by J. H. Croix
I took a gulp of coffee, nearly bursting out in laughter at what had happened to my boundaries. After another gulp of coffee, I managed to look at Harper. “Thank you for a dose of reason. How about we talk about something else?”
Daisy giggled, but Harper gamely shifted gears, asking me for feedback on a knee surgery that had gone awry for one of her clients. It had only been in the last year that we’d even joked about dating and men around Harper. Aside from the fact I didn’t want to dwell on Liam right now, I was so relieved to see her relaxed and easy-going about the topic I didn’t want to unintentionally carry things too far.
Hours later that night, I lay in bed with thoughts of Liam running laps in my brain. This was so not me. I usually got stuck on medical topics and often found myself up late at night looking at data from recovery rates and reviewing surgery videos. I didn’t lie in bed longing for anyone. I was restless and needy. I’d liked to have thought yet another orgasm under his magic touch would have slaked my need, but it only seemed to make it worse. The thing was, it wasn’t plain physical release I needed. I needed Liam.
Chapter Eleven
Liam
I leaned back on my hands on the bench and watched my team practice. As boring as it was, relatively speaking, I had learned a thing or two. I was bloody impatient to be back in play, but I was starting to recognize I could get through this time without losing my mind. They were practicing inside today, as it was drizzling yet again. It was cool enough now the coaching staff deemed it not good for our muscles to practice outside when the weather was like this. After a final play, I watched my teammates file slowly toward the locker room.
Coach strolled to the bench and sat down beside me, resting his elbows on his knees and looking ahead. “How’s the knee feeling?” he asked.
I stretched my leg out and flexed it again, sensing only a slight hitch and very little soreness. “”Good. I think. Tim says I’m moving right along.”
Coach looked to the side, catching my eyes. “So I hear. Dr. Monroe spoke with him this morning. If all stays on track, it sounds like you’ll be back in action in under two months from now.” He paused as if considering his words. “You know, I wasn’t so sure you’d show up like I asked. I hope you understand why I did.”
I nodded. “Right. Can’t say I was happy about it at first. The team is what matters. I’m new enough here that if I dropped out of sight, it wouldn’t be good for the rest of the team. Plus, I’ve actually learned a few things,” I said with a grin. “On the pitch, I have a sense of who’s where, but you only know what’s within a certain range. This many hours of watching practice and tapes gives me a better sense of how everyone functions once the play’s in motion.”
Coach smiled, just barely. He stood and held his hand out, giving me a tug as I stood and walked alongside him. A few minutes later, I met Alex just outside the locker room, and we headed out together. Tugging my hood up, I tucked my hands in my pockets as we walked through the drizzle to Desert Isle Café nearby, the very place we’d encountered Olivia a few weeks ago. The second she flashed through my thoughts, a jolt of heat hit me. I’d hardly stopped thinking about her if I was honest.
Alex, being the best mate he was, held the door and gestured me through in front of him. I joked about it, but despite the fact he looked like a beast, he was the most gentlemanly of us all. He was tall and solid as a rock. I didn’t think I was being biased when I said he was the best goalkeeper in the world because most everyone who knew anything about football agreed with me.
Stepping out of the chilly rain was a relief. I tossed my hood back and walked to the counter, my eyes scanning the crowded café, hoping to see Olivia. Alex nudged my shoulder. I turned and realized the line had moved ahead while I was standing there like fool looking for a woman. Of course, only I knew that, but still.
“Your Dr. Bowen isn’t here, mate,” Alex said.
I glanced to him and rolled my eyes. “Wasn’t…” I started to deny I’d been looking for her and then decided I didn’t give a damn. “Fine, maybe I was looking for her. She’s nice.” And so damn hot you got off thinking about her in the shower this morning. I kept that little detail to myself and continued. “Plus, you’re the one who thought she was so great because she was focused on me and not the team.”
