Page 48 of Racing Heat (The Forbidden Heat #2)

Chapter Forty-Five

~JASE~

Cassie is lying in my bed naked, relaxing before she has to head to the stadium to get ready for the game today.

We’re playing the Houston Dash. It’s a very winnable game for us.

We just have to make sure we aren’t chasing long ball—something the coaching staff has worked extensively on with the girls.

I’ve heard a few snide comments sent Cassie’s way, but she hasn’t mentioned them.

I tap her ass. “Are we going to be riding to the stadium together today?”

She shakes her head. “Nope. It’s bad enough that some of them give me shit for fucking you. I don’t want any issues because we’re showing up together.”

“Is everything going okay with you and girls?”

“Nothing I can’t handle. We knew this might happen. Look what they said to Mac when she was first caught with Danny. I’ll get over it. It’ll be fine until they find something else to focus on.” She says it casually, but I know it bothers her. Cassie is just putting on a brave face for me.

“How has it been with the coaching staff?” she asks me. “Anyone saying anything to you?”

I shake my head. “No, it’s been business as usual.

The only remark I’ve heard is when Nate told me that I seem happy.

Which, I think he’s right. I’m very happy with you.

” I lean over and capture her lips with mine.

I want to deepen the kiss so bad, but I know we don’t have time for this right now.

She has to get her ass to the stadium, and I shouldn’t be too far behind her.

Cassie pulls back. “Don’t even try it. We are not going for another round.” She grins at me. “The three from last night are still fresh in my mind.”

I chuckle. “Yeah, we wouldn’t want to take away all of your energy before the game.”

She shakes her head. “Oh, you would be doing all the work.”

“I can certainly do that.” I move to pull her in, but she moves out of my reach and gets out of my bed.

“I have to get ready to go.” She begins pulling on her shorts and tank top, which were discarded last night.

“Are you sure you don’t need another shower?” I tease her, wiggling my eyebrows.

“I’m fine. Now stop trying to make me late. If you don’t want people to say shit, then don’t give them a reason to.”

I nod, getting up. Her eyes travel up and down my bare chest and abs as she works to put on her tank top. She screwed up, though, and I start laughing. Her head has gone through both arm holes of her tank.

“Do you need some help?” I tease her.

“It’s not my fault that you’re so damn distracting.” She sticks her tongue out at me.

“You like it.” I blow her a kiss.

“Get dressed,” she says sternly.

I don’t, though. I have some time before I need to leave, because she’s stopping by her apartment first. So, I stay naked and walk over to her, then pull her flush against me.

“I love you and I will see you there. Get your head on right and have a great game.” I lean in and kiss her tenderly. “Today will be just like any other game. You’ve got this.”

“Love you too,” she replies, then she gives me another quick kiss on the lips before leaving me standing there wanting her body yet again.

I arrive at the stadium and see that I’ve beaten her. Grabbing the bouquet of purple roses, I make my way to the girls’ locker room. There doesn’t appear to be anyone else in there, but I knock anyway.

“Male coach entering,” I call out, but no one says anything.

I move quickly over to the locker for player eight and place the roses behind her uniform. It’s all pressed and ready to go, that pretty blue with the yellow accents that she looks so good in. I rush out of the locker room and head to my office to kill some time before I need to be on the pitch.

My office has a nice view of the pitch, so I’ll be sure to see her when she finally heads out there.

Her and Mac have their ritual. It keeps them grounded and allows them to settle in.

I peek at the window and see there’s no one out there yet.

My phone dings in my shorts pocket, and I pick it up. I have a text message.

Cassie: I love the roses. Thank you. That was very sweet of you.

I smile at her message. I’m glad she was happy to see my little gift. I was a little worried that she would hate it or think I was drawing attention to our relationship, but that doesn’t appear to be the case.

Jase: You’re welcome, beautiful girl. Have a great game. I’ll see you soon.

