She deserved a man who’d be there for her all the time.
He had plans to move on as soon as possible. She had roots here.
“I do not pity you.”
Shaking her head, she stared at him with total confusion. “Then what’s going on?”
She was right to be confused. And it was his fault.
“Nothing is going on. I am sorry for any confusion. Good night, Faith.”
Since she was only a few feet away from her car, which he knew because he’d seen her drive away from therapy, he handed over her purse, turned on his heel, and walked toward his car, parked behind him and on the other side of the street from hers.
But he didn’t leave until he saw her get in her car and drive away.
Chapter Four
“Coach said you wanted to see me?”
Jake stepped through Jess Gardiner’s office door without knocking since it was open but grimaced when he heard a thump and a muffled oath from behind the door.
“Goddammit, how do you guys move so silently? You’re all so damn big, you’d think I could hear you coming a mile away. Ow.”
Jake had a grin on his face by the time Jess appeared in front of him, rubbing her elbow.
“What can I say? I am ninja on days off.”
Jess’s mouth twisted as she shook her head. “Sure you are. Anyway, I am glad you’re back. I had a request for a player visit and you’re the first person who came to mind.”
As she went back to her desk and started rifling around for something among the papers, he leaned against the doorjamb, letting his gaze drift around her office.
As the marketing director, Jess had stuff everywhere. Boxes, bins, bags. Most of them overflowing with the Redtails’ signature red, black, and purple colors.
Shirts, sweaters, hats.
“Are those socks?”
“Hmm? What? Oh, yeah. Do you want a pair? The kids will probably love them—Yes! Here it is.” She waved a piece of paper in the air triumphantly. “The Discovery Academy is asking for a player visitation. The only problem is they’re looking for someone during the day. I was hoping to—”
“I can do it.”
Jess blinked, then smiled at him, her smile so sweet he wanted to roll his eyes.
“I knew you would do it. I’m just not sure about the hours. The place is an alternative school for children with mental and physical handicaps. They requested visitation between eleven a.m. and two p.m., but I’m going to talk to them about doing it from one to three. That way you could at least eat before heading over there after practice.”
“Why do they want players?”
“They’re starting a new exercise program and want to bring in professional athletes to help kick it off.” She looked down at the paper and read from it. “The school has a specialized curriculum for individualized attention and intervention including those with autism spectrum disorders, developmental disabilities, speech-language deficits, and students who experience social-emotional, executive functioning, and behavioral difficulties.”
Jess really didn’t have to say anything more. Anyone who knew him knew he would be more than happy to do this one. Which was exactly what her smile said.
“I knew I could count on you for this. I don’t think they’re looking for more than a day or so for a couple of weeks, but you can talk to the director about that.”
Then she smiled. And that smile made Jake’s eyes narrow.
“Why do you smile like that?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
His brows rose as Jess’s grin widened. “That crazy-person smile.”
She shrugged, her smile still in place. “No reason. I just think you’ll be happy to know someone who works at the school.”
His gaze narrowed further. “And who would that be?”
“Oh,” she drew the word out to several syllables and tried to look innocent. “Just a woman you may have walked to her car Friday night.”
He forced himself to take a breath. “And why should I care?”
Her lips curved into an even wider smile. “I have absolutely no idea.”
He caught himself before he started to grin. Really, there was no reason for him to be happy about this. He had told himself all weekend that he needed to focus on his game. But all weekend, all he had done was obsess about Faith.
Maybe obsess was too strong. He had thought about her. A lot. And by Sunday night, when he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her, he’d resorted to playing mindless videogames with Robbie and Ian to get his mind off her.
The guys had kept him laughing, and by the end of the night, the apartment Robbie shared with Derek, who’d spent the night with Sophie, had been filled with enough testosterone to smother a small animal.
He hadn’t spent much time with his teammates while he’d been getting back in shape. Not because he didn’t want to but because he had had to be laser-focused on his recovery. And being with them meant he dwelled on what he was missing and not on what he needed to fix.
“So Faith works for Discover Academy.”
Her brows arched. “You didn’t know that?”
Jake shook his head. “No. But it seems a good match for her.”
Jess’s smile softened. “Yeah, I think so, too. She’s only been there a few months, but from what she’s said, she’s happy there.” Her smile dissolved into a slight frown. “At least, she had been. I heard her say something Friday night about some recent issues but she didn’t go into detail.” She shook her head and her smile returned. “Anyway, I’m sure the kids will be thrilled to have you visit. You know the drill. Represent. Respect. Realize.”
Yes, he knew the team’s code by heart.
And this wasn’t his first visit. Nor would it be his last. He enjoyed them. Sometimes he thought he got more out of them than the kids did.
But he was more interested right now in Jess’s comment about “recent issues.”
He had not heard Faith talk about “issues.” He wondered if it had something to do with the recent weakness in her leg.
He would make it his business to find out.
“I have time this afternoon. Give me Faith’s information so I can set up a time to meet with her to discuss.”
