Roughing the Passer (Quarterback Sneak Book 2)

by Natalie Brock

  “You look beautiful,” Tony said.

  He ran his hand up and down her right arm sending a pleasant warmth through her body. She briefly looked into his eyes before he turned his attention back to the road. Beautiful. His words hung in the air. She knew she was pretty enough, but no one ever called her beautiful until now and, coming from Tony, she believed it. In fact, she almost called him beautiful too, because he was.

  “I hope mini golf is okay,” he said.

  “What? I thought you were gonna take me on a picnic,” she joked.

  “Next time.” He played with her hair and gave her a sexy little smirk. “I looked up first-date ideas online. You should be glad I didn’t use my own imagination. It woulda been a much different date.”

  Allison bit her lip. She wasn’t sure how to take his remark, so she pretended to ignore it. “Um miniature golf is perfect except—”

  “Except what?”

  “Well, it shouldn’t surprise you to find out I stink at mini golf. You know me. If it involves any kind of physical activity, I’m bad at it.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong. You just need to locate your center of gravity. Remember I started to tell you I know what’s wrong, why you lose your balance so easily? That’s all it is. Balance,” he repeated. “Trust me, you’re not uncoordinated like you think. You just need to strengthen your balance.”

  “You sound like a fitness trainer. How do you know about that?”

  “My major. Sports science.”

  “Wait. I thought your major was football.”

  “I play football. And I hope to make a career out of it, but it’s not a major.” He glanced in her direction while she gazed at his face. “Lotta guys in the athletic programs major in sports science. We study stuff like movement, mechanics, and motor control.”

  “Motor control. Sounds like the study of cars,” she quipped.

  “I know, but it’s about the human body, not an auto body. This week I was in class and I thought about you.” He glanced at her again. “Um. I didn’t mean it like that.”

  Allison blushed, but she was actually flattered. “You were thinkin’ ’bout me in class,” she asked flirtatiously.

  He raised a brow. “Oh, I think about you in lots of places,” he retorted with a wink. Running his hand up and down her arm, he explained, “It hit me that your problem isn’t coordination, it’s balance. I’ll show you later. I think it’ll help with your cheer routines.”

  Allison smiled and looked away again. She loved the fact that he sincerely wanted to help her. It wasn’t just guilt like she once thought. He truly cared and she was touched.

  »»•««

  Tony pulled his Mazda into the parking lot of the miniature golf course. The course was affiliated with a full-size eighteen-hole golf course whose entrance was about a mile down the road. For now, “miniature” was more Allison’s speed, at least she hoped so.

  Allison offered to pay her way, but Tony refused. She knew he received a stipend from the school, but she was the one with a job and thought it was only fair. When she told him, “Okay, then next time,” he looked at her for about half a minute without saying a word. Then he smiled and took her hand.

  By now, the sun was low in the sky and the lamp posts that illuminate the course were beginning to flicker on. After choosing their clubs, they queued up at the first hole. Allison set her ball down and lined up her shot. “Wait wait,” Tony said, coming up behind her.

  Straightening up, she quipped, “What? You gonna show me how to throw the golf ball the right way?”

  Laughing, he shook his head. “No, these aren’t balls you throw. They’re balls you hit. But you do need to know the right stance and how to hold the club. Come here.”

  Standing behind her, he pressed his body into her back the way he had done on the football field. This time he reached around and gripped her hands as they held the golf club. After positioning her hands on the shaft of the club, he gently pressed on her abdomen. “This is what I meant before when I was talking about balance. You need to concentrate on your core.” He released her, leaving her feeling cold where his warmth had surrounded her seconds ago. Picking up his club, he said, “Watch how I do it. See how my feet are spread apart? My back is arched and my abdomen is sucked in.”

  “Uh huh,” she uttered, but she was more focused on his fine-toned torso than on his stance.

