Page 21 of Run the Play (Nashville Rampage #2)

Chapter Eleven

L andry

“Run it again!” Coach Warner calls out.

We meet on the line of scrimmage. Thomas Keen, our center, hikes the ball, and I take off like a rocket.

Swinging my arms, I run as fast as I can to get there.

Looking over my shoulder, I see the ball headed straight for me, just as the play calls for, and I also see that fuck face, Brown, and his slow ass trying to get to me in time.

Joke’s on him. My feet have had wheels on them every day since camp started.

I’m fast on any given day, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t motivated to outrun that motherfucker.

The ball lands perfectly in my hands from Knox’s flawless spiral. Tucking it in close to my chest, I take off for the end zone. I can hear Chaz cussing behind me as I cross the line.

Touchdown!

Chaz stops just before the end zone with his hands on his hips, breathing heavily.

“Party too hard in the offseason, bud?” I taunt.

“Fuck off, Reynolds.”

I hold my hands up in the air as if to say no offense. “I’m just saying.”

He mumbles something under his breath that I’m sure isn’t the least bit friendly, and I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from grinning.

He’s been covering me for the majority of camp, yet he’s never caught me.

I want so badly to remind him that Rowan is with the better man, but I don’t need a coach on my ass for starting shit on the field.

Chaz Brown is a cocky fuck, and sooner or later, he’s going to do that all on his own.

If he starts it, I won’t get into trouble—at least not as much trouble—and trust me…

I’m ready for his sorry ass when he decides to cause a scene.

“Bring it in,” Coach Warner calls out.

Stepping into a jog, I hit my shoulder into his as I hustle back to the fifty-yard line where Coach Warner is standing and take a knee with the rest of my team.

“That was a good hustle out there. All eyes are going to be on us this season as the reigning champs. You’re giving me one-hundred-and-ten-percent out there, and it’s not going unnoticed.

For those of you who are new to the organization, we’re a family here.

If you can’t fall in line with that mode of thinking, this isn’t the team for you.

” Coach makes eye contact with every single player, even those of us who are veterans of the team.

“Hit the showers, see the medical team if you need it, and dinner is in two hours. Tonight, you have the night off. No tape, no walk-throughs. Let your bodies and your minds rest, but lights out at ten.” He nods as if he agrees with his decision and stalks off with the other coaches trailing along behind him.

I catch a glimpse of Rowan on the sidelines packing up supplies with our head physical therapist, John Weaver. Her blonde hair is pulled back in a ponytail and those tight khaki shorts and Rampage polo she’s wearing do nothing to hide her toned body. She doesn’t look my way, and that won’t do.

“Be right back,” I tell the guys. Helmet in hand, I jog toward the sidelines.

When I’m close enough, I press my hand to the small of her back.

She jumps and whirls around to face me with fear in her eyes.

“Hey, it’s just me,” I say soothingly. My hand gently travels up and down her spine in a back-and-forth motion, trying to soothe her.

“You scared me,” she finally says.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I just wanted to say hi to my girl.” I flash her what I’m told is my panty-melting grin, and I can’t only see but feel the tension leave her body.

“You looked good out there today,” she says.

“You like watching your man work?” I tease. Her face takes on a pink hue, and I love that I can garner this kind of reaction from her.

“It’s my job to watch the team and assess injuries.”

“Fuck that,” I growl. The thought of her watching my teammates or watching him over me sends ice through my veins. “You watch me.”

“I get paid to watch the team.” There’s humor dancing in her blue eyes and, if I’m not mistaken, a little bit of challenge. She’s enjoying our banter as much as I am.

“Rowan, a word,” a voice says from behind us. I turn to see Chaz standing there, still in uniform, holding his helmet.

“No.”

“I think I pulled something in that last run.” He doesn’t wince or even flinch when he touches the area. He’s lying through his teeth.

“Oh, you mean the one where you couldn’t stop me?” I smirk.

“Fuck off, Reynolds.”

“No can do, Chazzy boy. You see, you hurt my girl, and that’s not okay with me. You need to stay away from her. If you’re injured, you see someone else. Rowan no longer exists in your world.”

“You like my sloppy seconds, Reynolds?”

This motherfucker. “She’s perfect. What men like you don’t understand is that breaking a woman, bending her to your will, you’re missing out on so much more.

Her thoughts, her dreams, her love. You tried to break her, but you failed, and now, she’s mine.

