Wolf: A Sports Romance: The Nighthawk Series #2

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Wolf: A Sports Romance: The Nighthawk Series #2 Page 8

by Lisa Lang Blakeney


  “Tito, I’m going by the school before practice today. Owens, you want us to scoop you up on the way back or do you want to take a car service there?”

  “Wait … what?”

  “Jane and I are going to go by the school first. I just wanted to know if you wanted us to pick you up on the way to training camp or did you want to get there on your own?”

  “Oh … umm, it probably would be out of the way for you to come back and get me.”

  Tito stares at me thoughtfully then speaks.

  “We could come get you,” he asserts.

  Coop checks his watch.

  “Owens might have a point. I didn’t think about all the traffic going in that direction on the bridge. It might be kind of tight. No telling who we may run into at the school either. I have a few things to go over with the builder, so why don’t you just meet us at the field.”

  “Uh—okay.”

  Jane smiles at the both of us. Oblivious of the work ahead of her at camp. It’s a delicate dance keeping the reporters at bay and keeping the fans happy. Especially when you work for one of the most popular players on the team. She’s not even dressed properly for it.

  “Sounds good. May I just run to the ladies’ room before we leave, Mr. Barnes?”

  “No problem.”

  As soon as she turns the corner toward the restroom, Coop leans in toward me.

  “Jane’s working out, huh?” he half-whispers.

  “Yes, she is,” I try agreeing without showing any obvious attitude.

  Tito walks quietly out of the room toward the kitchenette.

  “You did good, Owens. She’s a keeper.”

  “So, you trust her?”

  “Until she shows me any differently, I think I know enough to comfortably hire her in your place. Don’t you? She was your top choice, right?”

  “Yes, she was my top choice.”

  Coop walks over to the large bay window in the common area and stares at the street below us with his back to me. I can’t help but take a few moments to think about what my sisters would say if they were here at this moment. Coop may be a lot of things, not all of them good, but one thing I could never deny is that he is hot.

  Today he’s wearing a casual white tee and a pair of jeans that look like they were tailor fit for his physique. The simplicity of his outfit plays up the definition of his upper body and the sleek lines of his long athletic legs. His hair is loose and a bit messy which only adds to his laid-back sexiness.

  “I realize that attending training camp has never been your favorite responsibility,” he says still facing the window. “You can skip it today if you want.”

  “Skip it?”

  “Yeah, might as well let Jane jump right in the deep end. That’s how you learned.” He turns to me. “Remember?”

  I do remember. I was so nervous, so determined to do a good job, and constantly looking for his approval.

  “You’re right, that is how I learned.”

  He moves closer to me, and I find myself stumbling a step or two back.

  “Unless you want to go with us today?” he asks tentatively.

  “If you want me to go I’ll go. Whatever you need to make this easier for everyone.”

  “Easier.” He parrots back the word almost as if it’s almost ridiculous.

  “Yes, easier.”

  He pauses for a moment then turns back around to the window. His demeanor completely nonchalant again.

  “Well I don’t think I need the two of you there today, so the easiest thing would be for Jane to go and for you to hang back.”

  My eyes almost well up.

  “Fine.”

  “I’ll talk to you later then.”

  “Sure … I guess while the two of you are at practice, I can go to your house and make sure your food service is delivered for the week. Maybe put it away in the deep freezer for you.”

  “Thanks for that but I didn’t want to bother you with work that the maid can easily handle. I should have never asked you to do that anyway, so I had her come in today to accept the deliveries.”

  “Oh.” My voice cracks.

  Finally, Jane returns from the bathroom.

  “I’m ready, Mr. Barnes.”

  Coop abruptly turns to grab his things.

  “Tito, we’re ready!”

  When the three of them walk away together and only Tito looks back at me, I feel a crushing pain in my chest. The ache takes me by surprise. I’m not sure if I’m being territorial, possessive, or what. The decision to leave was supposed to feel liberating, but all that it feels like at this point is freakin’ lousy.

  I’m beginning to accept the fact that I’m not an office girl. I guess I’m so used to traveling around with Coop and Tito, that I haven’t spent much time sitting at a desk. I’ve never looked so forward to changing my clothes and having an early girl’s night with my sisters as much as I do today. I need the mental break and the change of atmosphere.

  “I love this restaurant. How did you find it?”

  “It’s one of my find a man spots. They have live music on Thursdays.”

  “Of course.”

  “So, how’s our future niece or nephew doing in there?” I ask.

  Carla pats her swelling stomach.

  “I think he’s hungry.”

  “That’s the first time you called the baby a he.”

  “I just have a feeling lately that it’s a boy.”

  “You have a feeling, or did you sneak and get the ultrasound done?”

  “I assure you it’s just a feeling. Dexter would kill me if I tried to find out the sex of the baby.”

  I do my best to hold my tongue when it comes to my sister’s husband. He’s a handsome man but a bit too controlling and opinionated for my taste. Monica on the other hand doesn’t hold her tongue and checks him on a lot stuff better than I ever could. I think he might be frightened of her.

  “So, what’s work like now that the new girl has started? Is your decision to go feeling a lot more real now.”

  “Yep.”

