Delay of Game (San Francisco Strikers Book 3)

by Stephanie Kay

  “Family doesn’t always do what we want them to do, but you have to tell them that you can’t work in the restaurant, that being a PT is the career path you’ve chosen. You hold too much back from them,” he said.

  Hello pot, meet kettle.

  He should take his own advice. He was due for a trip up north, but he kept pushing it off. Confronting his father was no longer an if, but when, and it needed to happen before the season started. He’d finally gotten a message from Jack last night, hinting that more money would send him packing. But Finn wasn’t writing another check to that asshole ever again. It was also part of the reason he hadn’t made the trip up to Calgary. If he wasn’t going to pay Jack off, then he was going to have to tell his mother the truth. He did not want to have that conversation. Would she hate him for what he’d done?

  “It’s not easy, and I know I’m making excuses, but I’m not ready. And now with Tony back…”

  “Now is when you should tell them. Don’t let him or anyone else control you. You’re stronger than that.” Fuck, he was a hypocrite.

  She took a step back, and he knew it was harsh, but while his issues with his family sucked, they didn’t threaten his safety like Sophia’s ex did. Finn would do whatever he could to keep her safe, and involving her family in what Sophia had gone through would help him keep her safe. He didn’t trust that her ex wouldn’t try something. From what she’d told him, Tony had been goading her, and that was not going to fly with him. But it wasn’t his place to tell her family, and she’d probably never forgive him if he overstepped.

  “I’m sorry for being harsh, but your safety is very important to me,” he said, drawing her back into his arms and pressing a kiss to her forehead, before he trailed soft kisses down to her jaw and brushed his lips across hers. “You are important to me.” He swallowed her sigh against his mouth.

  “You’re important to me, too, and I’ll get there with my family.”

  “I know you will. And when you’re ready to confront them or the ex, I’ll be right beside you, if you’ll let me.” Hell, even if she didn’t want him there, it would take a lot to keep him away.

  “Thank you,” she said, offering him a small smile. “Now, stop kissing me and being so adorable, so we can get to work.” She was all business now, but that smile was still there. He’d do whatever it took to keep it there.

  “Where do you want me?” he asked, with a wiggle of his eyebrows.

  “Not helping,” she said, shoving him lightly in the chest. “Behave, or we’re going out on the floor and working on balance again. I know how much you enjoy the Bosu ball.”

  “Necessary evil,” he said, taking the resistance band from her hand and starting to stretch.

  She focused on her tablet, swiping through screens, but she couldn’t actually be reading anything since he’d met her gaze multiple times as he worked through the tightness in his calves. He wanted to kiss her pink cheeks and pull her close, but he focused on the resistance band, biting back a grin.

  “Any tight or sore areas?” she asked. “And how is it going on the ice? You have to be careful and not overdo it, even if it feels like you’re back to how you were before your surgery.”

  “I promise I’m not overdoing it, but I am a little stiff,” he said, unable to stop his bark of laughter when she blushed bright red. “Sophia, get your mind out of the gutter.”

  “I’m, uhh, Finn,” she sputtered, clutching the chart to her chest. “Don’t you dare tease me about that in here,” she said, scolding him.

  “Sorry. You set yourself up for that one. And I feel great. Coach is focusing on building up my speed and agility. Still have that no contact jersey on, but every practice is better, and you did an amazing job keeping me on track. I can’t thank you enough. You’re the best PT around.”

  “I’d like to say you were a model patient,” she said.

  “Hey. I was giving you a compliment. That was not nice,” he said, setting the resistance band aside and stalking toward her.

  “Finn. Sit back down,” she said, and he didn’t miss the tremor in her voice. He hoped it was with excitement, and the darkening of her eyes confirmed it as he reached for her, pulling her into his arms.

  “I was the best patient,” he said, leaning down and brushing his lips across hers, his touch light and taunting. “Don’t you agree?”

  “You’re not bad,” she said, trying to kiss him, but he held his head just out of reach.