  “That’s what you need to do.” He swung the club back far enough to put some power behind it when he hit the ball. The ball rolled past the hole, up a small slope, and back into the hole.

  “Oh my God! You got a hole in one! That was awesome.” She gripped his arm and looked from the hole into his smiling face. Pretending she cared about who won and who lost, she quipped, “But this isn’t fair. You’re an athlete.”

  “Yeah but football’s my game, not golf. So, you ready to try on your own?”

  “Um, I don’t think so,” she said coyly. “Could you maybe show me how again?”

  He stood behind her once again and hugged her before sliding his hands down the length of her arms and onto her golf club. She watched his strong hands cover her own and melted in his arms. He whispered in her ear, “I don’t think you’re concentrating, Allison.”

  “I am.” She turned her head partway. “On you.”

  He pressed his lips to the side of her neck near her ear. “Ready?”

  Allison nodded, but her eyes were closed and she wasn’t thinking about golf at all. Holding her hands, he guided the club back and tapped the ball. It didn’t even go up the slope and landed about a foot from the hole. Allison giggled. “Oops.” It took her two more tries to get the ball in the cup.

  Tony stepped away from her to pick up the two balls. He held out his hand to lead her to the second hole. Taking hold of his hand, she giggled. “I’m lovin’ this game.”

  »»•««

  When they returned to campus, Tony parked his car near his dorm, about a quarter mile away from Allison’s building. They held hands and walked slowly along the grass-lined brick paths of the campus grounds.

  It was a beautiful summer night in Florida and the fronds of the Queen Palms swayed in the warm evening breeze. Tony felt an odd peacefulness. He didn’t feel pressure to make small talk. He and Allison already knew a lot about each other and he felt certain they’d be getting to know each other even better before long.

  The dormitory buildings were made of brick and stone, with minor variations that distinguished one building from the other. Most were six or seven stories tall and three wide steps led from the path to the covered landing. When they reached the glass-door entrance to the building where Allison lived, she surprised him by asking, “Wanna come up?”

  His lips parted as he looked into her eyes. Hell yes, his insides screamed. He wanted that more than anything, but a voice in his head that sounded a lot like Matt Warner’s echoed, take it slow, Ramos. If he accepted her invitation, things were bound to heat up fast, maybe too fast. Another voice that sounded like his own urged him on. She wants you, just take her. He’d heard that voice a hundred times before. Shut up, he silently told the voice. Just be respectful. Treat her right and there will be plenty more chances.

  Waiting for his answer, she looked at him quizzically, probably wondering why he was hesitating. Tony squeezed her hand and swallowed hard and out came three words he never said before. “Maybe next time.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek, lingering there for several seconds to inhale her scent—an intoxicating combination of strawberries and baby powder. Her skin was slightly dewy from the long walk they’d just taken.

  When he leaned away, he read the disappointment in her eyes. She turned around, quickly inserted her key card in the slot and pushed the door open as soon as the security light turned green. In an instant, she disappeared into the building.

  His eyes widened as he focused on the spot where Allison stood a moment before. His intention was to be respectful, not hurtful, but judging from her reaction, he’d
already messed up. Shit! He was always messing up. He turned around and sat on one of the concrete steps outside her building. What would Philip Mason do at a time like this, he wondered. He reached into his pocket for his phone and looked at the black screen. Then he tapped the edge of the phone against his chin.

  »»•««

  Up in her dorm room, Allison got ready for bed and changed into a sleep tee and shorts. The clothes she wore on her date with Tony were strewn on the floor. She kicked at them with her bare feet.

  She thought they had a great time. She thought the date was perfect—until he declined her offer to come upstairs. That response spoke volumes. There was only one explanation. He lost interest in her. She couldn’t even hold his interest for a few hours.

  Here was a man who’d been around plenty. He’d been with a lot of girls and admitted to having lots of one-night stands. So why not her? Even if he wasn’t interested in a second date, what was so wrong with her that she wasn’t even good enough for a one-night stand? Why did a man who probably never said no to a sure thing in his life say no to her?

