Page 8 of The Coach

I tilt my head, watching him. He’s leaning back slightly, his dark hair catching the glow of the string lights above us. There’s something about the way he looks right now—at ease, a little rugged, and completely untouchable—that has my heart racing. I’ve never been so attracted to a man in my life.

“Oh yeah? Perks? What are the other…perks…of living here?”

He flashes his eyes down at my breasts, obviously, and then looks back at my face.

I mockingly bite my lower lip. “Sir, did you just check out my tits?”

He grins, chuckling and feigning innocence. “I assumed those were the other peaks…I mean perks…you were referring to?”

“Well..you’re not wrong,” I laugh.

He gets up and sits on a ledge, the city lights flickering faintly behind him, and motions for me to join him. The tequila has burned away any shyness, so I follow without hesitation, sliding onto the ledge beside him. My hand grazes his thigh, and I let it rest there, his warmth radiating through the fabric.

“Penny for your thoughts?” I ask, tilting my head toward him. “You look like you’re deep in thought.”

“Oh,” he says, his grin turning wicked. “I can’t tell you that, Emerald Girl.”

The nickname sends a flutter through my chest, and I feel his eyes roam over my dress, lingering at the way the fabric hugs my legs.

“Come on,” I press, giving his thigh a light squeeze. “I don’t judge.”

“You really want to know my unfiltered thoughts? They can be dangerous. Maybe I should just tell you I was thinking about past lives.”

“What? Iwasthinking about past lives. And you can be honest with me. I like to live on the wild side.” At least tonight, I do.

He leans in closer, his lips grazing the shell of my ear. His breath is warm, his voice low and rough, like gravel smoothed by honey. “I’m thinking about how hot you’d look bent over with that dress peeled up your thighs.”

The words land like a lightning bolt, and every nerve in my body sparks to life. His voice is thick with intention, sending a message straight between my thighs. My breath hitches, and I swallow hard, trying to keep my composure, but my body betrays me, heat pooling low in my stomach.

“Oh,” I say, my voice a little breathless, though I try to play it cool. “And here I thought you were somegentlemanlost in the wrong bar.”

He laughs, the sound deep and rich as he pulls back just enough to meet my eyes. “Who says I’m not a gentleman?”

“You might need to redefine the word,” I shoot back, though the smirk on my face betrays how much I like it.

“Maybe I’m a gentleman who knows what he wants,” he says, his gaze locking on mine. His hand brushes lightly against my bare knee, and I swear the air around us thickens. “And I’m very good at cooking breakfast.”

“Why are you single?” I blurt out, the question slipping out before I can stop it.

He chuckles again, leaning back slightly but not breaking eye contact. “That’s a bold question.”

“Well, you don’t exactly seem like the type who has trouble...finding someone,” I say, biting my lip to keep from rambling. “And you’re definitely not wearing a ring.”

“Fair enough,” he says, his grin softening into something more thoughtful. “I just haven’t found the right person yet. I’m picky as hell.”

“Maybe you’re not looking hard enough,” I tease, though there’s a pang of curiosity in my chest.

“Maybe,” he says, his thumb tracing idle circles on my knee. “Or maybe there’s something to God’s timing, you know?”

“Do you believe in God’s timing?” I ask. “Or, the Universe’s timing, if you will.”

“God, the Universe…yeah. I think there’s a plan. I like to think so, at least. Maybe that’s just wishful thinking, though.”

The words hang between us, heavy and electric, and my heart pounds so loudly I’m sure he can hear it. His thumb is still brushing slow circles against my knee, and the heat of his hand feels like it’s seeping straight into my bloodstream.

For a second, I can’t think of anything to say. The tequila might be buzzing in my veins, but the intensity in his eyes is doing far more damage.

“Well,” I manage, forcing a shaky laugh, “I have to say you’ve got some pretty smooth lines. Do these lines work on all the girls?”

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