Page 53 of Good Girl’s Guide to Love (Guide to Love #4)

linc

“That’s how we fucking do it, boys!”

Our sideline is fucking pumped up about that last touchdown. As we should be, it was a beautiful interception by Maddox, who ran it back sixty yards to seal the win for us.

There’s two minutes left in the game, and unless something crazy happens, me and the rest of the offense can take the rest of the game off and walk away as winners. Two-and-oh to start the season…not bad. Not bad at all.

“Fuck, yeah,” Wyatt says, slapping my back as I watch Philadelphia’s offense try to make a comeback. “Good fucking game, Linc.”

“You too. The line played out of their minds today.”

And I’m not saying that because my best friend anchors the right side. They were blocking everything, giving Bryce all the time in the world to make his passes. Which is why I had a hundred and twenty yards receiving and two touchdowns. Our running backs rushed for another hundred-and-fifty yards.

It was a great all-around game, and I hate to jinx things, but if this is how we’re going to play this season, it’s going to be hard to stop us.

Three in four, baby…three in four.

“A bunch of us are going to go out tonight. Dinner and a few drinks. Nothing crazy. Want to come?”

I start to answer him, but as I do, the Jumbotron plays one of our favorite victory songs—and it’s one that our fans have embraced. I don’t usually watch the board, but since this game is wrapped up, I let my eyes wander.

And then they pan to Ainsley. She and Quinn are dancing in the front of the suite, Brenna Campbell and Lucy Donald next to them.

The crowd roars when they see the four of them, and that only doubles down their dancing and excitement.

I step back and drop my helmet so I can watch for as long as the camera will let me.

I know I’m smiling like a fucking fool, but I can’t help it.

She’s fucking gorgeous and smiling ear to ear, having the time of her life.

And she’s doing it in my jersey.

“I’m going to assume you have other plans tonight,” Wyatt says as he steps next to me.

“Yeah…I think I’m busy.”

I don’t know who said what, but all four of them start hysterically laughing before it zooms in on Ainsley. She happens to look over to the camera and gives it a wave with the biggest smile I think I’ve ever seen on her before it pans away.

“This is still what it started as, right?” Wyatt asks. “It hasn’t become…more?”

I get what he’s saying, and I appreciate his choice of words. “Still the same. A few other perks, but that’s it.”

Sure…keep telling yourself that.

Wyatt shakes his head. “Just be careful, man.”

“About what?”

He looks at me, then to the box where the girls are sitting, then back to me. “Your smile.”

Okay, what the fuck is he talking about? “My smile?”

He nods and puts his hand on my shoulder as the game clock expires and the crowd roars to life once more.

“That smile doesn’t happen for a guy who’s faking it.

That’s not even the one you’d have if you knew cameras are around.

No, that’s the smile of a guy who’s in love.

And I know how you feel about that subject. ”

I scoff at him. “I’m not in love. Believe me, nothing has changed. We’re just having fun.”

He just laughs as we jog onto the field to shake hands. “You keep telling yourself that.”

I’ve never showered so fast in my entire life.

Sure, it helped that I had to do a formal post-game press conference, and our media team likes us put together and not still in uniform. But even if I didn’t, I would’ve still broken the team record for fastest to leave the locker room.

Because I have plans. And they involve Ainsley. In my jersey. And that’s it.

“See you tomorrow,” I say to Wyatt as I grab my duffel bag. “Have fun tonight.”

“I’d say you, too, but I already have a feeling you’re going to.”

I couldn’t keep the smile off my face if I tried. “Oh, I will.”

I wave goodbye to a few guys as I walk out of the locker room. I’m just about out when I hear my name.

“Good game, Kincaid. Too bad?—”

“Nope! Not fucking today Rockwell,” I say without even giving him a second glance. “Not fucking today.”

I push through the doors, leaving a likely pissed Rockwell behind me.

I don’t give a shit. I don’t care about him or his empty words and taunts.

That’s all they are—him trying to get in my head because he’s scared shitless that he’s about to become second string.

Or worse, traded. The rumors are starting to circulate, but that’s all they are.

Rumors. I’m not going to let myself buy too much into them until I see it for myself.

But no matter what, at some point he’s going to be cleared, and I have to go under the assumption he’s still a member of the Fury.

And if he is, I just have to keep showing the coaches what I’ve been doing since last season.

I’m making plays. Being a good teammate.

Arriving early and staying late. My production is top of the team through the first two games.

I know me contributing at all to a team is still something new, but I can safely say I’ve never felt like this before. And I have a feeling the woman I’m walking to, the one wearing my jersey with a smile on her face that could light up this whole stadium, is a big reason why.

“Hey you,” I say, dropping my duffel bag to properly hug her. “Come here.”

She takes a step toward me, letting me easily lift her off the ground as I hug her close. I want to kiss her—you know, for the bit and no other reason—but I’m not sure how sober Ainsley feels about PDA. Especially in front of fans, my teammates, and her sister.

“Oh, you two are just the best,” Quinn says as I put her down. “You’re my favorite of Ainsley’s boyfriends.”

“You’re just saying that because you sat in a suite today,” Ainsley teases.

“Possibly. I also really hated Dr. Dweeb.”