  “That doesn’t sound convincing.”

  “You’re trouble, that’s what you are,” she whispered, but then she pulled back. “And no kissing until this workout is over.”

  She yanked open the door and headed to the exercise room. “Coming?” she asked over her shoulder, the corner of her eyes crinkling when she smirked.

  “I’m not the only one who’s trouble around here,” he said, following behind her.

  The next two weeks flew by with a few in-office kisses and more than one sleepover at Finn’s. Sophia couldn’t remember the last time she’d spent more than two consecutive nights in her own bed. And Claire needed to stop cheering whenever Sophia walked into the apartment. She’d glared at her roommate and threatened to move out permanently—which Claire had fully supported—as long as she still dropped off leftovers. Not that she was moving in with Finn anytime soon. It was too early. And not that he’d asked.

  Every day she questioned what she was doing and who she was doing it with. Eventually, they wouldn’t be able to keep it a secret, and even if that time came and he was no longer her patient, it still looked bad, and unprofessional, and—this was going to blow up in her face.

  Not that she could fully blame Finn for that, since he’d kept it to a few kisses in the exam room and was completely professional in the office and the gym. As much as he teased her, he never forgot to remind her that he knew just how important her job was. And then she’d kiss him again because he was wonderful, and the panicked cycle would kick back up.

  Shit, she was a mess.

  “Stop thinking about it,” Finn said sleepily as he rolled her to face him late Saturday morning. He drew his thumb down her nose and leaned in to kiss her.

  “I’m not thinking about anything,” she said, lifting her head to meet his kiss, and sinking into his sturdy arms.

  He rolled her under him and gave her a stern look. “Everything is going to be fine,” he said, brushing a kiss across her brow.

  “You don’t know that.”

  He kissed her again. “We’re in this together, and we’ll figure it out. No matter what happens.”

  “I know that,” she whispered, lifting her hips to push against him. Even when she was panicking about what they were and how she could lose her job, she still wanted him. She always wanted him. And from the low growl in his throat, the feeling was mutual.

  “Stop distracting me,” he said, rolling his hips, his cock pressing against her belly. She ached to wrap her legs around his waist. It probably didn’t help that they were still naked under the covers. Any form of pajamas was not allowed in bed—Finn’s rule—and one she was gladly on board with.

  “You started it,” she said, a hitch in her voice as his cock rubbed against her.

  He rolled them again, pulling her on top of him, his hands instantly moving to cup her breasts, his thumbs scraping over her sensitive nipples, heat darting through her body as she shamelessly rubbed against his erection. The friction against her clit drove her insane.

  He pulled her down to kiss her, his lips a breath from hers. “Please stop worrying about what could happen. We will handle it. I promise,” he said before sealing his lips with hers, his hips rocking against her ass.

  And she believed him—with her whole heart. She was risking her career for him, but with each day that passed, she couldn’t end it. She’d fallen for him and she was sure he felt the same way.

  She sank into his kiss, his tongue wiping away every doubt she had. This was where she wanted to be, and she wouldn’t regret a
single moment—even when their secret came out. She locked her hands in his soft hair as he deepened the kiss. Being in bed with Finn was the best way to wake up every morning and she never wanted it to end.

  She rolled her hips again, dragging her heated center along his bare cock, and swallowed his groan as his tongue dueled with hers.

  It wasn’t long before she rolled the condom down his erection and sank down, taking him deep inside her body.

  Best. Wake-up call. Ever.

  ***

  “What kind of pancakes are you making me today?” she asked, when they’d finally caught their breath.

  His chuckle vibrated through her body. “I think you’re only sleeping over for the food.”

  She turned to face him. “And other things.”

  His eyes darkened. “Dirty, dirty girl.”

  “I meant your winning personality and blocked shots record.”

  He groaned, brushing a quick kiss across her lips. “Tease,” he said, lightly swatting her ass. “No quoting my hockey stats in bed, or we’ll never leave.”

