over and over until they’d had the whole thing memorized.
Gabe refused to respond, prompting Murph to keep going. “That’s not the way to get ahead in life.” She was snorting now, but Zoe, next to her, at least was holding back from joining in on the fun.
Gabe sighed and turned to Zoe. “I know her mission is to make my life miserable, but why are you here?” he grunted out.
He was angry about letting himself get distracted, but instead of directing that anger toward himself he aimed it toward Zoe.
Zoe eyed him calmly before crossing her arms over her chest. “I came because I wanted to see the types of drills they’d be putting you through, how we might improve the training program I have planned, how you looked out there.”
Gabe let out a long, frustrated sigh. Damn, that sounded reasonable. He hated that she was being rational when he clearly wasn’t. He’d fucked up, but that was no reason to take it out on Georgia Peach, who if he was being honest was a sight for sore eyes.
“Fine,” he said, still embarrassed by how he’d played, but trying not to be a cranky ass. “So what are you thinking?”
“We should move from five to six days a week. Also, on your off days with the team, try for a two-a-day. When we first got here, you were looking great. Sharp, fast, good hands. As practice went on, you ran out of steam. You have excellent stamina, but it can still be improved. You in?”
She hit the nail right on the head. He needed all the work he could get. And as much as seeing her six days a week was going to be a nightmare from hell on his libido, he couldn’t let his dick get in his way. Point blank—he needed the work. He knew it.
“Yeah, all right. I’m in,” he muttered, swiping a forearm across his brow which had started to sweat again. Damn heat. “I’ll call you later. We can work out a new schedule.”
“Better idea!” his sister piped in. “You need practically 24/7 training,” she said to Gabe. “More than we originally discussed. It’ll be crazy for Zoe to drive to our house back and forth all day, every day.”
“Oh, I don’t mind,” Zoe said quickly.
“Murph…” He crooked an eyebrow at his sister.
Turning to Zoe, Murph said, “What are you doing for the next several weeks?”
“Murph…”
“What do you mean?” Zoe asked. “I’ve cleared my entire schedule for him. That’s what I’m doing. Training my one and only client. Why?”
“Well…” His sister let loose a sly smile. “You did say the air conditioning at your house suddenly stopped working the other day, right? And you’re already going to be at our house most days using the home gym….”
Gabe could see the understanding spreading across Zoe’s face. He could feel the tension rising in his chest like an ever-expanding helium balloon. “Murph, can we talk about this in private?”
“Why? Zoe, we’ve got four extra bedrooms sitting empty, each one with its own master suite. I’m thinking…it would be much easier if…” Murph kept talking, but Gabe could barely hear her.
Zoe Reynolds, just down the hall from him. Every. Fucking. Day.
Zoe Reynolds, taking a shower, one thin door between them.
Zoe Reynolds, haunting his dreams, both wet and dry, night after night.
Zoe Reynolds distracting him, just like she did when he’d gotten hit in the head with the damn ball.
His sister was about to utter her official invitation for Zoe to move in with them and Gabe was struck by a sudden, overwhelming panic as he looked at Zoe.
Her eyes slid to his and her little pink tongue darted out to trace her bottom lip. A bottom lip he was aching to taste. He was weak, the exact opposite of what he needed to be. Everything about her distracted him: her body, her gaze, her perfume, the way her hips moved, the sound of her laughter. It kept him up at night, and then all he wanted to do during the day was sleep so he could dream about her again.
It would only be a hundred times worse if they were living together.
“No,” he said bluntly. “That won’t work.”
“But Gabe,” his sister began.
“I said no, Murph. I’m going to be seeing enough of Zoe as it is. You and I need our privacy, and so does Zoe. End of discussion.”
He sounded like an asshole again, and he forced himself to turn to Zoe to try and explain, apologize somehow, but instead of finding her expression closed off or hurt, she was biting back a smile.
Because she knew, he thought.
She understood how much he wanted her, and he was pretty sure it was because she wanted him just as much.
She knew he’d been distracted by her all those times he fucked up on the field. That she was the reason he hadn't gotten sleep the last few nights, because he’d been too busy peeling those tight leggings off her toned legs again and again in his mind.
But did she see that the more he tried to not want her, the worse it got?
“Thanks again for coming by, Zoe. I’ll see you soon,” he managed to get out before heading into the tunnel toward the locker rooms. Just before he went inside, he slammed his helmet against the white painted cinder blocks. He was supposed to be thinking about X's and O's, schemes and defenses, but he couldn't get Zoe's little knowing smile out of his head.
And the worst thing of all?
