Page 32 of Racing Heat

Of course she’s already out here, with Mac, talking and laughing while juggling a soccer ball. I stop and watch her, staring at those short, strong legs that propel her during our runs and on the field. Her short shorts are grabbing her perfect muscular ass. I’d love to get my hands on it and find out how tight it is. I think about all the ways I could grab ahold of it to pull her into me.

Fuck. I am screwed. There is no way I’m going to be able to focus on coaching today. Not with her out there looking so sexy.

“Hey, Jase.” Nate comes up and claps me on the back. “How are things?”

I smile at the man who has become a good friend. We may not hang out a lot outside of work, but he’s saved me in more ways than one. He’s made it possible for me to still be a part ofthe game, and he’s made me feel like I’m part of the team; not that I’m just the goalie coach and should only be focused on the goalies. No, he values my opinion in all aspects of the game.

“I’m okay. Just a bit knackered out today,” I tell him.

Nate nods.

“I think we’ll do some footwork today,” he tells me, “and then you can take the goalies and do whatever it is you’d like to work on.”

“Anything in particular that I should focus on with them today? You know, based on what you saw at the last game.”

“No, I trust you to work on whatever you see fit. You’re doing a great job.” He pats me on the back again and then moves to talk to Andie.

“Thanks, Nate,” I call after him. I genuinely like him. He’s a good guy and he puts a lot of trust in me as a coach.

More of the girls arrive, and soon it’ll be time to work on those footwork drills. Hopefully I’m not assigned the group that Cassie is in. I’m not sure I could keep my eyes off her, and that would draw a lot of attention to us and cause problems for not just me but also her.

Big problems. I remind myself of that every time I’m tempted to look in her direction all the way through practice. Somehow I manage to avoid her eyes, but there are times when I feel her watching me, and those are the hardest times of all. I would give anything to stare into those blue eyes right now.

Finally, it’s time to work with Hendrix, Miranda, and Kate. I pull my goalies aside and we go through warmups before it’s time to have them diving for saves. I’ve decided that we’ve been spending a lot of time working on the shots that are coming at them by the crossbar. Now I want to focus on their dives, make sure everyone is as agile as they need to be.

It’s going really well until I notice that Cassie is taking a lap with some of the team. She or her team must have lost achallenge. It doesn’t happen often, but sometimes when the girls are put on teams and they don’t win, they have to run a lap.

Her brown ponytail bounces as she runs. I can’t quite see the muscles in her legs flexing, but I know what they look like. I’ve studied them during games and sometimes when I fall behind her when she’s running with me.

I’ve got it bad for this girl. And I’m not sure if she feels any certain way at all about me. Other than the fact that I kissed the fuck out of her, and I got a moan. That sexy sound has been playing in my head on repeat since I heard it. It’s my favorite sound of hers. Her laugh is a close second.

“Hey, Jase,” Hendrix says. “What’s going on?”

I look over at her. “I’m sorry, what?”

“Well, we finished with the drill, and now we’re wondering what you would like us to do next. But you know, if you need to take care of something, we can wait.” Judging by the shit-eating grin she’s aiming at me, she thinks she knows something.

“Wanna take a lap too?” I ask her.

“Not as bad as you do.” She winks.

“Go get some water, smart-ass.”

“You look like you might need a cold shower before lunch,” Hendrix calls to me as she walks backward to her water bottle.

“No, I’m fine.” Although no one believes it.

“Well, I hope you’re more convincing while we’re at lunch today.” She cackles and turns her back on me.

Lunch! Fuck. I had forgotten that I promised to take Hendrix and Cassie for fish and chips today. I picked the wrong fucking day to kiss her. I should have waited for when I could hide. Or let August find me someone to take home from the bar so that I could forget all about her and stop imagining how soft her skin would feel as I run my hands all over it.

Chapter Twelve

~CASSIE~

“Are you ready yet?” Henny is standing right beside my locker as I’m pulling on my shorts.

“Why are you rushing me?” I ask her. “Do you need me to leave or something?”