“Oh, I like that one. I usually call him Dipshit,” I say as I give Quinn a quick hug. “Rolls off the tongue.”

“Oh, I like that too,” Quinn says. “Also, I need to thank you. Two touchdowns? My fantasy team, My TDs are Real, appreciates it.”

I choke on my own spit. “That’s your fantasy name?”

“Of course it is. And of course they are. I love a good double entendre.”

“Quinn...” Ainsley groans, but I just laugh and kiss her temple. “Please, Quinn…I beg of you…”

I don’t know what Ainsley was going to say, or what Quinn’s likely hilarious comeback would’ve been, because we can’t help but hear someone coughing. Loudly. Like they just swallowed twenty bugs in a dramatic fashion.

“Katie?”

Why is my publicist here when I’m not in trouble? And why is she dressed like that?

“Hey, Linc! Great game today!”

“Thanks?” And yes, it came out like a question, because I’m honestly not sure why she’s here.

Katie’s role is to help me off the field and to make sure I stay out of trouble.

When I’m here, the Fury’s media team handles interviews and anything game day related.

Technically, this is a day off for her. “Did you come to the game?”

“Of course I did,” she says, her cough magically gone. “Just wanted to come down and see you. Make sure everything was okay.”

I shake my head. “I’m good. Everything is going great. We’re just going to have an early night in, so nothing to worry about on your end.”

“Oh, great,” she says with a bit of fake enthusiasm to her voice. “Ainsley, it was fun hanging out with you today!”

What? She saw Ainsley? I’ll have to ask her about that later.

“I’m sorry, we haven’t been introduced,” Quinn says, stepping up in front of Ainsley. “I’m Quinn. Ainsley’s sister. I saw you earlier, and I didn’t get to say hello. I didn’t want to interrupt your and Ainsley’s conversation. You’re Linc’s publicist? Did I get that right?”

Katie’s eyes narrow a bit at Quinn. “That’s me. His publicist. Or assistant? Maybe manager. I just do so many things for him in his life.”

While that was true in the off season, since we’ve started back up, and since Ainsley and I concocted our grand plan, I really haven’t needed Katie or the dreaded iPad anymore. Which is strange considering I saw her daily in the offseason.

“Interesting,” Quinn says. “Also, why are you wearing a jersey like a desperate fan girl? And whose is it? Got a favorite player that isn’t Linc?”

Katie huffs at her insinuation. I notice then that she’s wearing number 88. Which is Rockwell’s number. “I can be a fan of my client’s team. And I just had this shirt laying around.”

She could, but that seems awfully suspicious.

“Anyway, Linc. I talked to Ainsley today. She said things were okay. Just making sure she isn’t leaving anything out that I need to be aware of?”

I’m a little confused, but that’s when Ainsley steps slightly in front of me. “Yes. We did have a chat today. And Katie knows where everything stands. Don’t you?”

Ainsley and Quinn are staring Katie down. She’s trying to give it back to them, but I see a “dare me” look in Quinn’s eyes. And Ainsley? If I wouldn’t know better, that’s a little bit of possessiveness in her gaze.

And it’s fucking hot as hell.

“All right ladies, we’re going to get going.” I take Ainsley’s hand back in mine, because if we stand here any longer, she might scratch Katie’s eyes out. “Katie, we’ll catch up this week before we hit the road.”

If she says anything, I don’t hear it as I lead Ainsley, Quinn following, to the parking lot where players and family can park.

“What was that?” I ask as we’re out of earshot.

“Nothing you need to be concerned about,” Quinn says.

I look over to Ainsley, and clearly it is something I need to concern myself with, and I make a mental note to talk about it later.

“Quinn, thanks for coming,” I say, trying to change the subject. “But if it’s okay, I think I’m going to steal this one for the rest of the night.”

“Okay? I fucking love it!” she says as she walks over and gives me a hug. “Have a good night. And don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. Note, I do a lot.”

I laugh as she pulls back to give Ainsley a hug.

“You’re a pain, you know that right?” she says.

“But you love me,” Quinn sings. “Have a good night you two. Oh! Ainsley! Remember, just don’t bite it!”

I spit out a laugh as Ainsley’s entire body goes red in embarrassment. “Your sister is a fucking hoot.”

“She’s something,” she says as she we approach my SUV. I click the fob to unlock it, and I feel her starting to pull away.

“Where are you going?”

She looks back to me as I hold her hand tighter. “To my side?

“Oh no, you don’t.” I drop my bag and step into her, pinning her against the car. “You don’t open doors. I might not be a forever guy, but I know that when you’re about to drive away with a beautiful woman next to you, she doesn’t open a door. Ever.”

“Oh…I?—”

I cut off whatever she was about to say with a kiss so hard I feel it in every single cell.

I wanted to kiss her the second I saw her after the game.

Hell, I wanted to leave the sideline, climb up to the suites, and kiss her when I saw her on the big screen.

It’s been two days since I’ve kissed her, and frankly, that’s just far too long.

I pull away, more because if I don’t then indecent things are going to happen here, and I know for a fact Ainsley isn’t ready for that.

“Linc?”

“Yeah?”

Her hand travels down the outside of my pants, lightly touching my already aching cock. “I’m ready for more fireworks.”