I put my phone back into my pocket and cross the hallway to where I have a perfect view of the field.

She’s out there with Mac, walking the perimeter and getting herself ready to play.

I blow a kiss to her even though she won’t see it.

It’s more for me than her. Sending my love and encouragement to her.

Wishing I could walk down there and gather her in my arms. But I can’t.

That will have to wait until after the game.

By the time warmups start, I’m too busy to even pay extra attention to her. I’m getting Hendrix and Miranda ready just in case we need two keepers in this game.

“You’ve got this. Make sure you’re cutting that angle,” I warn her. “Some of your cuts aren’t sharp enough. We can’t make that mistake if they put eleven out there at striker. Her kicks can be deadly, so be careful.”

“Got it,” Hendrix says with a nod. Her eyes are laser focused on the balls I’m sending in and on her movements. She’s in the zone today.

“You’re doing great. Keep it up.” I tell her before turning to Miranda. “Make sure you’re keeping yourself warm and ready. If we end up with a good lead, I’m going to pull her. I want you to start getting some plays in, okay?”

Miranda just nods; the nerves written all over her face. It’s rare that I use the backup goalie, but sometimes it’s good to give her some experience and to rest Henny.

“Let’s go. Round up,” Nate calls out. It’s time for the anthem and starting lineups to be announced.

The crowd goes wild when the ladies of the Blaze are announced.

We’ve come a long way from being disliked to being embraced.

I know it’s been a goal of August’s, but these girls are making it happen.

It takes every ounce of control to not yell or let out a whoop when they announce Cassie’s name.

But as a coach, the only reaction I should have is clapping, like I do for all the rest. So that’s what I do.

The Blaze puts on a good show for the first half. We end up netting a goal, but so does the Dash. Cassie manages to make a good breakaway run and is charging for the goal. Mac is sprinting ahead of her, trying to see if she’s going to pass up or take it from the eighteen.

“She has this shot,” Nate says from beside me. “’Think she’ll net it?” he asks Andie.

“I sure fucking hope so,” I add in even though no one asked me. “We need a lead.”

“Agreed,” Andie replies. “She’s got this shot. Come on and shoot, Cassie!” she calls out to her.

Cassie fires and it goes wide.

“Fuck!” I mutter. “I was sure she had that.”

“Me too,” Andie says. “I’m the one who said shoot. I’m not sure what happened.”

The buzzer sounds for halftime, and the girls are making their way over.

“There’s always the second half,” Nate replies as we all make our way into the locker room.

The second half starts off slow. No one scores but we miss a lot of opportunities.

Nate’s face is red from yelling at the girls.

I can’t blame him; I have no idea what’s been happening out there.

The ball is living between both eighteens.

, with no shots on either side. I’m glad for Hendrix because this means the heat is off her for now.

But she’s standing there poised and ready on her toes, waiting for that long ball or short shots. Neither comes.

It’s not until we have two minutes to go that Mac charges for the goal. I notice the shift in Kelsey and Cassie immediately. Cassie is pulling up and going into the forward position from the mid.

“I like the talking,” I hear Nate say.

“Come on, baby girl,” I mutter to myself. “Let’s get this ball and put it in the net.”

Mac sends the ball up and Cassie charges forward with it, getting ready to make her shot. A player from the Dash comes up and cuts her off, taking her out, along with the ball. Cassie hits the ground and lies there.

“Fuck!” Andie cries out.

“Please get up. Please get up.” I repeat the words over and over again. I watch as Mac jogs over and kneels beside her. I can tell she’s talking to her.

“Mac, do you need me?” Lucas, our trainer, calls out, but Mac just shakes him off.

Cassie slowly gets up and stretches her legs, looking in the direction of the ref. She’s waiting for her call. And she gets.

A red card is rewarded to the player. He also indicates that it will be a penalty kick.

“Let Cassie take it,” I tell Nate.

He looks over and smiles at me. “I will. It’s her foul, it’s her kick.”