Page 45 of Striking Heat

“Nope, coach’s orders that I stay here and watch. Doesn’t want me getting knocked around too much. I don’t know, it’s bullshit,” she says with a shrug.

“Nah, he’s just making sure you’re ready for next week. But I’m glad you’re sitting here. Gives me an excuse not to participate in all the merriment.”

“Not feeling all that rah-rah and team spirit today?” she asks, bumping my shoulder.

“Just trying to settle in. I like to survey the land before I jump in,” I admit sheepishly.

“A fellow introvert. I love it.”

I giggle. “Yeah, that’s me.”

“Oh, look who just pulled up.” Hendrix motions to the street.

I see Danny’s black Tesla parking, and my heart skips a beat. Nick hops out along with him.

“Great,” I say, hoping she can’t tell that I’m a little happy to see him, even though I’d rather he be anywhere but here. This is work for him.I’mwork for him, and the chances of a real conversation will be slim to none.

He looks damn good, though, wearing gray board shorts and a black T-shirt. Nick’s got camera equipment with him. He’s definitely going to be working our team bonding event.

“Shouldn’t our team bonding just be the team? I mean, how are we supposed to bond if he’s here?” I ask Henny.

“Oh, come on, he’s not staying for the whole time. I heard Watts telling Jase that it’s just for a bit. He didn’t really even want him here. Just let him because Cromwell said he had to be.”

I nod. “Well then.”

“Danny’s not so bad. I don’t think.” Her voice trails off. “I know he wrote that article, but it seems like he’s trying to make amends for it.”

“How so?” My head snaps in her direction, wondering if she can see right through me. But Danny is standing in front of me.

He kneels down so that we’re eye level and smiles at me. He pulls the dark sunglasses off so that I get a peek at those baby blues. “How are ya, Mac? I figured you’d be out there romping around in the sun, wearing your tiniest bikini.”

“Unfortunately for you, I haven’t stripped down to that yet. I was thinking I would wait until you leave to do that.” My voice drops to a sultry low, and I add, “Why was Nick hoping to get some shots to add to hisSports Illustratedphoto shoot?”

Danny laughs and swallows, like he’s trying to figure out what to say next. “I didn’t even want to come here and do this. This is your time with your team,” he admits with a shrug. “Cromwell asked me too.”

“It’s a good thing you have a spine,” I tease him.

He nods and reminds me, “It’s not always up to me.”

“You letting Cromwell push you around?”

“Just a few quick pictures of the team playing soccer and then we’re out of your hair, okay?” After tapping my nose, he walks away, finding Nick. The two of them hang out over by the grill with Nate and Andie for a bit.

“Do you believe me yet?” Hendrix asks me when she catches me staring.

“What?” I ask her, dazed. “Believe you about what?”

“That he’s not so bad. And just think, maybe he’ll take his shirt off and show you that swimmer’s body he’s working with.”

I try to hide my blush by dipping my head, but I’m pretty sure she catches it. Little does she know that swimmer’s body is heavenly, and the things that man can do with it… My thoughts trail back to last night, and I have to mentally slap myself to focus on the day at hand.

I stay on the sidelines and relax with Hendrix, chatting with the other team members who aren’t playing soccer. I do eventually pull off my shirt, and my bikini top makes an appearance. I enjoy the way he watches me as I walk around the beach. Finally, I sidle up beside him and bump his shoulder with mine.

“How are ya doing, Danny? I’m giving you a peek.”

He chuckles. “I think I’ve already gotten more than a peek,” he says in a low voice. “But thank you, I appreciate it. Maybe if you want to come for a swim sometime, you could wear that to my pool.”

“I am supposed to believe that you don’t have frosted windows in your bedroom and that you don’t have them in the pool house?”