No matter how much he reminded himself he needed to do just that, the fact remained: he didn’t want to.
Chapter 7
Later that night, Zoe thought she was going to melt into the couch like the Wicked Witch of the West. Given the past
several nights of sweltering heat coupled with humidity pushing 100%, she wasn’t just losing sleep, but her appetite and her sanity, as well. Her stomach felt empty but she couldn’t bear the thought of eating anything.
She tried to hang in there, but an hour later, she was so desperate she considered driving to Iron Maiden, cranking up the A/C, and trying to grab a few hours of sleep on the workout benches, air conditioning bill be damned. Only problem? She could barely move.
When her phone buzzed with an incoming text, she groaned. She swore it took her a full minute just to pick up her phone to see the text was from Murph.
How you survivin' out there, Zoe?
Zoe had to wipe her clammy fingers across the couch just so she could type: Not too bad really.
Immediately, her phone vibrated. Bullshit.
Zoe was in the middle of reassuring Murph that she was fine when another text came in.
Gabe’s out for the night. Why don’t you come over and we can jump in the pool?
At the thought of jumping into cool water, Zoe actually whimpered. She wanted so badly to say yes, but then she remembered how adamant Gabe had been about wanting his privacy after Murph had suggested Zoe move in with them. Zoe would never have accepted the invitation anyway, but she couldn't deny that for a few seconds, she’d been sorely tempted to—because A/C and less driving time but mostly because A/C!!!—but she totally got why Gabe had reacted the way he had. Who wanted to be with his trainer more than he needed to? And if part of her had suspected that Gabe simply didn’t want to deal with the chemistry that made itself known whenever they were close to one another, well, he was just being smart. They had a business relationship and that’s where it had to stay.
She was just about to politely decline Murph’s invitation to come over when the other woman texted again.
Don’t worry about Gabe. I live here, too, you know.
Don't say no.
He'll never find out.
Say yes.
Say yes.
Say yes.
Say yes.
Zoe thought her already boiling phone might start steaming or even catch on fire with the flood of texts. Weakening, she bit her lip. Murph was right—it was her house, too, so why couldn’t she have someone over to swim if she wanted? And if Gabe was gone for the night, did it really matter? A dip in the pool wouldn’t just feel good at the time, but it might help her sleep tonight for once.
Before she could change her mind, she quickly replied: Fine! You win! You win!
As Zoe got up to pack a small bag, she added: Has anyone ever told you that you're stubborn as hell?
Zoe couldn't help but laugh when Murph sent her response.
Nope.
Never.
I have no idea what you're talking about.
When Zoe arrived at Gabe and Murph’s front door, she punched in the code the other woman had sent her, telling Zoe she’d meet her out back at the pool. When the lock disengaged, she slipped inside, trying not to look like a burglar breaking into where she didn’t belong. She couldn't help but feel out of place, dressed in gym sneakers, leggings, and a sweaty tank top, as she walked on marble floors and underneath a glistening chandelier.
As soon as she registered the cool air-conditioned air, Zoe exhaled, a smile on her lips. Adjusting her bag with her swimsuit and towel on her shoulder, she looked for the hallway that Murph had told her led from the foyer to the backyard, but there were three different options. Had she said to take the left, middle, or right? Zoe was pretty sure all she’d said was take the hallway.
She tried the right hallway first and ended up passing a theater room, a hall bathroom, and a bedroom still stuffed with unpacked boxes. Doubling back, she took the left hallway, passing one closed door, then noticing a huge four poster bed through a cracked door.
For a moment, exhaustion threatened to topple her, and she pictured herself diving into that heavenly looking bed, bypassing a cool swim for a solid night’s sleep. She imagined herself swaying toward the bed as if drawn to its—
Zoe’s hand shot out to grab the doorframe.
Holy crap. She actually had been swaying, probably a result of her recent sleeplessness combined with her having skipped dinner. She straightened, intending to find Murph as soon as possible, maybe ask her if she could have some crackers or something, when her phone buzzed.
Zoe, you there yet? I’m so sorry! I had to leave to handle a business emergency. Feel free to still use the pool and stay as long as you want. I’ll try to be back soon.
Wait.
So Murph isn’t even here? Should she—
“Zoe?”
At the male voice, Zoe screeched and twirled around. Her jaw fell open when her sleep-deprived eyes landed on Gabe standing in the now open doorway of the bedroom with the four poster bed. He was almost naked but for a towel slung around his hips.
