Page 11 of Racing Heat (The Forbidden Heat #2)

~JASE~

I’m a ball of nerves when we arrive at practice.

August hasn’t seemed to notice, though. He’s been busy rattling on about his new marketing plan for the team.

The charity night when the girls bartended to raise money for the hospital did very well.

The hospital got a nice, fat check, and the team got some great PR. Win-win.

“What’s up your ass today, man?” he asks me. “Is it your car? Did they say it’s going to be expensive to fix? Because if it’s the money you’re worried about…well, that’s your problem.” He chuckles.

Fuck if August can actually take anything seriously.

“Yeah, I heard about the car, but it’s not going to be that much. Something with the starter. It’s not a big deal. A car is being sent to pick me up so I can grab it,” I explain.

“Shouldn’t they bring it to you? It’s costing you enough, I’m sure. That fancy-ass German car of yours.”

“We’re sitting in a Mercedes. You do realize that this SUV was made in Germany too, right?” I shake my head. “You’re being an asshole.”

“Fuck, you’re touchy as shit today. What happened? Did you get some bad pussy last night?” When I say nothing, he continues. “No pussy? Is that what it was? You paid for dinner, and she didn’t put out?”

“What the fuck is wrong with you? It has nothing to do with ass. It has nothing to do with my car. I’m just in a shit mood. Now go take a piss, man,” I tell him, shaking my head.

August just laughs. It doesn’t matter what you say to August. He mostly lets it roll off his back.

And today is one of those days. He’s in a great mood and is all excited about the plans he has for the team.

I respect that and I’m glad to hear he’s not the spoiled little rich kid who’s just going to sit back and let the team run itself.

He wants to do well at this. I respect that.

Right now, I just wish he’d shut up and let me wallow.

“You miss home, man? Is that what this is?” We stop at a light, and he turns to look at me again. “Dude, I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be insensitive. What do you need? What’s the problem?”

“I’m just in a shitty mood. The workout wasn’t the best this morning, and then my car… I don’t know.”

“Well, hopefully some time out on the field will help clear your head or something.” We start driving again and he chuckles to himself. “Hell, if you’re in a bad mood, take it out on Hendrix. Make her practice a living hell. That should make you feel better, right?”

“I’m not taking it out on the team. That’s not fair to anyone,” I tell him. And I mean it. I had coaches like that when I was growing up, and I hated those bastards for doing that to us. I wouldn’t do that to the girls I coach. They deserve better.

“Look at you being all big and noble,” he says. “Do you want to hit the town tonight and get some ass? I haven’t really seen you with too many women since you moved from across the pond.” August always says the ‘pond’ when he refers to my hometown, but he’d be wrong.

“No, I think I’m just a little knackered. Maybe I need to get some sleep.”

“Knackered? You’re going to have to explain that one, man.”

“Sorry, yeah, that just means I’m tired,” I explain.

“Then just say tired,” he says as we turn into the studio.

“Sure, bloke, anything for you,” I say, laughing at him.

“That one I know!” he exclaims, and I laugh along with him. “Well, at least I made you smile on our little journey into work.”

“Thanks for that.”

“Let me know if you wanna hang out or something later, okay? Boys’ night? I hate to think of you all alone in that big house,” August says as we exit the car.

“Then maybe you shouldn’t have found me such a big place to stay in,” I remind him for what feels like the millionth time. “I certainly didn’t need a four-bedroom house.”

I remember the way Cassie’s wide blue eyes stared at the house as she took it all in. I had already made things awkward by kissing her. But she fucking kissed me back. She wanted it too.

“It’s a great house. It’s only missing a pool.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not putting in a pool. I’m only renting and, honestly, I’m going to find something smaller when the lease is up. It’s too much house.”

“You have a housekeeper and someone who maintains your lawn. Why would you move?” He stares at me like I’ve grown an extra head or something.

“Yes, but all of those things come along with renting the house. And those will be on me once I buy the thing.” Sometimes I swear the man only hears what he wants to hear.

“Are you going to be all frugal when you get a place of your own? Because I like the house. I can see if there’s something available in my building, if you really hate it.”

I shake my head. “No, remember, I told you no penthouses and no apartments. I like having my own space and yard. I don’t want to be attached to anyone, but I definitely don’t need four bedrooms.”

“So, you’ve said.” He shrugs. “Anyway. Boys’ night. We’re doing it!”

It’s fitting for him to just demand that we’re doing a boys’ night. He’s right, though. I could use a boys’ night, so I’ll go without a fight.

We reach the elevators, but I don’t go up to them. August is off to his spacious office to get some of those big ideas in motion, but there’s nothing I need in my office today. Instead, I make my way up the ramp and I’m home.

I love it here. Yes, it’s coaching and I’m not actually playing professionally anymore, so this is the best I can get.

But it’s home. It’s the place that has always quieted my nerves and my thoughts.

Except now I’m worried that the small brown-haired vixen whose lips I can’t stop thinking about is going to come out here and blow my mind.

Make it impossible for me to feel normal or think about anything other than the way she moaned when I had her in my arms.

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 of the 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 a challenge. 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.