Dreaming of a Hero (Heroes Series Book 2)

by Lyssa Layne

  I slam the door shut, leaning against it while Blake tries to hide his laughter. Shaking my head, I shove my finger in his chest. “This isn’t funny. Evan is mine for the next two days or he’ll never get signed.”

  Running my hands down my face, Blake lets his laughter go and pulls me to him. Giving me a kiss on the forehead, he says, “You’re the best, Camila. If anyone can tame Evan, it’ll be you.”

  And this is exactly why I don’t sign rookies.

  CHAPTER 2

  Camila

  Sitting on the balcony of our penthouse suite that we all shared the night before, luckily without the bathroom blondie, the Purser brothers and I eat our breakfast in silence. Other than Blake and I refusing to let her come back to the hotel with us, none of us have mentioned the restroom incident. Evan’s chair scrapes across the patio as he stands, forcing both Blake and I to look up at him.

  “I’m gonna grab a shower before we head back. Flight’s at noon, right?” Evan asks, walking away from us.

  Blake and I meet eyes, neither of us wanting to tell Evan about the change in plans. I lift my eyebrows high, my eyes getting big, and mouth, “Tell him.”

  Blake grumbles under his breath then calls to his brother’s back, “Ev, you and Camila are flying out tonight. Redeye back to L.A.”

  Evan spins around, confusion with a touch of anger is written all over his face. “Why?”

  Blake eyes me and I know it’s my turn. Taking a deep breath, I lean forward, placing my cup of coffee on the table. Slowly, I turn in Evan’s direction. “You and I need to work together to prepare you for negotiations.”

  Evan scoffs, his large shoulders moving up and down slowly and his t-shirt clinging to his muscles. “Whatever, I’m fine. As long as I sign with the Seawolves and get the same deal as last year, including the signing bonus, I’ll be good.”

  Blake and I exchange a look, neither of us speaking. The table shakes underneath Evan’s body as he slams his hands down. I jump at the sudden movement and my coffee slips over the top of my mug while our breakfast dishes clatter.

  “Quit the fuckin’ sideways glances. I know you two are tight, but if you have something to say, then just fuckin’ say it,” Evan growls at both of us.

  Blake stands up, pushing his brother back. “Chill out, Ev. There’s a lot more to this game than just football. Spend some time with Camila, listen to what she has to say, and it’ll better your deal when it comes time for contracts.”

  Evan balls his hands into fists and I can see his chest puffing from anger. I know this all too well as Blake used to have a short temper just like Evan. Quickly, I move between the two brothers, placing a hand on each of their chests.

  “It’s not a big deal. I just want to discuss some things that I should’ve gone over when we first started working together.” I speak calmly and look Evan in the eyes when I do, hoping he’ll see it as a sign to trust me.

  Above me, the brothers exchange a look and it’s like I’m watching a tennis match as my eyes dart back and forth between the two. Unable to handle the silence any longer, I push Blake toward the door.

  “We’ll see you back in L.A. Don’t worry about us, we’ll be fine. Right, Evan?”

  I look up into Evan’s dark eyes and notice the smallest hint of blue. He scratches his beard and runs his hand over his bald head. Muttering, he drops onto the loveseat on the patio. I turn back to Blake and nod, letting him know we’ll be fine. Taking a deep breath, I close the sliding doors and begin my lesson with Evan Purser.

  Evan

  For three hours, I’ve been listening to Camila drone on about every team in the league, who the coaches, managers, owners are, but I haven’t been paying attention. This Brazilian beauty has been pacing in front of me wearing the tightest jeans, a tank top that shows her midriff and lots of cleavage, and a small cardigan as if that hides any of her body that she’s flaunting. Her naturally tan skin is tempting me and I can’t keep myself from licking my lips, wondering what her skin tastes like.

  “Do you understand? Evan? Are you even listening?” Camila stops in front of me, her hands on her hips and her eyes narrowed. Uh-oh, I’m busted.

  Reaching out to her, I place my hands on her hips, slowly sliding them to her backside and pulling her to me. Her hands grab my shoulders, trying to steady herself and I can feel my cock twitching as my thumbs rub up and down the bare skin between her jeans and tank top.