  I start twisting my mother’s ring around my finger while Carla stares at me thoughtfully.

  “So she’s working out?”

  “Yeah, I think Coop likes her.”

  “Is she nice?”

  “Uh-huh. Practically a saint.”

  Carla and Monica give each other a look.

  “Is she pretty?”

  “What does that matter?”

  “It doesn’t, I was just wondering.”

  “Yeah, she’s pretty.”

  “You think Coop might be attracted to her?”

  “What does that matter, Monica?”

  I respond a little too harshly but neither one of my sisters even bats an eye. They just sit and wait for me to insert my own foot in my mouth.

  “I mean she’s definitely pretty, nice body, great disposition, but I don’t think he likes her in that way. He’s seeing someone, and Coop doesn’t do that.”

  “Doesn’t do what? Look at a pretty woman?”

  The two of them laugh.

  “Cheat.”

  “Oh … is it cheating now to look? If that’s the case, then Dexter can sue me for a divorce ten times over.”

  They both laugh again.

  I take an angry bite of my chicken marsala and quietly chew.

  “You seem a little sensitive about the subject, little sister. I thought this was something you wanted, or did you want your replacement to be butt ugly.”

  More laughter.

  Could I just toss a glass of water in their faces?

  “It doesn’t matter to me one way or the other. You two are annoying.”

  “Yep, we are.”

  “Oh crap, that’s Dexter calling me. His meeting finished early. He’s picking me up,” Carla announces.

  “What! We just got here.”

  “We did not,” she disputes. “We’ve been here for an hour. Gotta go and get my mandatory five o’clock bedrest.”

  “W
ell it’s just us cool kids now.”

  “Yep.”

  “You want to go back to work?”

  “Nope. There’s literally nothing for me to do if I go back there.”

  “You want to get drunk?”

  “Hellz yeah!”

  Monica and I order a round of cocktails and a round of shots. About two drinks and one shot later the ache I was feeling has dissipated, and in place of it sits a warm glow that I wish I could feel all of the time.

  “This must be why people drink,” I say as I start sipping my third rum cocktail. Pinky in the air. Lips feeling a little tingly.

  “You feeling no pain, little sister?”

  “None at all.”

  “Me too. Wait, I gotta tinkle.” Monica giggles. “You stay here.”

  Monica leans over when she stands up.

  “Whoa.”

  “Can you make it, lightweight?” I tease.

  “I got it. The bathroom is…over there!”

  My phone rings a few moments later.

  It’s him.

  I think about just letting it ring, but a small part of my brain is still functioning with a little common sense. I still work for him for a few more weeks. I have to answer. I always answer.

  “What.” I answer curtly.

  “Owens?”

  “That’s me!”

  “Are you fucking drunk?”

  Chapter Eighteen

  “I don’t get drunk, Mrrrr. Barnnnnes. I’m getting twwwisted!”

  Owens is slurring every other word and laughing like I’ve never heard before. It’s a higher pitched sound. It would be adorable if I wasn’t so worried about her. If she’s with that Jim guy, I will kill him. Literally.

  “Where are you?” I demand to know. “Who are you with?”

  “Since when do you care where I am or what I’m doing, you bad man.”

  I’m hopeful that her indignant words mean that my plan of gracefully accepting her resignation is working. After listening to Saint, I’ve decided that my reaction to her leaving wasn’t working in my favor and that maybe a change in attitude was required.

  “What are you talking about, Owens?”

  “What are you talking about Owens.” She tries imitating me using an exaggerated, deep voice.

  “Stop mimicking me like a third grader and tell me what your problem is.”

  “You left me at the office today.”

  “I was training the replacement that you hired. Isn’t that what you wanted?”

  “You were trrrraining her, huh?”

  “Yes, Owens.”

  “You like her, don’t you?”

  “Yes, I like her. I think she’s going to work out if that’s what you’re asking.”

  “If that’s what you’re asking,” she mimics me again. Her voice dropping even deeper.

  I have to admit, it’s a good imitation, and it’s kind of funny. I guess she can do voices besides the ones she sees on television.

  “You’ve been practicing that voice, haven’t you?”

  I can hear her take another gulp of whatever she’s drinking.

  “Shusssh your mouth, bad man.”

  I need to get to her.

  “Where are you, Owens.”

  “I’m out with people who love me. People who care about my well-being.”

  “You’re the one leaving me and now I don’t give a shit? I’m not going to ask you again. Where. Are. You?”

  I hear someone approach and interrupt our conversation.

  It’s a man.

  I don’t know Jim’s voice, but I can only assume it’s him. We’ll see how much she wants to go out with him once I buy that crap shit paper he works for and fire his ass.

  “Excuse me, miss, but I think the person who you’re here with needs your assistance in the bathroom.”

  “Owens!”

  “What? Stop yelling at me.”

  “Are you crying?”

  “No.”

  I hear her sniffling.

  “I’m sorry, darlin’.” I calm down. “I just want to help. Who are you with?”

  “My sister.”

  Thank fuck.

  “Okay, go help your sister, but please hand your phone to the man you’re talking to before you do.”

  “I don’t want to give him my phone. You just bought me this phone.”

