Page 14 of Sideline Sweetheart (Greenville Generals #4)
Chapter Fourteen
Mackenzie
I wake to the most pleasurable alarm a girl could dream of Bryce Coban licking and kissing his way down my body. A soft moan escapes me as his tongue circles my left nipple. “You keep it up and you’ll be late for practice.”
He chuckles as he trails kisses down my torso. “Maybe you should shower with me then so we’ll both be on time.”
My fingers sift through his brown hair. “Only one of us has to be there at specific time. I was going to lounge in this incredibly comfortable bed for another hour.”
Bryce kisses his way back up my body until we are eye to eye. “I’ve never been so jealous of my bed before.” My hand cups his cheek and he turns into my touch, placing a sweet kiss on my wrist. “When can I see you again?”
His question makes me smile and I can’t help teasing him as I wrap my arms around his neck. “You mean, other than at work later?”
“Yes, smartass,” he says pinching my side. “I have to behave myself at the facility. I want to know when I can have my hands on you again.”
I make a show of thinking about it before my eyes meet his again. “How about tonight?”
“Perfect,” he says as he starts to climb off the bed, only to scoop me up in his arms and carry me into the bathroom. “Now, let’s get this day kicked off right.”
Once we finished our shower, Bryce and I headed off in different directions, him to the practice facility and me to my place to get dressed and pack an overnight bag for tonight.
Checking the time on the dash, I pull my car into the parking lot and head inside to my office.
I drop my purse into my desk drawer, grab my tablet, and power it up as I make my way outside to the practice field.
I take my place on the sidelines, scrolling through my notes as I watch the players on the field, trying to determine if they’re healing properly or going to need more treatment. Movement out of the corner of my eye has me looking up as Coach Riggs approaches.
“Doc,” he says taking his place beside me while facing the field.
“Morning, Coach Riggs. What can I do for you?”
“Rosner seems to be favoring his left knee again.”
I make a note on my tablet and point toward the field. “I noticed him stretching it after the last play.”
Coach Riggs crosses his arms over his chest. “Can you take another look at it?”
“Of course, Coach. Have him stop by after practice and I’ll do an exam and x-ray or CT scan; whichever I feel will give us better information. Another round of physical therapy along with an anti-inflammatory may be beneficial. I’ll evaluate and let you know what I find.”
“Thanks, Doc,” Coach Riggs says, eyes still diligently watching his players as he makes his way back to midfield.
I move along the sidelines and stop next to the drink station to make another note. “Hey, Doc,” Liam says pulling an electrolyte drink from the cooler.
I glance up and smile. “Hey, Liam. Giving you a little breather?”
He chuckles while tossing the cap into the trash. “Yes, ma’am, and I’ll take it when they hand them out.”
“Can’t say I blame you,” I say, my eyes still on the field. “I talked to your momma the other day.”
“Yeah?”
“She called to congratulate me on my new job. She was also thrilled I was here to keep an eye on you.”
A boisterous laugh escapes him. “I bet she was.” Liam scrubs a hand over his face. “Please tell me she didn’t ask you to report to her on a weekly basis.”
I laugh and take a step forward, lowering my voice.
“She’s your mom, and mom’s worry, it’s their job.
You know, as well as I do, I can’t disclose anything to her without your permission or under extreme circumstances.
There’s something else I want you to remember, I also held her hand through one of the most terrifying times in her life.
We became friends and sometimes women need to talk to their friends.
” I lean in for effect and pat his arm. “So, newsflash, our conversations don’t always include you. ”
Liam’s chin drops to his chest before he looks back up at me. “I’m sorry, Doc. I shouldn’t have considered you’d report to my mom, even if she asked.”
I shake my head. “It’s fine, Liam.”
“No, it’s not,” he says knocking his helmet against the side of his thigh.
“I should be thanking you instead for befriending her. I know being a single mom wasn’t easy for her.
She sacrificed a lot to get me where I am today, even when it meant not having nights out with friends like other moms do. So, thank you, Doc.”
“Seigle,” Coach O’Neil calls, “you’re in.”
Liam shoots me a wink as he puts on his helmet and then jogs back onto the field.