  “Cami, why do I need to know all this?”

  She takes a step back, but I hold her firmly in place. “It’s Camila, not Cami and it’s important because it’s who you know that makes all the difference in this world.”

  My thumbs press harder against her skin, her waist is small enough that I can almost make a circle with my hands all the way around her. Staring at my fingers on her skin, I shrug. “I want to be in San Diego with the Seawolves. Make that happen and fuck everyone else.”

  Her fingers move under my chin, lifting it to look at her. I sigh. I’d much rather stare at her taut tummy than in her eyes, but again, I’m a man and other than football, sex is the only other thing on my mind.

  “Evan, I understand you want to stay in San Diego, but first we need to explore other options. Let the Seawolves know there’s more than one team that wants you so that they’ll offer you a contract we’ll accept.”

  I can smell the ginger and floral of her perfume on her wrists. Moving my hand to hers, I lightly brush my lips across the back of her hand. This penthouse needs to see some action. I move my lips down to her wrist, inhaling her perfume, before kissing up her arm.

  “Fine, Cami, just tell me what to do. Let’s forget all this boring stuff and get on to something more fun,” I say softly, moving my hand across the shirt on her stomach.

  “It’s Camila,” she says firmly and grabs my hand, bending my fingers backward.

  Pain shoots down my wrist. “Fuck, Camila, what are you doing?”

  “Getting your paws off me. I’ll tell you once and we’ll act like this never happened. I don’t have relations with my clients. Understand?” She drops my hand and steps back out of my reach, a smirk on her thin lips. Her wide nose flares slightly, yet she looks completely confident…and so fuckin’ sexy.

  I lean back on the loveseat, folding my hands behind my head. “So you’re telling me that you’ve never fucked my brother?”

  Ever so slightly she hesitates, but shakes her head. “Blake and I are friends.”

  I grin. “Really? It sure looks like more than that. If you aren’t sleeping with him, then who gets that pleasure?”

  Camila’s lips turn into a smile. “Evan, just because you don’t mind letting the world know who you stick it in, does not mean that we all do.”

  I purse my lips and fake a shocked look. “Oh, ouch, Cami. Got me right where it hurts. Maybe the truth is that you aren’t getting laid…” I raise an eyebrow at my insinuation.

  Her lips drop. “It’s Camila, not Cami. My love life is my business, just like yours is yours…until it gets you in trouble.”

  In a huff, she turns and walks toward the penthouse. Her tight ass and swaying hips make me want her so much more. Calling after her with a grin, I yell, “Okay, Cami. You know where I am when you need a good lay.”

  She pauses when I say her pet name then she slams the door behind her. Despite my growing hard on, I grin, because Camila Lemos has just offered me a challenge. The Brazilian She-Devil needs to get laid so she can lighten up.

  CHAPTER 3

  Evan

  Three-hundred and fifty pounds hovers above me. The first couple sets were easy, but now I’m on my third and my pecs are burning while my arms tremble under the weight of the bar. Grunting, my legs lift off the ground as I struggle with every muscle in my upper body to rack the weight.

  “Grr…Blake…” I grunt to my brother who is standing above me, supposedly being my spotter, but right now is just standing there like a statue.

  Finally, he leans over the bar, but doesn’t take it
. “Camila said you came on to her.”

  Sweat is rolling down my forehead and into my eyes making them burn. “So…”

  Blake moves his hands over mine, not relieving me of the weight, but instead applying more pressure. “So, you don’t do that shit, Evan. She’s a professional and if you play your cards right, she can get you any deal you want.”

  Ignoring his comment, I dig deep, trying to find more strength to push the bar up, but it barely moves half an inch. If he doesn’t get this weight off me, I’m going to drop it all directly on my chest.

  “Do you hear me, Evan? Don’t fuck with her,” Blake threatens, his voice is low and his normal mellow attitude is gone.

  My arms are shaking uncontrollably and I can’t hold it anymore. Bracing myself for the fall, the weight is alleviated and my Jell-O arms fall to my side. Blake racks the weights as I sit up, shaking out my arms and rolling my neck.

  “What’s your deal with her? Why are you so protective?” I demand, standing up, knowing I am taller than him and not wanting him to have any advantage over me.