Jess’s expression was equal parts gratitude and amusement as she slid a paper across her desk to him.
“It’s all right there. I do appreciate the time you give to these causes. And so does management. It doesn’t go unnoticed.”
He bit back the urge to say he didn’t do it for the team. He did not want to sound ungrateful for anything. The organization had been good to him these past few months while he’d fought through this injury. He would repay them with good play on the ice.
Working with disabled and disadvantaged youth, though… That was for him.
Nodding to Jess, he took the paper and left, waving over his shoulder when she huffed out a laugh and said, “Good-bye to you too, Jake.”
Heading back downstairs to the exit to the parking area, he stopped at the door when he heard someone call out his name behind him.
“You heading to the gym?” Derek stopped next to him in the hall, bag in hand. “Need to work out this fucking shoulder. I swear that bastard Compton knew exactly which shoulder to hit. Or you going to therapy?”
“No more therapy. Yes, I am going to gym.”
Derek wrapped his free arm around Jake’s shoulder and hugged him hard, which made Jake shake his head, though he didn’t push Derek away.
“Good. I need someone to make me feel better about myself and you’re the perfect candidate.”
Jake shook his head and followed Derek out the door. “And how am I ‘perfect candidate’?”
“You’ve been laid up for so long, I figure my legs are in better shape than yours. Prepare to be owned on leg lifts, my friend. Your thighs will not know what hit them when we’re done.”
Shaking his head, Jake grinned at Derek. The guy never failed to make him laugh. Ev
en when he’d been at his bleakest, Derek had managed to lift his mood in some way. Even if it only meant he laughed because he wanted to hit the guy.
“Just as long as you do not touch my thighs, we will be fine to work out together.”
“Dude, I’m not gonna touch your thighs. Unless you want me to. You don’t want me to, do you? ’Cause that’s just fucking weird.”
Laughing out loud, Jake elbowed Derek, though he was careful not to do it too hard. “Fuck you, asshole. My thighs are perfect. You are jealous.”
“Nah, Sophie thinks my thighs are just fine.”
“She is delusional. Why she dates you, I don’t know.”
“Because I’m just that irresistible.”
Now Jake burst out laughing, which made Derek smile even harder.
“Let us go now before the only thing that needs to be exercised is your head because it will be too fat.”
*****
“Faith, there’s someone here to see you. From the Redtails. He says you’re expecting him?”
Frowning, Faith looked up from the spreadsheet she’d been fiddling with, trying to make it do what she wanted, and looked at the younger woman standing in her doorway.
“I don’t have any appointments today. Did you get a name?”
“No. But if you don’t want him, I’ll take him.” Ayanna waved a hand in front of her face and closed her dark eyes for a second. “Talk about scrumptious. If he was an ice cream flavor, he’d be pure vanilla but I’d still wanna lick him up.”
Laughing under her breath, Faith shook her head. Ayanna was twenty-one and beautiful with a halo of dark curls, wide dark eyes, and the brightest personality Faith had ever known.
She also went through men like a hot knife through butter.
“Well, then I guess you better send him up. Wouldn’t want him to melt in the lobby.”
Ayanna rolled her eyes. “Girl, you make the worst dad jokes. No wonder the kids love you.”
Then she turned and headed back down the short hall on the third floor of the inner-city building that housed Discovery Academy.
Leaving Faith smiling.
Yes, the kids loved her. And she loved the kids. Getting this job had been the best thing that could have happened to her. Sure, the pay was shitty, the building needed work they didn’t have money for, and every day was a different struggle to find funding.
But, honestly, she’d do this for free.
Except for days like today, when she would give her left arm for a dedicated IT person. Or just someone who could tell her how to work these damn spreadsheets.
Seconds later, she heard voices in the outer office, where Ayanna’s desk was situated facing the stairs.
A voice she immediately recognized.
Shit.
Her gut clenched into a tight ball of anticipation. And then her brain kicked in and sent all sorts of mixed messages throughout her body.
Breathless anticipation and a slow-rolling heat seeped through her, making her nerve endings tingle.
Stop that. Right now.
Her body ignored her and her heart began to mambo, making her feel like an idiot. She didn’t even know how the hell to mambo. For that matter, she couldn’t remember when she’d last danced.
Which was stupid to be thinking about now.
Standing, she made sure she didn’t make a sound as she walked to the door of her office then peeked around the corner, feeling like an idiot but not caring so much at the moment.
Because she got to watch him without anyone else watching her watch him. And could enjoy the view.
Standing in front of Ayanna’s desk, Jake nodded, smiling down at the young woman in a way that made Faith feel the need to take a deep breath.
She couldn’t quite hear what they were saying, but whatever Ayanna had said, Jake apparently appreciated it.
And Ayanna clearly appreciated Jake. And why wouldn’t she? Especially looking like he did now.
She’d seen the man in a suit and it was enough to take away the breath of any red-blooded woman. Now, his jeans were perfectly worn in all the right places and clung to his muscular thighs in a way that suit pants never could.