  Looking into the mirror hanging on the back of her bedroom door, the answer was obvious. She wasn’t pretty enough or sexy enough or fun enough or interesting enough or confident enough. The only thing that was “enough” was how he couldn’t get away fast enough. She felt so humiliated.

  She climbed on her bed, folded her legs Indian-style, and tried to choke back her tears. Her face was hot and she was sure it was turning all pink and splotchy. Well, that’s that then, she told herself. Easy come, easy go. Get over it.

  Her phone buzzed and she reached for it on her nightstand. She scowled when she saw it was a text from Tony. She swiped to read it.

  “Best date ever,” he wrote. “Call U tomw & U cn decide what U want 2 do on r nxt date.” Allison took a deep breath and held the phone to her chest. She grinned with delight and flopped backward onto her pillow. She still didn’t know why he didn’t want to come up to her room, but what mattered was he wanted to see her again.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Tony had suggested that Allison plan their next date. Unfortunately, their next date wouldn’t happen for a couple weeks. One of the waiters at Old Smoky’s was on vacation and Allison took his shifts. She ended up working every night for two weeks straight. But that didn’t mean she and Tony didn’t see each other from time to time. He randomly stopped by the gym while Brittany was giving her lessons. They sat under a tree while she studied for a quiz. And they had lunch together in the campus café a couple times.

  In the meantime, Allison scouted out second-date options. She turned to the Internet to see what was happening near campus. Movies? Nah, too ordinary. Concert? No, they didn’t share the same taste in music. Now that it was August and the regular fall semester was starting soon, every business within twenty miles of campus was running back-to-school promotions.

  With her chin on her palm, she scrolled through the local listings. Hmmm. This one has possibilities—student night at the planetarium, and it coincided with her next night off. She didn’t know if stargazing was Tony’s thing, but the admission was cheap. She texted Tony to see what he thought and he instantly responded “let’s do it.”

  In the weeks since their first date, thoughts of Tony consumed Allison’s mind. Sitting in Psych class, she was chewing on her stylus and daydreaming about Tony instead of paying attention to the professor’s lecture. Their first date had been amazing, and would have been perfect in fact, if she hadn’t ruined it by asking him to come upstairs at the end of their date.

  When she made the observation that they seemed like an odd couple, it was her way of testing him. Okay, so she was fishing a little. She wanted to see what he’d say and he definitely passed the test. He clearly felt the same connection she felt. Allison’s mother always told her daughters that you have to have chemistry in a relationship. Without it, you were destined for blandness. Well, Allison was convinced she and Tony would never be bland.

  Her mother used to caution her to let the man be the one to make the first move. As a young girl, Allison assumed she was talking about being asked out and kissing. Later, Allison realized her mother was talking about sex. She wasn’t so sure the advice applied to women in today’s egalitarian society.

  Still, Allison regretted coming on so strong with Tony on their first date, mainly because he turned her down. She had planned to let him take the lead, but she was so damn attracted to him. His sex appeal was so raw, so natural and earthy. Every word, every move, every touch was such a turn-on that she couldn’t help herself. One thing she knew for sure though, she wouldn’t be doing that again. Next move has to be his.

  She looked around the classroom to make sure no one was watching when she navigated to the planetarium’s home page on her tablet. She imagined what it would be like sitting next to Tony in the observatory theater, holding hands, watching the stars twinkling above. She’d lean closer so he could smell her perfume, feel her long hair brushing his cheek when she whispered something in his ear. She’d play with his fingers, touch his knee, flirt mercilessly, and make it impossible for him not to make a move. It would be the perfect build-up for a night of romance. Allison blew some air through her lips and closed the cover of her tablet. She was getting hot and bothered just thinking about it. Hell, if he didn’t make the first move after all that, she just might have to.