  “She’s good at what she does and you need to show her respect, Evan,” Blake says in a patronizing tone.

  I roll my eyes and laugh. “Look, you two might be bed buddies, but you’re not doing a good job. You should’ve seen her, she might’ve said no, but she didn’t want to.” It’s a tiny white lie, but no one will ever know.

  Blake puffs out his chest, bumping it against mine and grabbing my shirt. “Don’t be a dick, Evan. If you want to make it in this career, you need her on your side.”

  I shove him off me and step around him. “Yeah, yeah, whatever. You might be the oldest, but that just means you’ll retire before me.” I don’t have to turn around to know Blake’s fuming. Sure, he might have raised me since our dad ran out when we were younger, but he’s not the boss of me anymore.

  Camila

  I can feel the tension being released from my spine and shoulder blades as I hold the downward dog pose. The pull in my hamstrings feels amazing and I let all the stress from the past couple weeks roll away. I remain in the pose just a few seconds longer as the teacher dismisses the class. Beside me, my two best girlfriends watch as they wait for me to finish.

  “I’m glad you’re back in town.” says Colie Adamson, L.A. Stags head athletic trainer and also wife to the Stags’ pitching coach and one of my former clients, Grant Adamson.

  Standing up slowly, I let the blood in my head begin to flow throughout my body and nod. “It’s good to be home, I feel like I hardly am anymore.”

  My other friend, Mia James, rubs her pregnant belly as she sits on her mat. Her husband, Tate, is one of my clients and the starting shortstop for the Stags. “How was the Super Bowl?”

  I hold out my hand and Mia gladly takes it, bracing her back with the other as I help her up. “Honestly? It was a disaster.”

  Colie’s eyes light up, excited to hear the drama, while Mia frowns sympathetically. Colie’s blonde ponytail bounces up and down as she nods, wanting me to tell more. I laugh at her antics and roll up my mat.

  “Weren’t you with the Purser boys?” Mia asks, waddling ahead of us as we all make our way out of the room. Mia is almost as tall as her husband, who is six feet and she’s got the perfect figure. Even pregnant, she looks stunning, seriously it's like she just has a basketball stuck under her shirt.

  I nod and hold the door open for her since I passed her halfway across the room.

  Colie grins. “Let me guess, it was the man whore brother. Evan, right? What’d he do?”

  Mia and I both laugh and the three of us stroll down the hallway. “He just doesn’t understand the importance of networking.” I shake my head, recalling his hands on my stomach and quickly I push away the feelings he evoked. “Oh, and he had a quickie with some blonde in the bathroom of the suite at the game. Then came on to me in the hotel room the next day.”

  Mia gasps and grabs my hand. “Where was Blake? I’m sure he didn’t like that.” Mia’s ex-husband, Asher, liked to use Mia for sex and like a punching bag, so I understand her concern and feel bad for making her think that way.

  “No, no, Mia. It wasn’t anything like that. I mean, he just…he asked if I’d slept with Blake.”

  Both the women immediately stop and turn to me, their eyebrows arched high with curiosity. Rolling my eyes, I laugh and shake my head. “I’ve told you before, Blake and I are just friends.”

  “Mmhmm,” Colie quips and begins walking again. “Are you doing anything with him for Valentine’s Day tomorrow?”

  “Ha ha, Colie. No, he’ll be in Chicago and actually, Gregg will be in town,” I answer with a smirk. Gregg Turner is a pitching coach for the baseball team in Kansas City. For the past couple years, we’ve had a friends-with-benefits kind of relationship, which is exactly what we both want. Nothing serious, no commitment, just companionship when we need it, and someone to serve as my date when Blake’s not available.

  Mia pats my arm. “Good, I’m glad you get to see him again.”

  Colie rolls her eyes. “I’m not. Come on, Cam, you need to ditch him and find a man you can settle down with.”

  I laugh as I put my arm around her shoulders. “I’m sorry I haven’t found perfect guys like Grant and Tate. Besides, just because you two are married and happy, doesn’t mean I have to be married, too. I’m perfectly content with how my life is.”

