Page 29 of Racing Heat (The Forbidden Heat #2)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

~JASE~

Cassie has kept a low profile since we watched film.

It’s been three days, and we haven’t really spoken.

I’ve sent a few texts and all she does is not answer or tell me she’s with the team and can’t get away.

I know there have been a few practices that have run longer for her than me, so some of it was to be expected.

But I feel like she’s icing me out because I called out her shit plan, which makes me wonder if I was only kidding myself and that this isn’t a good idea.

I try not to let it weigh too heavily on my mind. I don’t want others to notice and suspect something, because even if it was just a wonderful twenty-four hours that we spent together, it should stay between us.

Today is going to be a rough game for her and the rest of the team.

She needs something to make her smile, something to lighten the mood.

Everyone deserves a little good, but right now, the only one I’m interested in making smile is Cassie.

I arrive at the stadium earlier than her.

I know her. She and Mac have this pre-game routine that usually ensures she’s one of the first ones to arrive. But today I beat her.

I head into the locker room and see the uniforms hanging up in their lockers.

August spared no expense in making them feel professional.

Their laundry is done weekly, and uniforms are hung up before each game.

The amount of merchandize he provided us all with is insane, but the locker room presentation with the alternating blue-and-yellow cubes with uniforms pressed and ready is a nice touch.

I stop at hers. She’s number eight. I think back to when I was in high school and someone on the team would cheer for their player who was number eight.

“That’s my eight; he’s pretty great,” they would say.

I think she’s more than great, but that might not matter anymore.

I pull the single light-purple rose from my bag and place it on the bench inside her locker.

The card I wrote has a “Shh” written on the outside, and inside it says, “Good luck today. You’ve got this. ”

I hope it helps to get me back into her good graces.

After my errand is complete, I head to my office to get some work done.

There are a few specs that August asked me to look at for full goalie uniforms. Currently, they’re wearing a padded shirt with the same shorts as the rest of the girls.

He wants to them to stand out a bit more and be more one color.

It’s a good idea. It’s what most of the teams are doing.

But I don’t care for the color’s he’s chosen.

I look at the bright orange and pink and think that Hendrix would certainly hate them.

I’m not sure about Miranda and Kate, but I know that they won’t say boo about it.

A twinge of guilt hits me when I remember that neither of them have seen the field all season.

It’s still a little early, but Hendrix is our best shot at the playoffs.

A knock at my door pulls me out of my thoughts. I look up to see Nate.

“Hey, man. What’s up?” he asks, walking in and sitting across from me.

“Not much. Just looking over some possible goalie uniform colors that August is suggesting.” I turn the paper so that he can see the options.

“Eek. I don’t really like any of those. But it’s your call. They’re your goalies.”

I shake my head. “I don’t like them either, but I’ll run my choices by you because it’s your team too.”

“Appreciate that.” He watches me for a moment before continuing. “How are you doing? Everything okay since you’ve been here in the US?”

“Yeah, I’m okay.”

“Not homesick or anything?”

“Nah, I’m good. I’ve been hanging out with August and Danny. That helps. Found some guys I play pickup with on the weekends. It’s not so bad being over here,” I say with a chuckle.

“Good. I just wanted to check in. I know this whole environment is new to you in some ways. Just making sure there isn’t anything we can do.”

I like Nate. He’s a good guy. He’s working to do great things with the team both on and off the field. “Yeah, I appreciate it, man. Things are going really well here.”

“And you’re happy?” He throws the question out and leans back in the chair like he’s studying me.

For a second, I wonder if he’s picked up on something, but I push those panicked thoughts aside. “Yes, I’m happy.”

He watches me for a moment. “Okay, just making sure. I know it’s a big adjustment.”

“Everything is fine.” I lie easily, because it’s the easier answer.

The more complicated one includes things he can know and can’t at the same time.

Like how lonely I’ve been since moving over here.

How hanging out with Danny and August certainly does help, but meeting and getting to taste the right midfielder has made me the happiest I’ve been in a long time.

But just as quickly as it started, it might have ended.

“Good, glad to hear it. The wife says we should invite you over to the house for dinner. But that’s up to you. I’m thinking of having all the coaches over.”

“Yeah, I’d like that.” I mean it, too. It would be nice to hang out and get to know Nate a bit more. He has small children, so that’s made it difficult for him to really spend any extra time with us outside of practices, games, and team meetings.

“Great, I’ll get that set up.” Nate rises. “Let me know what colors you decide on for the uniforms or how many times you have to send August back to the drawing board.”

I move the mouse to wake up the computer that sits at my desk. I barely use it. I’m not sure why August spent the money on them. Usually, the only thing I use is my iPad. It can handle the filming software, the practices drills I develop, and any emails I’m required to respond to.

“I’m going to do some searching and see what I can find,” I tell him. “There was a company I dealt with in the UK that I want to reach out to and see if they have any connections in the US.”

“That’s fine with me. Just make sure August signs off on it.” He taps my desk, signaling the end of our discussion as he moves toward the door. “You sure you’re good?”

I look at him for a moment, my throat growing dry, wondering what he’s noticed and what’s giving away the sadness I’m feeling over her no-contact days. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

My phone dings beside me and I can see that it’s a text. Without fully looking at it, I can almost make out that it’s Cassie who has sent the text. Only the C in her name can be seen from this angle.

“There’s a smile,” he says with a chuckle. “I’m guessing that’s a woman. Only thing that can make a man’s eyes light up like that.”

He misses nothing. I pick up my phone and, sure enough, she’s messaged me. I just nod, confirming his assumption.

“I’ll leave you to it. See ya out there in a bit.”

“Thanks. Bye,” I say to his retreating form.