And the tight t-shirt with the Redtails logo on the center stretched across his broad chest made her wish it’d been created out of weaker fabric. Weak enough that a stiff wind would tear it off his body.
Which was such a stupid thing to think that she actually rolled her eyes at herself.
Still, it made her realize she’d been fooling herself if she thought she wasn’t attracted to this man. Because, really, there weren’t a lot of women who could breathe who wouldn’t be attracted to Jake.
Damn him.
And why was he here?
Time to find out and stop skulking in her office staring at him like he was a steak and she was starving.
But damn, he would make one delicious meal.
Stepping back inside her office, grimacing a little at the twinge in her left thigh, she checked to make sure her skirt was smooth and her shirt buttons were all done up. She was a little on the top-heavy side and sometimes her top buttons popped out of their holes and she didn’t notice for hours.
Didn’t want to give him the wrong impression.
What? That you’re a desperate old maid?
With a huff, she stepped out into the office. Jake’s head shot up the second she appeared, and his gaze caught hers.
“Hello, Jake. What are you doing here?”
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ayanna’s mouth drop open for several seconds before she snapped it shut as she continued to watch them with unabashed interest.
“Hello, Faith. I am here because Jess recruited me for your program. You are looking for athletes to assist with your children, yes?”
She realized as soon as he’d mentioned Jess why he was here. Then she cursed herself for not thinking of that explanation sooner. It made a lot more sense than him coming here to see her. For whatever reason.
“Yes, we are. I just didn’t realize she was going to send someone over so soon.”
Jake shrugged. “I thought I would check place out and talk to you.” He turned back to Ayanna, who grinned up at him. “Was nice to meet you. If you want to come to game, let me know. I will get you tickets. Faith knows how to reach me.”
Well, shit. Of course now Ayanna would think there was something going on between them. And sure enough, Ayanna grinned at her behind his back as he walked toward Faith.
When her coworker gave her the thumbs-up, Faith knew she must’ve turned red because Jake raised his eyebrows as he stopped in front of her.
“Is something wrong? Are you okay?”
And of course he thought she was in pain.
Ugh.
“I’m fine.” Her smile faded as she waved him into her office. “Have a seat. I can give you a little background on the program and you can tell me if it’s something you’re interested in.”
As she walked back to her desk, she realized he didn’t follow her. Looking over her shoulder as she slid into the chair at her desk, she frowned up at him.
“Why would I not be interested in participating?”
When he mimicked her words back at her, she wrinkled her nose at the snooty attitude. Hers, not his. Sometimes the chip on her shoulder made her say stupid things.
With a sigh, she shook her head. “Sorry. I didn’t mean— That didn’t come out right.”
“Did I do something to upset you?”
“What? No. Why would you think that?”
“Because you look unhappy to see me.”
Unhappy would not be the word she’d use. “I’m not. I was just surprised to see you here. In my office.”
He stared at her for another couple of seconds before easing into the chair in front of her desk. Her office had never seemed small until this moment. He took up all the space. Or maybe that was just her overactive imagination. But the chair he now sat in definitely looked too small to hold him.
She knew for a fact that chair was uncomfortable as hell, but he didn’t look uncomfortable. He looked like he was sitting on a freaking throne.
The man did not do subtle.
He made her sit a little straighter in her chair and she cursed him silently for making her do it.
“Jess said you want someone to work with kids. I like to work with children.”
He said that as if it should be obvious, but she’d learned, just in the last few months, that you needed to be a certain kind of person to work with the Discovery kids.
“Good.” Then she took a breath and launched into what she called the “test.” “The children range in age from fourteen to twenty. Most are on the autism spectrum, some have Down syndrome, some have social and emotional learning differences. Some are nonverbal, some are confined to wheelchairs or have other physical disabilities that make it difficult for them to run and jump, so any activity needs to have different components so that every child can participate.”
Jake nodded, his expression unchanged.
And frankly, that surprised her. Usually, when she gave this speech, she could tell from their expression that they had some reservations when dealing with kids who needed extra help.
It wasn’t that they were prejudiced, necessarily, just that they didn’t know what to expect. And usually they had a lot of questions.
Jake just nodded.
“Have you worked with disabled children before?”
He took a second to think before answering. Or maybe he was just examining her expression, as she was examining his.
“We don’t know each other well, do we?”
She blinked. Not exactly what she’d been expecting him to say, but okay, she’d play along.
Sitting back in her chair, she gave him a polite smile and watched his eyes narrow ever so slightly. “No, we don’t. But I didn’t know that was required for you to volunteer here.”
“Many of our friends are the same. I want to know more about you.”
Damn it, she shouldn’t be charmed by that. Just like she shouldn’t be charmed by the way he put words in different places. Or by that accent. She had no idea why it made her want to squirm in her seat.
Bullshit. You know exactly why it makes you squirm.
The Machine Page 4