  “Come on, I’m hungry,” she said, slipping from the bed. She grabbed one of his shirts from the floor. The one he’d been wearing last night. She would not let him see her take a sniff, but damn, it still smelled like him. Spicy and male and all Finn. With a hint of balsamic from the dinner he’d made them last night. He really was the full package. Speaking of…

  She bit back a moan when he pulled on a pair of sleep pants. The man should never have clothes on.

  “Stop looking at me like that,” he said, tugging her into his arms and guiding her from the room.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, trailing her hand down the center of his chest, her thumb reaching out to trace the V at his hips. She loved those lines. He was so damn hot.

  “You’re asking for trouble,” he said, lifting her into his arms and pressing her back against the wall, peppering her with kisses along her throat, nipping her earlobe, and pressing a kiss behind her ear.

  She shuddered in his hold, her head pressed against the wall, her breath coming in short gasps.

  “Maybe I should spread you out on the kitchen island and have you for breakfast.”

  “Yes please,” she moaned, her legs tightening around his hips as she clutched his shoulders.

  He walked them down the hall and set her down on the kitchen counter.

  “Crap, that’s cold,” she gasped.

  “I’ll warm you up,” he said with a grin, then whipped her shirt off over her head, tossing it behind him.

  “I’m sure you will,” she whispered, linking her hands into his waistband and tugging him close. She reached in, squeezing his bare ass, and swallowed his groan with a kiss.

  Breakfast could wait.

  There was a knock at the front door, and a high-pitched voice could be heard on the other side of it.

  “Uncle Ewic, open up. We came to visit you.”

  “Oh my god, I thought your sister lived in Canada,” she said, pulling free from his grasp and grabbing something—anything—to cover herself. “Don’t you dare laugh at me,” she ordered when he chuckled and eyed the pot holder in her hand.

  “I swear I wasn’t expecting them,” he said, helping her off of the counter, the pot holder still between them.

  Do not panic. Do not panic.

  There was another knock and they froze.

  “Do you think he’s still sweeping?” Molly asked. “Open the door, Mama.”

  “They don’t have a key,” Finn reassured her. He grabbed the shirt from the floor and pulled it over his head. The shirt she’d been wearing.

  “This is not how I anticipated you meeting my family,” he said, his eyes warm.

  She would not melt.

  She. Would. Not. Melt.

  Dammit, why was he so adorable?

  “Umm, as much as I love seeing you like this, maybe the pot holder isn’t enough to cover you,” he said, pulling her from her daze, just as Bash snagged the pot holder from her hand and stared between Sophia and Finn, his tail wagging. Finn laughed.

  “Dammit Finn, this is not funny.” She ran her hand over her hair. It was probably a mess. A mess that clearly told the world what they’d been doing.

  “Go get dressed, and then come meet my family.” He tugged her close and kissed her nose. “And don’t panic. They’re going to love you.”

  “You better make me kickass pancakes, mister,” she grumbled as she darted down the hallway into his room.

  “I knew you were just with me for the food,” he called back, and laughed, before she silenced him by shutting the door.

  Deep breaths. This is fine. Fuck, this was not fine. Did his sister know about them? She had sex-crazed hair, and what if his sister didn’t like her?

  Pulling on a pair of yoga pants and a t-shirt, she was grateful that she’d left clean clothes at his place on more than one occasion. She pulled her hair into a messy bun, and swiped on deodorant since her sweating had kicked up a notch as soon as Molly’s voice had carried through the front door.

  After splashing some water on her face and brushing away the morning breath, she took one—or five—or ten full breaths, then headed back down the hall toward her fate—also known as the kitchen.

  “Uncle Ewic, we already had breakfast. It’s lunchtime now. But I always want pancakes. Mama, can we have breakfast again?” the adorable girl asked, her blonde pigtails bouncing as she petted Bash next to her. Then she spotted Sophia. “Who are you?”

  “Molly. That’s not nice,” Finn’s sister said, her eyes wide as her gaze darted between Finn and Sophia. “Maybe I should’ve called first. We wanted to surprise you, and you said you didn’t have plans this weekend.”

