checked his watch again. “But I have another appointment.”
“Right. Sorry. I know you’re busy.” Kendra put on her wrap and packed up her things. She slipped her bag on her shoulder, tucked the portfolio under her arm and turned around, nearly running into Nate.
“Look, I know I’m not the easiest guy to work with, but I do appreciate the work you’ve put into this.” He leaned in closer, his warm breath whispering against her skin. “And I just want you to know...”
The doorbell rang. Nate sighed and cursed under his breath before turning toward the door.
“Nate, what were you going to say?” Kendra followed him, her heart beating hard. Something in her desperately needed to know what Nate was going to say before they’d been interrupted by the bell.
“Doesn’t matter.” He shook his head then turned to open the door.
“I came a few minutes early so we could work on those positions you had so much trouble with the other day.” A tall, gorgeous blonde wearing a short skirt, a cropped top and thigh-high boots floated inside carrying a large duffel that looked like it weighed twice as much as she did. The woman finally noticed Kendra. “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you had company.”
“I was just leaving.” Kendra forced a polite smile.
Nate placed his hand low on the woman’s back and introduced them. “Layne, this is Kendra—Kai’s mom. She’ll be handling my PR. Kendra, this is my friend Layne.”
Layne gave Nate an odd smile before offering Kendra a limp handshake. “Pleased to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.” She turned to Nate without waiting for a response. “I’ll go ahead and get everything set up.”
“Great. Thanks, Layne.”
The woman sauntered off, obviously familiar with the house.
“She’s pretty.” The words came out before Kendra could reel them back in. “She’s built like a dancer.”
Nate smirked, holding the door open a bit wider. “She takes great care of her body. And mine.”
“I certainly don’t want to get in the way of that.” Kendra forced a smile despite the deep ache in her chest at the thought of Nate and Ms. Ballerina Body doing God knows what. “I’ll follow up tomorrow to see how the phone calls went, and if I need to run interference with anyone.”
“Don’t think that’ll be necessary, but thank you. Kiss li’l man for me. Tell him Dad’s got a surprise for him this weekend.”
Before she could respond, he’d closed the door behind her. The sound echoed in her head like the closing of a vault.
Maybe she was still nursing feelings for Nate, but he’d obviously gotten over her.
Nate sank into the whirlpool after his hot yoga session with Layne and made his calls.
He’d tucked his tail and done a good bit of explaining. First to Bud Flynn, then to Coach Emerson. Bud was out of the country. He tentatively accepted Nate’s apology by phone, but insisted they meet in person once he returned. He scheduled a meeting with Coach Emerson.
Nate left a message for two of his teammates and had incredibly awkward conversations with a few others.
Except for the team’s quarterback, Wade Willis, who agreed his performance had been subpar, none of the guys went easy on him. Eating a king-size slice of humble pie was exactly what he deserved for running his big mouth.
Tomorrow he’d board a plane to meet with Wade at his ranch in Montana. Then he’d head to Memphis for meetings with Coach Emerson and Lee Davis, the head of team personnel. He dreaded the meeting with Lee—the only member of the Marauders’ front office he’d never really seen eye-to-eye with. Lee had been itching to trade him, and the video scandal was just the ammunition he needed.
Nate slipped deeper into the water, allowing the warmth to wash over his aching muscles. The heat eased the tension in his shoulders and worked out the kinks in his back.
After eight years in the league, he was nursing his fair share of injuries. Each season it became more difficult to rebound from the beating his body took on any given Sunday.
If he were smart, he’d forget about a new contract and retire. Accept that he was a great player in his own right, but would never know the pride of hoisting a championship trophy. He’d be in good company. A host of athletes in every major sport were on that list.
Still, he wasn’t ready to give up. The Marauders were a few pieces shy of being a contender with a legitimate shot at the championship. He shifted to get the knot in his back closer to the jet.
His recent actions certainly hadn’t made the task of getting the Marauders championship-ready any easier.
Closing his eyes, he tried to relax—something he’d never been very good at. His brain seemed to go a mile a minute—even when he slept.
Nate massaged the knot that formed in his neck as he recalled the hurt and anger in each man’s voice. The tension he’d created between them. Then there was the meeting with Kendra.
His body reacted to the vivid vision of her that crept over his senses. Kendra was sexy as ever in that fitted skirt and a low-cut blouse. He’d had to shove his hands in his pockets, not trusting that he’d keep his hands to himself.
When she spoke, he’d been mesmerized by her lips, overwhelmed with the desire to taste her mouth and slide his fingers in her dark curls.
Get it together, man.
He shook his head and stood, the chilly air assaulting his wet skin. Nate stepped out of the tub and slipped on a thick terry cloth robe. He slid on his sport sandals and went inside.
Nate uncapped a beer from the fridge and took a long pull. Kendra’s words echoed in his head.
Neither of us can afford the distraction.
There was too much at stake. His career, the foundation and most of all...his heart. If he let her in, she’d shatter it again.
Twice, he thought he could have her body without getting caught up in the feelings they once shared.
He’d been wrong.
Kendra had walked away unscathed, while he was left brooding like a wounded animal, lashing out at everyone around him.
Nate finished his beer and tossed the bottle in the recycle bin before hopping into the shower.
This time he’d keep his hands and his heart to himself.
* * *
Kendra settled in behind the rickety old secondhand desk in her office, which doubled as the spare bedroom.
Marcus had already arranged for Nate to be a guest on a few of the smaller sports commentary shows on the major sports network.
She