She’ll be treated like the queen that she is.

I feel sorry for you. You missed the best parts of her.

” Not turning to look at her, I hold my hand out and feel Rowan take it without hesitation.

“You can’t control her any longer, and you sure as fuck won’t lay a hand on her. ”

His face morphs from anger to shock. That’s right, prick, my girl told me, told all of us what you did to her, and we’re not going to stand for it. His eyes flash with a mix of worry and anger, and I can’t seem to find a single fuck to give.

“What’s going on over here?” Knox asks as he approaches us.

“Just checking on my girl, and Brown here says he’s injured.”

“Yo, John!” Knox calls out to the head physical therapist. He comes walking over, and Knox doesn’t miss a beat. “The new guy’s hurt. You might want to check him over.” There’s a challenge in Knox’s eyes as he looks at Chaz.

“It’s fine,” Chaz says.

“But you wanted Rowan to take a look. Better get checked out,” I taunt.

“Come on, Brown,” John says. “We don’t need injuries before the season even starts.” He nods for him to head toward the locker room.

“Good luck!” I call out to him. Chaz glares at me, spits on the ground, then turns and stalks off.

“That was fun,” Knox says, shaking his head.

“Landry!” Rowan scolds. “You can’t provoke him like that. He’s dangerous.”

“I’m fine,” I assure her, tugging on her hand to pull her into my chest. “We’re fine. He needs to understand you’re not alone. He now understands that we know what he did, and we’re not going to let him anywhere near you on his own.”

Her brow pulls together slightly, but instead of acknowledging me, she laughs and pushes me away. “Ew, you’re all sweaty.” She scrunches up her nose, dropping her hand from mine.

Instantly, I miss the connection. “Fine, I’ll go shower. You gonna eat with me?” I ask her.

“I have been every day the last two weeks,” she reminds me.

“Just making sure. Can’t have my girl breaking bread with my teammates.”

Rowan rolls those big blue eyes and looks over at Knox. “Can you help bring his ego down a little? Oh, and while you’re at it, remind him that this isn’t real.”

“Many have tried.” Knox laughs. “And as far as this”—he points between the two of us—“not being real, that’s between the two of you. The only relationship I get involved in is the one with my wife.” He winks and saunters off.

“I don’t want you to get into trouble with the team.”

“Hey.” I place my index finger beneath her chin and lift so her eyes meet mine.

“I’m not going to get into trouble. He needs to know he has no control over you and that you’re not alone.

You have me. You have all of us, and we’re not going to let him hurt you ever again.

” I’ll be damned if I let that fucker lay a hand on her.

She nods and smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “You better go shower so I can finish up here.”

“Wait for me?” I ask. She’s right. She’s been eating meals with me since training camp started, and I’ve enjoyed spending time with her.

I can feel myself changing in a good way.

Rowan is all I can think about, and touching her, having her close to me, calling her mine…

it’s hard to think that way without letting feelings get involved.

That day, family day, when I saw Chaz giving her a hard time, I didn’t think.

I acted. One would think I would have regrets, but there are none.

I like calling her mine. I like that my team sees her that way.

The entire Rampage organization and the entire world, once it’s leaked, will think she’s mine.

I’ve always thought she was beautiful, and now, spending so much time with her, touching her, I’ve realized that maybe I didn’t say she was mine that day just to help her. Maybe, subconsciously, I’ve wanted her to be mine all along.

In the dining hall, I load up my plate and grab a table in the corner while I scan the room, searching for Rowan. When I see her also peering around the room, I stand up and wave. The smile that lights up her face when she sees me hits me in the chest. It’s not a smile I’m used to from a woman.

I’m used to smiles that say “I can seduce him and make him want me.” This smile, the one Rowan is giving me, says she’s happy to see me.

She doesn’t see dollar signs or a quick rise to fame.

To Rowan, I’m just a man, her friend’s brother, and someone who wants to protect her.

She has no idea that with that single tilt of her lips, she makes my heart race.

I’m pretty sure she could ask anything of me, and if it were within my power, I’d give it to her.

Not because I’m a nice guy, which I am, but because she’s Rowan.

My Rowan.

Fuck. I’m falling for her.

“Is this seat taken?” she asks as she approaches me.

“Yeah, my girl’s sitting there.”

She laughs and places her tray on the table before sitting next to me. She opens her bottle of water and takes a long pull before turning to look at me.