Alex chuckled softly and looked away to order a coffee when the person in front of us stepped away from the counter. After we both ordered, we stood aside to wait. Alex leaned against the counter just as two women approached us. Per usual, Alex barely acknowledged them, nodding his head slightly. Under usual circumstances, I’d be the one to engage in easy banter, yet I wasn’t the slightest bit interested and, in fact, felt impatient with the whole thing.
Somehow I managed to say hello. I stood there awkwardly while one of the women, quite beautiful with long, silky blonde hair, a willowy figure and blue eyes, stood a bit too close for my comfort.
“Is it just me, or do you happen to look exactly like Liam Reed?” she said with a slow smile.
I felt Alex’s shoulders shake slightly, although unless you knew him like I did you wouldn’t notice he was amused.
“Not just you. Liam and I are one and the same,” I deadpanned. “If you don’t mind, I’m rather busy right now.”
The woman looked back and forth between Alex and I, a smile teasing at the corners of her mouth. “Well then, if you find you’re not so busy later…” Her words trailed off as she scribbled a number on a scrap of paper she dragged out of her purse. She brazenly slipped it into my pocket and sauntered off. I had to give it to her for clearly being a master. She had enough sense to back off at my cool response, but made it quite clear she was available. Even a few weeks ago, I’d have been thinking about when I’d be calling her. Instead, I was indifferent beyond objectively appreciating her boldness.
Alex angled to face me and shook his head slowly. “You’ve got it bad,” he said.
“For her?” I asked, sidestepping because I knew he was referring to Olivia. He knew me too well.
He rolled his eyes. “No. Dr. Bowen,” he said flatly with a knowing smile.
“I don’t see Dr. Bowen anywhere here,” I countered, enjoying calling Olivia ‘doctor.’
“Exactly. I usually rely on you to flirt enough to keep me out of the fray. Ever since you laid eyes on Dr. Bowen, you haven’t noticed anyone else.”
I wanted to tell Alex he was way off base, but he wasn’t and he’d hadn’t known me as long as he had for nothing. I shrugged. “So what? Even you have to admit she’s gorgeous.”
“I’d have to be blind not to notice that, mate. Do me a favor, don’t toy with her. She’s nice. I don’t think she’s much for casual.”
This wasn’t the first time Alex had warned me away from a woman. He wasn’t one to judge, but he had a protective streak that extended to the whole wide world. I shifted my shoulders, slightly uncomfortable. The depth of need I felt for Olivia went so far beyond my usual interest in women, I had an inkling there was much more than a little fun at play. Yet, it wasn’t something I wanted to ponder. I was relieved to have our names called at that moment. Alex stepped past me quickly and snagged both of our coffees.
We walked the remaining block back to our flat on a side street. I hoped Alex didn’t plan to mention Olivia again. Not when all I could think about was seeing her tonight. I didn’t want to worry about what any of it meant.
“If you’re looking for more than casual, Dr. Bowen just might be the woman for you,” Alex said off hand as he toed his shoes off by the door and hung his jacket on the hooks by the door.
His comment sent my heart to drumming. Only Alex would pick up on the depth of my attraction to Olivia. I wanted to ask him why he said that and what he thought. Along with all kinds of questions I’d never even considering contemplating about any woman. I looked to him and couldn’t bring myself to push back with sarcasm, my usual refuge. I stared blankly at him, while the feeling in my chest tightened and I inexplicably thought about
my mum and the look on my dad’s face a few days after her funeral.
With a mental shake, I turned away and hung up my coat, escaping to the bathroom for a shower that I didn’t really need. After my shower, I texted Olivia. I wouldn’t tell her that I’d spent hours wondering where she might want to go to dinner because I’d felt bloody ridiculous about it. I’d discovered Seattle was awash in allegedly amazing restaurants. I wasn’t much for fancy, so I’d finally settled on a place recommended by one of the stadium staff.
Hello luv. Picking you up at 6. Tell me where to find you.
