Page 6 of Over the Moon (Rosewood River #3)

“It’s going well. I train with Clark half the day, and then it leaves me some time to hike and explore. I think I’m going to try river rafting soon, and I’m playing pickleball this weekend,” I said, wondering why I felt the need to let him know I was keeping busy.

“Yeah, it’s a nice town. Lots of tourists in the summer, with the river there and all.

” He paused, and it sounded like he was sipping his coffee.

“I just know that you probably don’t have many friends there just yet, so be careful with Chadwick.

You don’t want to cross any lines while you’re there.

He’s a charming guy and a bit of a ladies man. ”

I rolled my eyes at the audacity of this guy.

I knew he felt threatened by me being hired by the team.

My being dual certified as a PT and an athletic trainer had come up in a meeting, and the man was definitely on a power trip with me.

It was clear he wanted to make sure I knew that he was in charge.

He’s already reminded me three times in the short time that I’d been hired that I answered to him and not my father.

“I assure you, I know how to behave like a professional. No need to worry.”

I wondered if he’d been warned multiple times about not getting too close to the players—or if I was just being reminded constantly because I was a woman.

I was younger than him, as well.

“Well, that’s why we’re all forced to sign that contract.” He chuckled, as if he wasn’t trying to threaten me, when we both knew that he was. “All staff employed by the Lions must be held to a higher standard, ethically speaking.”

I walked in on a very suspicious situation with Randall and his secretary, Talia, the first day I’d been hired. I found them together in the locker room after hours, and they appeared very nervous when I came in to find him.

Randall was a married man and much older than Talia, so perhaps he should take his own advice.

“I understood the contract when I signed it,” I said, my voice lacking any emotion.

“Of course, you did. I’d expect nothing less from John’s daughter.

” He laughed, but it sounded forced. “He’s proud of you.

Talks about you all the time. But it was a surprise when they agreed to hire you, you know, with your lack of experience.

But just know that we can’t allow for any favoritism, just because your daddy is the head coach. ”

I paused as I approached Clark’s house.

My daddy?

I was twenty-seven years old. This man was acting like I was a child.

I ground my teeth, and my hands fisted as I continued walking, making a conscious effort to keep my voice even.

“It’s not a secret that my father helped get me the interview, but I believe I’ve proven that I deserve to be here with my credentials and work ethic. I don’t think they would have interviewed me three times and hired me if they weren’t certain I was up for the job.”

“Oh, yes. Of course, you are qualified. It’s just that when I was going to school, they didn’t offer shortcut programs with dual certification.” More awkward laughter.

Please let this conversation end.

I counted down from ten to one, trying desperately to not lose my shit on this sexist, arrogant bastard.

“Well, it was a brutal and intense four-year program. But we don’t need to debate that. I’m here at Clark’s gym, and I need to get inside.” I wasn’t sure if Randall knew that his gym was at his home, and I certainly wasn’t going to offer that up and allow him to question me even more.

I didn’t choose to come here.

I was sent here, and I was doing my job.

“Sounds good. I’ll expect a report later today with the results of today’s workout.”

“On it. Have a good day.” I ended the call as quickly as possible and made my way to the front door, which was left open for me, so I waltzed into the house.

“What’s up, Weeze?” he said, as a wide grin spread across his face.

He stood there, wearing basketball shorts and no shirt, per usual.

He had dark wavy hair and just the right amount of scruff peppered across his jaw.

He was ridiculously tall, with broad shoulders and a tapered waste.

My eyes betrayed me, scanning his body from his chest down to the deep V on display, where his shorts hung low on his hips.

I hated that I found it impossible not to look.

Not to linger.

It made me irritated with both him and my lack of self-control.

“Stop calling me that ridiculous name.” I huffed past him. We’d fallen into a routine these last few days, where he liked to annoy me, and I liked to let him know how irritated I was. “And how about we start with a shirt on, yeah?”

He chuckled as he followed me down the hallway to the gym, walking so close that I could feel his warm breath on the back of my neck.

“I was outside pulling some weeds this morning,” he said. “It’s already hot as hell.”

Once we were in the gym, I turned around to face him. “You’ve already been landscaping this morning? Don’t you have help with your yard? It’s massive.”

“I do. I have a guy. But I like being out there. I planted half of those trees in the backyard. Obviously, when I’m in season and living in the city, I can’t keep up with it, but when I’m home, I like to get my hands dirty,” he said, and for whatever reason, Clark Chadwick talking about getting his hands dirty sounded hot as hell.

“Interesting. I wouldn’t have guessed you a guy who enjoyed yard work.” I pointed to the table, where we started each day so I could work on his knee.

He didn’t put his shirt on, because he seemed to enjoy torturing me.

Instead, he set his phone down on the bench beside him and started his playlist. Eminem was shouting through the speakers, and of course, Clark joined in, belting out the lyrics about Mom’s spaghetti and only getting this one shot in life as he poked me a few times while he sang the damn song like he’d written it himself.

“Okay, let’s focus please.” I didn’t want to tell him that I was a big Eminem fan, because it would give him too much pleasure that I approved of his music.

He just smirked at me as he was lying on the table, and his green eyes found mine. They were an unusual shade of light green, with pops of gold and amber and a dark brown rim around the edge. His lips twitched as he smiled. “Admit it, you like my music.”

“It’s fine.”

“I think you like it, Weeze. And since when are you so concerned about my landscaper? You wondering what I do when we aren’t together?” He winked.

“Pftt. Please. I never thought about it,” I lied. I was a curious human just like most people. “It’s just when you said you like to work in the yard, I guess I hadn’t expected it.”

“You grew up in a small town, didn’t you?” he asked.

There was a fine line with athletes about how much you should share.

What kind of friendship you could form while still keeping things professional but still connecting as you worked so close together.

With Clark and I spending three months working together one-on-one, it would be odd if we didn’t talk about our lives to some extent.

I’d be spending four to five hours a day with the man, six days a week, for the next three months.

So it would be normal to share a little bit with him.

“Yes. I lived in Windy Hill, Texas. It’s a small town outside of Austin.” I cleared my throat as I removed his brace and smiled because his knee was looking better each day as far as the inflammation. “Sleeping in the brace is helping. The swelling is coming down.”

“That’s all you, Weeze. You’re working wonders on my body.”

It’s like the universe was completely tuned in to the man, because “Sexy and I Know It,” by LMFAO started playing, and of course, the charming bastard moved to his feet and started dancing like a Chippendales dude at a bachelorette party.

His eyes found mine, and a wicked grin spread across his face as he started singing.

Did it just get hot in here?