Page 76 of Striking Heat

I look over at her for a beat longer than necessary. She catches me staring and sticks her tongue out at me, and I shake my head, laughing. Cassie pushes her shoulder, and she vehemently shakes her head at whatever is said.

“Earth to Danny,” Nick says.

“I’m not sure. I’m not even sure it’s possible for there to be a me and her. What would Cromwell say? He probably wouldn’t like it, and the team wouldn’t like it. It’s a whole thing.”

“Just like Romeo and Juliet. You two are star-crossed lovers,” Nick teases me.

I shake my head. “My journalistic integrity will be called into question, and you know it. I’ve looked at my article and attempted to not sound so glowingly happy about her, but it’s hard. She’s a great player and an even better person.”

“Really? Her? The one who you said not too long ago lacked attack? Are we talking about the same woman?”

“Yeah, we are.” I look at her again and see she’s still laughing and having a good time with her team.

“Hmm.” Nick sounds less than convinced.

“What? Say what you want to say.”

“It just seems to me that you should have known better than to start bedding the subject of our latest article. Did this happen before or after the article was assigned?”

“After,” I reply.

It earns me another shake of his head, this time in disgust. “That doesn’t help you. I wish you would have said before It would have been better to be before. Then you could have said it was a relationship before.”

“I don’t think either scenario makes it any better,” I reply, stealing another glance in the direction of the subject of my article and object of my latest affections.

“No, probably not. Cromwell is going to have your balls on a platter if he finds out.”

“Why, though? I’m writing a flattering article about her and the team. What’s the harm?” I know the answer, but I just want to hear him say it.

“The team is already under so much scrutiny. Someone will say that Cromwell couldn’t be bothered to get a reporter who could be objective. He paid for the story he wanted, and he got it from the boyfriend of his team captain. Who just happens, by the way, to be the son of a former NFL player, and whose articles people tend to check out just because of who his daddy is.”

“Thank you for sugar coating it for my benefit,” I deadpan.

“Not in my nature.” He laughs at me and takes a sip of his beer. “Besides, you wouldn’t want it any other way.”

“I don’t know right now. I think I would prefer it if you would just lie to me.”

Nick laughs at me again and says, “Just trying to prepare you for the shitstorm this might bring your way. I hope the ass is worth it.”

I grit my teeth. “Please don’t talk about her that way.”

“Ah, so this isn’t just a casual thing. This is something you want to be more.”

“Fuck off. I don’t know. I’m not going to sit here and spill my feelings to you like we’re at some tea party.”

“No, you’d just rather take the striker upstairs and plow into her all night long.”

“Stop.” My tone is tense trying to tell him to knock it the fuck off. Nick just laughs and shakes his head.

His camera is with him, so he picks it up and takes a picture of her sitting there with her team. “Do you need me to send you copies of all the pictures I take of her for your spank bank? Because I can, you know.”

I flip him off. “You’re a real asshole.”

Nick gives me the finger right back.

“What are you two assholes over here talking about?” August asks as he and Jase join us.

“Nothing much,” I reply. “In fact, I think I’m going to hit the hay soon.”