I set my phone down and strolled to the window in my bedroom. The rain was still falling and blurred the skyline, drops rolling down the glass. I gripped the ends of the towel tossed over my shoulders and took a slow breath, testing the flexion of my knee. The anxiety that rumbled under the surface whenever I thought about my knee was gradually starting to abate now that my recovery seemed to be going smoothly. My restlessness over not playing likely wasn’t going anywhere until I was cleared to play again, but it felt more manageable.
My phone buzzed on the dresser and I turned to snag it. I’d never impatiently waited for a woman’s text in my life, but when it came to Olivia, all bets were off. Her reply made me smile.
Not necessary for you to pick me up. I can meet you there.
I could see the furrow between her brows and feel the thread of proper in her tone. She still wasn’t so sure what to do about me. Little did she know I wasn’t so sure what to do about her. Yet, I’d be damned if I’d let that hold me back.
Yes, luv. I’m picking you up. No arguing allowed.
I didn’t put the phone down this time, watching while the dotted line appeared in my screen, letting me know she was replying.
Are you really going to be bossy?
Oh. This was perfect. I hadn’t realized I might be pushing her to push back, but I loved that she did. Lust lashed lightly inside, and my cock hardened. I couldn’t help but run my hand over the towel. I tapped out my reply with one hand while I stroked my cock with the other. I didn’t dare give in any more though because it would be sadly unsatisfying.
Bossy works for me. You can boss me too. I’d quite like that.
Holy hell, I was so bloody hard for her, I needed to stop this madness. All we were doing was texting.
Fine then. My address is 124 Castle Street.
Leave it to her to be direct and matter-of-fact. Her quick reply almost disappointed me. Sparring with her turned me on like crazy. I pushed back again, needling her because I couldn’t help myself.
Fine then. Wear your hair down.
I set the phone down and nearly groaned at the need clawing me. Olivia was going to kill me. How was it possible to want someone so much that all it took was a small banter of texting and I was on the verge of taking matters into my own hands just to ease the lust whipping inside?
My phone buzzed on the dresser.
No.
I picked up my phone again.
Please.
Chapter Twelve
Olivia
I paced by the arched window in my apartment, my arms crossed over my chest and a restless anxiety pushing me in a tight rotation in front of the window. What had I been thinking, agreeing to let Liam pick me up? It felt like we’d already crossed too many boundaries and him seeing where I lived was yet another. His text had been straightforward enough, but it was as if I could feel him through the words he typed—his sly, boyish grin, his tendency to push me just enough to get my back up. When he’d told me to wear my hair down, I got annoyed and said no. Then, he said please and it totally turned me on. Me, the woman who found sex dry and boring, was turned on by a cocky soccer player using the word ‘please.’ I knew he had his pick of women because most sports stars did. In fact, it had surprised me slightly when some model perfect girlfriend hadn’t shown up the day of the surgery to wait in the waiting room. We were accustomed to that at the clinic.
I’d once had to listen to one woman sob and carefully try not to smear her mascara when I had to give the bad news to her football star boyfriend that he’d torn his ACL one too many times and likely wouldn’t play professionally again. It seemed as if all thoughts led back to Liam. I instantly skipped tracks to considering how American football was so rough on athletes. Liam called himself a footballer, as did the rest of the entire world. Yet, that football, or rather soccer as commonly denoted in the US, came with some risk, but it wasn’t so brutal. Liam’s meniscus tear would become a distant memory for him. His worry was most likely about how it might affect his speed and agility in play.
My thoughts jumped back to worrying about the complete insanity of what I was doing. I shouldn’t be doing anything with Liam, most certainly not having dinner with him. Only about a hundred times today, I’d considered texting him to cancel. Yet, I never did, and he’d be here any minute. I circled back in my tiny loop of pacing, almost jumping at the sound of the knock on the door. My heart was beating wildly, and I was hot and cold at once. I ran a hand over my curls. I’d left my hair down. I’d never bothered to reply to his plea, but I couldn’t have said no again. Me, who never worried about what I wore, had obsessed over what to wear tonight and finally settled on long cotton skirt that hugged my hips and flared around my ankles. Daisy had given it to me for my birthday last year. It was a deep shade of green and, according to her, brought out my eyes. It could pass off as a casual skirt and be nice at the same time. I’d paired it with a white blouse that cinched at the neck and fit loosely. Knowing it was raining out, I’d opted for a practical pair of ankle high leather boots.