  »»•««

  The student discount turned out to be a big draw. The planetarium was packed. Tony held Allison’s hand tightly as they searched for seats in the semi-darkened observatory. Really, it didn’t matter where they sat; there were no bad seats since the show would be overhead. What mattered was finding two seats together. That was essential.

  Tony sighed and looked at Allison. He shook his head like he was about to give up. Her stomach turned. The plans she made were about to be a bust.

  He scanned the room again section by section. He smiled and lifted his chin, pointing to the back wall of the observatory. Still holding her hand, he led her back up the aisle to a spot behind the last row of seats.

  “We gonna stand here?” Allison asked.

  “Nope. Not stand.” Leaning against the wall, Tony slid down until his butt hit the floor. He laughed and tugged Allison’s hand. She smiled and instantly joined him on the floor. They sat side-by-side and kept their knees bent close to their bodies with the soles of their shoes planted on the floor to avoid getting stepped on. He wrapped one arm around her shoulder, and drew the other across her torso. Sliding her closer to him, he kissed the side of her head. “Comfortable?”

  Allison closed her eyes and nodded. This was even better than she imagined. She rested her hand on top of his forearm and stroked the fine hairs on his arm. “I think you got us the best seats in the house,” she whispered.

  Within a few minutes, the house lights dimmed, dramatic music swelled, and the domed ceiling opened. Over the loudspeaker, a recorded male voice introduced himself as an astronaut who would be narrating the star show. Allison’s eyes were focused on the skies, but Tony’s eyes were trained on her. He touched her chin and gently turned her face toward him. Looking in his eyes, Allison’s heart beat a little faster. He tightened his hold on her and leaned closer until his lips touched hers. She closed her eyes and melted into the kiss, a kiss far more tender than she imagined their first kiss would be.

  He broke the kiss much sooner than she wanted to. He looked at her like he was trying to gauge her reaction. The stars above reflected in his golden brown eyes, those sexy, hypnotic, bedroom eyes. Her chest rose and fell as she gazed back at him. She gently touched his cheek and he responded with another kiss, this one more urgent, more heartfelt, and more powerful. When he deepened the kiss, she could taste the licorice-flavored essence of a breath mint on his tongue telling her he planned this moment all along.

  Tony’s fingers tangled in Allison’s hair, loosening her ponytail bit by bit, and it was obvious he forgot where he was. Pressing her chest a
gainst his, Allison gripped his arms through his leather jacket, pulling him toward her, trying to get closer than their clothes would allow.

  They missed most of the show, but Allison didn’t care. She would have been happy to kiss Tony all night. If they hadn’t been in a public setting, that’s probably exactly what would have happened. One thing she knew for sure—she’d never be able to sit in regular planetarium seating again.

  »»•««

  Walking toward Allison’s dorm, Tony clutched an imaginary football. “So there I am, only my second game starting after Mason got injured.” He jogged backward off the path onto the grass to show her his moves as he described the play. “I roll right, looking for my open man, but the tight end messes up. He wasn’t running the play I called and I was about to get sacked. So I start running the ball to avoid the tackle and I spot him—my wide receiver.” He pointed to an imaginary player somewhere behind Allison. “And he’s open, waiting in the end zone. I couldn’t believe no one was covering him. So I throw the ball on the run and wham! I killed it!”

  Allison smiled broadly and clasped her hands near her lips, reflecting the delight on Tony’s face when he described his victory. “You threw a touchdown pass on the run!”

  “Yeah!” Tony took a double take at Allison and his expression turned from joy to sheepishness. “Sorry, I get worked up when I talk about the game. I didn’t mean to brag or bore you or anything.” He joined her on the path and walked alongside her again.

  “You didn’t! I love listenin’ to you talkin’ ‘bout it.” She blushed when she realized she sounded like a star-struck fan. “I’m not a groupie. It’s just I’m in awe of what you do. It looks like magic sometimes.”