I immediately pick up my phone and look to see her message.

Cassie: Thank you for the rose. That was sweet.

It’s good Nate left, because I’m sure I’m grinning like a fool right now.

Jase: You’re welcome, pretty girl. Have a good game.

Text bubbles appear, then disappear. I feel like a little kid on Christmas morning, stomach somersaulting at what she’s going to reply with. Hoping that it’s not just a thank-you but something more—at least permission to keep texting, talking, and seeing her.

Cassie: Thanks. I’ve missed you. I’m not avoiding you on purpose. Sure, I was pissed but I was busy. Don’t take it personally.

Her response makes me happy and also feel a bit daft.

Why was I stressing out so badly about this?

I knew I pissed her off. I just wasn’t sure it earned me so much silence, if that’s even what it was.

I pinch the bridge of my nose. This is the first thing I’ve started since my divorce.

Why did I have to make it so complicated?

Jase: It’s kind of hard not to after the way we left things the other day. I didn’t realize how addicted I could be to one person

.

I hit send before I have a minute to second-guess myself.

The seconds feel like hours until the bubbles appear again, but nothing comes.

Instead, I’m rewarded with a knock on my door.

I look up and there she stands, game day ready in her blue uniform with the yellow accents.

Her hair is pulled up into her signature braided ponytail.

God, I’ve missed the look of her, and it hasn’t been that long. She’s addicting, like a drug I can’t get enough of.

“Hi” is the only thing that I can say to her. The word slips out with such relief. I’ve missed the sight of her.

“Hey.” She looks around before heading into my office. “I just wanted to come up and say thank you for the rose.”

“You did that,” I remind her, holding up my phone.

“Well, this felt like an in-person conversation that we should have quickly. You know, before the game.”

I nod. My throat goes dry. Fuck, she’s going to end this. Dread settles into my chest like a weight that threatens to crush the life out of me.

“I just wanted to say that avoiding you wasn’t the right decision. I shouldn’t have done that to you. I was a little pissed and then busy. Then I felt stupid for not contacting you or being so short with you, so I avoided. It’s what I do—I’m an avoider.”

She shuffles from foot to foot, looking nervous. It’s adorable.

I get up and close the distance between us. I’m careful to keep my hands to myself because I’m not sure who could walk in.

“I’m so glad to hear you say that, because I was going over so many situations in my head about how I ruined this. I shouldn’t have challenged you like that. Maybe my tone was off and wrong. I’m sorry it upset you. I can be very direct when I coach. That wasn’t about you and me.”

She nods. “I was being stubborn. Mac told me as much the other night.”

“Does she know?”

“No. As far as I can tell, Danny hasn’t told her about us.”

“Is there an us to still tell her about?” I hold my breath until she says the words that feel like they’ll give me life or death.

“I would like there to be, yes.”

I grin. “Good. That’s what I was hoping for.”

“Good,” she replies. “I should get back down there. I just wanted to settle this before the game. It was bothering me, and I didn’t want the distraction.”

I’m relieved to hear her say that. It would have worried me all game, and I would have read into every look in my direction or move she made, making it hard to have my complete focus on the game and my job. I reach out and run a fingertip along her arm.

“I’m glad you came up here.” My fingers itch to do more touching. I want to put my lips on her body, but I can’t.

“Me too.” She leans into my touch. “This is dangerous.”

I nod in agreement. “You’re going to have to be the one to leave. I’d keep you here all day if I could.”

“You wouldn’t. You’re too much of a professional for that.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right. But it’s still temping. You’re so very tempting.” I enjoy the way her cheeks flush at my words. “You should go while I still have enough restraint to let you leave.”

“Okay, I’ll go,” she says, but she doesn’t move.

I look behind her to see if anyone is in the hall, but we’re too far in and I can’t tell. The windows across from my office show a nice view of our field. There are a few girls gathering.

“Team is arriving,” I tell her, and her shoulders lift in a slight shrug. “My resolve is slipping.”

“I would love to find out what happens when it’s fully gone,” she teases me.

“I can show you later, but right now”—I step closer to her so that our chests are almost touching, dropping my voice to a seductive low— “I need you to get that cute ass of yours downstairs and get ready for game day.”

She giggles and takes a step back. “As you wish. I guess I can’t…”

“Can’t what?”

“Kiss you senseless before I leave you.”

I smirk at her. “You could…but you shouldn’t.”

Cassie moves so that she’s back in front of me. “There’s that word—shouldn’t. We shouldn’t touch. You shouldn’t fuck me. When are we going to stop worrying about what we shouldn’t be doing?”

I chuckle and shift on my feet. “When we’re truly alone and in a safer place.”

Cassie nods, raising her eyebrows in challenge.

I move in slightly, angling my mouth so that I can quickly capture hers.

I steal a quick kiss, then another and another.

I pull her body hard, and she slams against my chest and whimpers.

I keep on kissing her, almost like I’m claiming her mouth.

She lets me do it, hangs on to me while I make her moan and shake.

Pulling back slightly, I look at her. “That’s the way I wish I could greet you every time I see you, people be damned.”

Her blue eyes look a bit glassy, like she’s in a daze. No words come out of her slightly parted lips.

“Have a good game. I’m hoping I get to see you later.” That earns me a nod. “And then maybe I can make you beg.”

Cassie grins at me. “Are you trying to make sure that I’m in a constant state of arousal during my game?”

“It might just be the best foreplay I’ve ever thought of.”

She shakes her head and then turns on her heel, ready to flee. I reach out and give her ass a slight smack. “You’re going to be late for warmups. Better get going.”

She shoots me a wink and is gone. Fuck, that girl is addicting.