Page 12 of The Goalie

“Don’t even think about it,” he hisses in a low voice like he can read my mind. “She is off-limits.”

I glance at her. I can’t help it. I know it’s a bad move, but my eyes just keep going to her like they have a mind of their own.

He turns and practically growls when he sees where I’m looking.

“That’s my little girl,” he says, glaring at me with murderous eyes. “Try anything and you’ll be swimming home, you got that?”

I force out a nod.

She’s not his little girl anymore.

She’s mine.

And it’s time to let her know it.

CHAPTER FOUR

Grace

“So, what are you studying?” Jane asks in a friendly tone. I’m hanging out at the bar with the wives and girlfriends of the team as the yacht slowly pulls away from the pier. Jane is Tucker’s girlfriend, which is a little funny to see. She’s so sweet and smiley, and he looks like he’s been cursed with a bad case of resting scowl face. I guess opposites do attract.

“Graphic design,” I tell her. “I’d like to work in marketing.”

“That’s fun,” she says. “Any ideas where you’d like to work?”

“Umm… Not really.”

I’m trying to decide what to do. If I should apply for jobs or start my own boutique graphic design agency with my friend Lindsay who I met at school.

My dad wants me to come work for the Hyenas when I graduate. I’m not sure about it.

We argued about it yesterday.

“Come work for me,” he said. “I’ll get you a job easily.”

“That’s nepotism, Dad!”

“Yes, exactly! See? Now you’re getting it. The team will hire you because you’re my daughter. Isn’t that great?”

“No! I want to earn it.”

He had a mix of frustration and pride on his face as he looked at me.

“I’ve seen your work,” he said after a deep breath. “You’re so talented. That’s why I want to hire you. Not because you’re my little girl.”

He leaned in and kissed my forehead.

“Yeah, right,” I muttered under my breath.

I don’t want to ride his coattails. I want to carve my own path in the world.

“I guess I’ll figure it out after graduation,” I tell her.

We chat a bit more, but I’m having trouble focusing on what she’s saying.

My eyes keep wandering through the crowd, looking for the Hyenas’ hot goalie.

I shiver as I think back to the heated way he was looking at me. He was standing on the deck with his intense brown eyes locked on me. I desperately wanted to know what he was thinking.

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