  “Stop. It’s fine. I told you to visit any time you wanted,” Finn said, coming around the island, and grasping Sophia’s hand. She plastered a smile on her face and tried to calm the nerves that had apparently taken shots of adrenaline when she wasn’t looking.

  “Did you have a sleepover? Uncle Ewic, always makes us a fort, and he reads the best stories,” Molly said, and Sophia compelled her heart not to melt at her feet again.

  “Umm,” she muttered, willing the heat from her cheeks as Molly stared at her, her head tilted to the side.

  “This is Sophia, my girlfriend,” Finn said, wrapping an arm around her waist.

  “Hi, I’m Grace, his sister. I’ve heard so much about you.” She gave Sophia a warm smile.

  “Umm. It’s nice to meet you,” Sophia said, trying not to panic.

  How many people knew they were dating? And what had he said about her?

  Chapter 19

  Finn squeezed Sophia’s hand. She was freaking out. Maybe he shouldn’t have told Grace about Sophia, but he’d been unable to resist the last time they’d talked a few days ago. A few days ago—when his sister already had travel plans made and forgot to mention them to him. Not that he wasn’t happy to see her and Molly, but a little warning would’ve been nice.

  He eyed his sister. Was there another reason she was here? Had his father done something?

  “We probably should’ve called first,” Grace said, shooting Finn a smirk. “But now we can get to know the woman who’s made my brother less of a grump.”

  “Hey. I’m exceedingly pleasant during our calls, right Molly?”

  “Yep. Can Bash and me have pancakes now?” she asked.

  “You’re his PT, right?” Shit. He didn’t need his sister reminding Sophia of that fact.

  “Umm, yes. PT assistant, actually,” Sophia said, pulling away from his hold. He missed her warmth immediately and itched to yank her back against him. He’d had plans for her this morning—well, for the entire weekend, but he couldn’t drag her back into his bedroom with his family here.

  “Right. I guess I know how you met,” Grace said, with a soft laugh.

  “Actually, we met before my injury,” Finn said, trying to save the conversation, and Sophia’s nerves. He was going
to have a long talk with his sister later about the value of keeping her mouth shut.

  “Yes, at my family’s restaurant a few times, right?” Sophia said, and Finn nodded. They’d only officially met once at the restaurant, but he’d noticed her every time he’d gone in with the guys.

  “Family restaurant? You must love exchanging recipes with Eric. He can make a gourmet meal out of scraps. And believe me, we tested that more than once when we were growing up.”

  “Actually, I’m an awful cook, much to my family’s dismay,” Sophia said. The corner of her mouth tilted up in a smile.

  “That’s why you’re dating him? Not that I blame you,” Grace said, and grinned.

  “That’s what I keep telling her. Now how about some pancakes?” he asked. “Someone said they wanted second breakfast.”

  “Me,” Molly cheered. “I promise not to give any to Bash.”

  “Yes, don’t give him any. No matter how sad his eyes look. He does that on purpose, you know.”

  “I know,” Molly said, her tone serious.

  Sophia laughed, and the sound washed over him. She was calming down, and this was what he wanted. Her meeting two of the most important people in his life. He had no idea when they’d gotten to this point, but now that it was here, he didn’t have a single doubt that this was where she belonged, in his kitchen, teasing his niece and getting to know his sister.

  “Chocolate chips or blueberries?” he asked, and Molly gave him an are-you-kidding-me look.

  “Chocolate chwip,” Molly said, shaking her head. “Blueberwies only in muffins.”

  “Of course,” he said, before leaning close to Grace and giving her a hug. “I’m glad you’re here.”

  His sister laughed. “Sure you are.”

  They spent the next few hours gorging on pancakes and making a quick trip to the dog park so Bash could run around. And while they’d walked, with Molly swinging between Grace and Sophia’s hands, his sister had filled Sophia in on every embarrassing story she had on him. Sisters were pains in the ass like that.