I walked to the door and stopped in front of it. I was ridiculously nervous. I tried to remember the last date I’d been on, and I thought it was in college with a guy Daisy had tried to pair me up with. He’d been nice enough and handsome enough, but I was pretty sure I bored him silly and the sex sure had bored me silly. I certainly hadn’t worried about what to wear.
On the heels of a deep breath, I opened the door. Liam stood there, filling the space with his broad muscled shoulders. His dark hair gleamed under the lights in the hall, and his blue eyes were bright and locked onto me.
“Hello luv,” he said.
I’d have to get used to his voice. Every time he spoke, his British accent sent a little curl through my belly. Pushing back against how pleased I was to see him, I arched a brow. “Must you call me that?” I couldn’t admit I was annoyed with myself for secretly enjoying that he called me that, so I projected it onto him.
One side of his mouth hooked in a slow smile. “Yes. I must,” he said with a firm nod. “Shall we go?”
I was nodding before I thought and started to step into the hallway.
“Do you need a jacket?” he asked, a second before I almost locked myself out of my apartment. That’s how flighty Liam made me. I forgot my coat, forgot my purse, and even my keys and was about to traipse off with him.
“Oh right!” I spun around, my eyes scanning for my raincoat. I spied it flung on a chair in the kitchen. I scurried over to snag it, calling over my shoulder as I did. “You can come in. I have to find my purse,” I said.
I pulled my jacket on and saw him step inside and lean his shoulder against the wall by the door. His eyes traveled around the apartment, and I wondered what he thought. I imagined he lived in much nicer digs. It wasn’t that I didn’t have a nice apartment, but it was small and simple. I could afford more, but I didn’t think it was worth the bother since I worked so much. The loveseat, an ottoman and a large chair took up most of the living room. A fireplace I rarely used sat dark. The kitchen was a small nook with a round table and chairs. I had enough taste to care about my space, so I had brightly colored rugs and sheer white curtains, along with artwork on the walls.
I didn’t see my purse anywhere and wondered where it was. Even a search in my bedroom didn’t turn it up. As a last resort, I checked the bathroom and found it there on the sink counter, precisely where I’d wandered when I was tex
ting Liam and needed to clean my glasses. I grabbed it and returned to the living room.
“Okay, I found everything.”
“Everything?” Liam asked, the dark slash of a brow arcing up.
“Well, maybe not everything, but all I need for now.”
He nodded and pushed his shoulder off the wall, holding the door as I walked through.
I’d wondered where he planned to take me and even wondered if he was driving. I quickly learned he wasn’t driving when he led me to the light rail system. Despite the soft rain falling, the railcar was crowded. Liam startled me when he curled his hand around mine and pulled me close to his side as the bustle of people jostled me. I glanced around the railcar at one point and noticed several women unabashedly eyeing him. Whether they knew who he was, he was a magnet simply because he was mouth-wateringly handsome. It felt strange to be with him like this. No matter my reservations about our quite recent doctor-patient relationship, I wasn’t used to going anywhere with a man, much less a man who was pursuing me the way Liam was. I wasn’t accustomed to the kind of attention he gave me—as we rode along, his eyes flicked down, and it felt as if he was touching me everywhere he looked. My nipples tightened, and I shifted my legs, feeling that restless need unfurl inside.
We got off by the airport with me still wondering where Liam was taking me. He paused on the sidewalk, his eyes scanning the row of businesses and then turned to the right. I could sense he was measuring his stride and resisted the urge to tell him he was clearly recovering nearly perfectly. He had the slightest hitch in his gait and nothing more. I didn’t really want to go all doctor on him, so I held my tongue as we walked quietly through the softly falling rain. Somewhere along the way, his palm found its way to my low back, a warm point of contact that I savored.