Beads of water clung to his chiseled chest and upper abs and Zoe wondered why they weren't sizzling and turning immediately to steam: Gabe was just that damn hot. The ends of the towel on his hips just barely met, and it wouldn’t take much to make the material fall, revealing his toned, muscular thighs and his…
Blushing as embarrassment washed over her like a pail of ice cold water, Zoe averted her hungry gaze, and wiped her lips because she was afraid she had been drooling. "Um, I'm so sorry. Murph invited me for a swim, told me to meet her by the pool but…” She lifted her phone feebly, as if he could read Murph’s texts from where he was standing. “She just texted that she had an emergency and left, but I swear, she said you were out for the night and I would never have come here if I’d—”
“Hey, hey, Zoe, it’s fine. I was supposed to be out for the night but I came back early. Murph was already gone when I got here.”
Zoe closed her eyes. “What a calamity of events. I’m sorry.”
When Zoe opened her eyes again, Gabe was suddenly fuzzy. Dizziness swept over her, discombobulating her even more. She needed to get out of here before she passed out and humiliated herself. “Sorry to bother you. Have a good night!” She moved past him, practically running for the front door.
"Zoe, wait!"
Cinderella left a glass slipper, but Zoe left her gym bag where she’d dropped it. Grabbing it, he hustled after her, holding her bag in one hand while trying to keep his towel secured around his waist with the other. At one point, he almost slipped on his still shower-slick feet.
Why was he risking another injury chasing after his trainer? Was he crazy?
"Zoe, Zoe, hold up," Gabe said just as he and Zoe made it to the foyer with the ridiculous chandelier he’d told Murph was pompous as hell but she insisted was elegant. "Hold up, hold up a second." When she didn’t stop, Gabe caught her wrist just as she was about to slip into the chokingly muggy night.
"You left your bag," he said, holding it out for her.
Zoe turned toward him and Gabe’s jaw clenched. The red eyes and pale skin he’d glimpsed during practice earlier had morphed into exhaustion. She looked worn down as hell. Purple bags hung heavy beneath her long bottom lashes and her normally relaxed posture was tense, as if she was barely holding herself together. Her long hair was matted against her forehead, which glistened from the oppressive heat that even now was coming in from the cracked front door. She looked a few moments away from collapsing.
Damn it, he’d felt for himself how hot her house was without air conditioning the night he’d walked her home. And at practice earlier, when Murph had been listing the reasons Zoe should move in with them, she’d mentioned Zoe’s broken A/C, but Gabe had been so focused on shutting down Murph’s invitation that he hadn’t really registered what that meant. Zoe had been living without an air conditioner for days now. He didn’t know if it was because she hadn’t found someone to fix it or because she couldn’t afford it, but either way he was the asshole who’d deprived Zoe of a cool place to stay because he’d been afraid having her around would be too hard on his dick.
Zoe managed an exhausted ha
lf-smile as she took her bag from Gabe's grasp and turned to leave again.
"Zoe, you came to swim. Why don’t you go ahead and –”
She immediately shook her head. "No, no, what I really need is just to get some sleep. I never should have agreed to come here in the fir—"
"Of course you should have. Murph invited you and I don’t mind. And Zoe, you need to get more than some sleep. You look like you’ll fall asleep at the wheel before you get past the gate. Why don’t you sleep here tonight?”
"What? No. I'll be fine," Zoe stubbornly countered. "As you said earlier, it wouldn’t be professional for me to sleep at my client's house."
Gabe crossed his arms over his chest and immediately Zoe’s gaze lowered to his towel before shooting up to his face again. To make her feel better, he once again grasped the towel to make sure it stayed in place. “I was wrong earlier,” he said. “And if you still don't have a working air conditioner…” He cocked a questioning brow.
She bit her lip, then gave a little shake of her head.
“Well, then, it would be far more unprofessional of you to leave at this point then.”
“What do you mean?”
"If you leave and somehow make it home even though you’re clearly in no shape to drive, then there’s a high chance you 1) won’t sleep well or 2) will wind up in the hospital from heat stroke or dehydration. Then I'll suddenly be without a trainer at the start of the season. That seems the definition of unprofessional to me. So you see, if you stay, you’ll be doing a great thing for me, your client. What do you say?”
Zoe studied him hesitantly. It was obvious that she was still going to decline and Gabe couldn't bear that. Zoe needed to stay and get some rest. He just had to figure out a way to make sure that happened.
"Gabe, we can't—"
"Wait, wait," he said, placing a hand over his chest. "Look, I know it will be tough for you to keep your hands off me considering well…” He swept a hand down his body Vanna White style. “But you’re just going to have to control yourself, Zoe. You can do that, can’t you?”