A few minutes later, I catch sight of Bryce out of the corner of my eye. He makes his way over and pulls a drink out of the cooler. He twists off the top and tips the bottle back downing half of its contents before stepping up behind me.
“Mackenzie,” he says before taking another drink.
The low rumble of his voice sends a shiver through me. Never have I enjoyed the sound of my own name as when he says it. “Coban. Left shoulder doing okay? Rosner’s tackle looked brutal.”
“I’ve had worse,” he replies as he tosses the empty bottle in the trash, voice devoid of emotion.
I turn in time to see the muscle in his jaw tick. “Is there a problem, Bryce?”
His head drops as he keeps his voice low, words falling next to my ear. “You trying to make me jealous, Mackenzie?”
I turn so I can fully face him. “Jealous?” The word comes out louder than I intend so I close my eyes, take a breath and blow it out slowly before I continue. “Who pray tell am I supposed to be using to make the great Bryce Coban jealous?”
He takes a step forward keeping his voice low. “I saw you laughing it up with the rookie earlier.”
My eyes narrow as I seethe, and struggle to find control. “Liam? Are you kidding me? Seigle is like my nephew. His mom is one of my best friends. Hell, I was in the room when he got the call about being drafted.”
Bryce closes his eyes and exhales a breath before his regret filled eyes find mine again. “Mackenzie…”
“No. You don’t get to apologize to me on the fly.
You want this thing to work out between us, there are two things you had better think long and hard about.
First, in the time we’ve spent together, have I ever given you a reason to be jealous.
Because trust me Bryce Coban, green does not look good on you.
The second thing you had better think about is if you can truly handle a red head.
Because this anger I’m throwing your way, is the tip of the iceberg.
When you can answer those two questions, you know where to find me. ”
I shoulder check him and storm off the practice field and stalk back into the facility. I enter my office, slam the door and toss my tablet on my desk before letting out a frustrated growl. I pace back and forth, wrecking my hair as my fingers run through the red strands and pull.
A knock sounds as the door opens and I round, my anger still near the boiling point. “I swear, oh, sorry, Jamie. What can I do for you?”
Jamie takes in my appearance. “Woah! Who pissed you off?”
“Who do you think?” I snap as I drop into the chair behind my desk.
Jamie takes a seat in one of the chairs on the opposite side of my desk. “Oh, god, what did he do?”
I slam my hands on the top of my desk. “He accused me of flirting with another player and trying to make him jealous.”
Jamie tilts her head and asks, “Which player?”
I throw my hands in the air. “Does it matter?”
“Well, yeah, it kind of does. I mean if it’s Greer he’s talking about, there would be a huge scandal because everyone knows the guy is completely in love with his wife and would never do anything to jeopardize his family.
But if it’s one of the single guys on defense, it would be a different story. ”
I release a frustrated sigh. “Liam Seigle.”
Jamie barks out a laugh and then slaps a hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry. Everyone knows he’s like your little brother.”
“Right? Apparently, I was ‘laughing it up with the rookie’ which triggered the green-eyed monster to make an appearance.”
Jamie sits back in her chair “Ahh, makes sense.”
Again, I toss my hands in the air. “How in the hell does it make sense? Please, tell me!”
Jamie sits forward. “I think it was Bryce’s second year with the team.
At the end of the previous season, he started dating one of the cheerleaders.
When the next season started, he caught her flirting with one of the defensive linemen outside the locker room.
She dumped Bryce and they flaunted their relationship in front of him the entire season.
After the season, the lineman was traded, and she followed him. ”
I release a huge sigh and drop my head. “At least the flirting accusation makes sense. Thanks for telling me, Jamie.”
She stands from her seat and makes her way to the door.
“You’re welcome. The two of you are good together, Mac; giving him another chance is up to you.
But don’t be afraid to make him grovel a bit.
” Jamie winks and grins as she opens the door and then steps out into the hall before closing the door behind her.
I flop back in my chair and stretch my arms over my head gripping the top of my chair. While Jamie gave me something to think about, it still doesn’t give Bryce the right to accuse me when I have given no reason to do so. Jamie is right about one thing; I plan on making him grovel.