  I smile.

  “Nothing will happen to the phone. Just please hand it to him. Okay?”

  “Welllllll—”

  Jesus Christ.

  “Okay, I’ll do it. I’ve gotta go to Monica now. I think her head is in a toilet.”

  “Hello?”

  “Thanks for grabbing the phone. May I please ask where you’re located?”

  “Seventh and seventy-second.”

  “And what is it?”

  “The Blue Fish Grill.”

  “And do you work there?”

  “No, I’m just having drinks here tonight, but my wife said that she thought your friend’s companion might be in a little trouble in the bathroom. So, I came over to tell her.”

  “Why didn’t your wife tell her?”

  I don’t trust him. Owens is drunk.

  “Huh? Listen, man, my wife stayed in there with the lady while I came over to inform your drunk friend. We’re doing her a favor.”

  “Apologies, but the woman you were just talking to is someone very special to me. I trust that you can promise me that she’ll be okay until I get there in about … let’s say fifteen minutes.”

  “Now wait a minute—”

  “My name is Cooper Barnes and there’s something in it for you if you make sure that woman is sitting in her seat with a hot cup of coffee when I get there.”

  “Cooper Barnes? The Cooper Barnes.”

  “The one and only.”

  “Aww, man, it’s nice to meet you. I never miss a game.”

  “Thanks for that. Listen I’m going to change the estimated time of arrival. I’ll be there in five. What’s your name?”

  “Bob McMillan.”

  “See you in five, Bob.”

  I hear them before I see them.

  Owens and her sister have apparently made it back to their table and are holding court.

  Grinning. Slurring. Laughing.

  There are three men standing around their booth and none of them look at all like they are the married Bob McMillan.

  When Owens notices that it’s me literally flying through the door to get to her, her face lights up in a way that I don’t think I’ve ever noticed before. Even drunk she’s gorgeous. And my heart and my dick start pulsing.

  “Coop!”

  “Are any of you Bob McMillan?”

  “Damn, are you that guy from the Nighthawks?”

  “I’ll be the guy who buys you your next round if you go drink it somewhere else.”

  “Sweet! No problem, CB. The ladies are all yours.”

  And that’s how you clear out a room.

  “Wow—is that all we’re worth?” asks a woman who looks nothing like Owens, but who I assume is her sister.

  “Yeah, you paid them off with an eight-dollar drink. I should have worn a sluttier dress.”

  It hasn’t gotten past me that Owens is wearing a tight fitting, silver, strapless dress. It hugs her in all the right places, especially her ass.

  “How many drinks have you had?” I ask her.

  “I dunno … how many drinks have you had?”

  Yeah, she’s definitely ten sheets to the wind.

  I introduce myself to her sister for the first time ever. I’m not sure how that happened. That three years passed without me meeting one of Owens’ family members. I guess I’m a little more self-absorbed than I thought.

  “Pleased to meet you. I’m Cooper Barnes. Your sister’s boss.”

  “The man. The myth. The legend.”

  They both start hysterically laughing.

  “I take it Owens has said nice things about me?”

  “Not even close. And why
the hell do you call her Owens? Her momma named her Ursula. It’s a beautiful name. She’s not some player on your team. She’s a woman with a name and she’s my sister!”

  The two of them high five each other.

  “That’s right!”

  The bar starts playing Elton John’s “Philadelphia Freedom” and all of a sudden Owens breaks out in song. I’ve never heard her sing a note in her life.

  “This is my mom’s song, Monica!”

  “Philadelphia freedom shine on me. I love you. Shine a light …”

  All I can do is watch. I take a seat on one of the wooden bar stools and listen to them sing the remainder of the song. They’re horrible. Hitting flat notes. Totally off tempo. But I’ve never seen Owens look happier. And when I look around the bar, I can tell that a lot of other men see what I am seeing right now.

  The light.

  The glow.

  That incandescent thing that some women simply have without even trying.

  The shine that draws men toward them like a beacon.

  I see a man at the end of the bar gathering the courage to approach. He’s young. Scraggly beard. A hunger in his eyes. I stare him down until he understands.

  Stay away.

  Stay very fucking far away.

  Another song comes on. This time it’s Elton John’s “Benny and The Jets.”

  Oh, hell no.

  “Okay, girls, it’s time to call it a night.”

  I scoop her around the waist.

  “Say good night, Owens.”

  “Good nnnight, Owens,” she slurs back.

  Chapter Nineteen

  “Noooo … It’s way too early, Mr. Barnes.”

  Owens holds onto the sides of my shirt to keep her balance as I walk her back to the table to pay the tab and get the hell out of here. I like her tucked under me like this. She fits perfectly.

  “Ewww, gross. No wonder he calls you Owens. It’s because you call him Mr. Barnes. What’s wrong with you two? You both act like you’re Nana’s age.”

  “She just started that mister nonsense,” I say defending myself.

  “Are you seeing Ariana Grande?”

  The sister may be even drunker than Owens. She’s all over the place.

  “Monica, I told you that wasn’t true!”

  “I know but you’d protect this man with your last earthly breath, so you might have been lying when you told me he wasn’t.”

 

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