  Colie rolls her eyes again, glancing at me sideways. “Whatever, Camila. You’re only getting laid what? Every couple months? That is no way to live, girlfriend. You’re twenty-seven, that’s young! At least if you aren’t going to get married, find a guy a little closer. Please?”

  Mia laughs, toddling a few feet behind us. “Colie, just because you and Grant are like rabbits, doesn’t mean everyone is like that.”

  Colie scoffs and turns to Mia. “Like you have any room to talk, Mrs. James!”

  Mia narrows her eyes. “I’m not the one with a three-month-old and pregnant again.”

  My jaw drops and I turn to Colie, whose cheeks are burning red. “What?!”

  “Mia, you weren’t supposed to say anything yet. I was going to tell her at lunch.” Colie says with a frown. “Grant doesn’t even know yet. I literally peed on a stick before class.”

  I put an arm around both of my friends. “That’s so exciting and my lips are sealed. I’m happy for you guys.” I squeeze Colie’s shoulder then look at Mia. “And thank you for letting the cat out of the bag.”

  Mia laughs, tossing her brunette hair back. “I was just trying to take the heat off you since Colie was giving you a hard time.”

  I link arms with both of them as we continue down the hallway. “Sounds like we have a lot to celebrate. Another Adamson on the way and baby James’ arrival in just a few weeks.”

  Colie looks over at me. “So if you’re not with Blake, maybe Evan is an option? He’s a lot closer than Gregg.”

  I laugh, blowing off the thought, but the memory of his thick hands around my waist comes to mind. With his hands on me, there was a burning deep in my stomach that I haven’t felt in a long time. I shake my head. Evan’s a client. An immature, man whore one at that.

  CHAPTER 4

  Evan

  Valentine’s Day, the worst day of the year. Sure, now I can get any woman I want, but before I was drafted, ladies never gave me the time of day. Without the fame, I’m just an awkward giant that no woman wants to mess with. So yeah, Valentine’s Day isn’t my most favorite of days since I’ve typically spent it alone.

  Part of being a goliath means that I’m also hung like a horse and most women have no idea what to do with me. My high school girlfriend can attest to the fact that she had no clue what to do with something that big, although we figured it out…once and then she was scared off. Luckily, the women that chase after me now know what to expect and are obviously experienced with what they do.

  I pop the top on my beer and sink into my couch. Well, Blake’s couch I should say. He may not be the b
oss of me, but I am his roommate. Since we both play for the Seawolves and my contract is only a year, I didn’t want to put down my roots until I know I’m staying permanently.

  Almost a year in San Diego and I’m loving this town. Of course, anything is better than the podunk, two-stop sign town we grew up in. Here in California, I love the weather, the women, and my teammates aren’t too bad either. I’d never admit it to him, but I actually like having Blake on my team. Back in high school, we only played a couple years together. We work much better on the field as teammates than we do as brothers.

  Hmm, I wonder what Blake’s doing tonight. Probably Camila. I laugh out loud at my own joke then pick up my phone and dial his number. It rings a couple times before he picks up.

  “What’s up, Ev?”

  “Hey, man. What’re you doing tonight?” I guzzle down my beer.

  “It’s Valentine’s Day, I’ve got a date,” he answers as though I should’ve known. However, my brother and I rarely talk about football much less discuss our dating lives. Honestly, other than Camila, I’ve never even seen another woman around him so really, how am I supposed to know he has a date.

  “Sorry, man. I’ll catch ya later,” I say and hang up.

  Romantic music plays from the television and I flip it off. Standing up, I walk to the window and finish off my beer. Blake’s house sits on ten acres, but I can still make out the neighbor’s house in the dark of the night. A light flips on in the upper left corner and I can see two figures. Someone’s about to get lucky…

  Not wanting to be a perv, I head to the kitchen to grab another beer. As I do, I pause when I open the refrigerator door. Staring back at me in a picture are Camila’s chocolate eyes, her long hair pulled into a messy bun while she smiles back at the camera. She’s wearing just a bikini and sitting at a bar with the beach in the background. I pluck the picture from the magnet for closer inspection. Not that I’ve seen her smile often, but her eyes crinkle when she does and the smile in this picture is genuine, you can tell it’s not posed, she’s actually laughing.