Page 13 of Coach's Temptation

I rub a hand down my face. “Jesus Christ.”

She laughs, all bright and happy, like she’s completely oblivious to the fact that I’m currently trying not to think about how good she looks right now.

I nod toward the sheet. “So, Logan’s good to go?”

“He’ll be fine,” she confirms, flipping the paper against her palm. “I’ll re-tape his ankle before warm-ups just to be safe, but no excuses. He’s playing.”

“Good.” I exhale, forcing myself to stay professional. “And the rest of the guys?”

Natalie pretends to check the paper again, making a big show of it. “Well, Ryder keeps complaining about lower back pain, but that’s because he insists on carrying around that ridiculous gym bag that’s, like, half his body weight.”

I grunt. “Told him to stop overloading it.”

“Did he listen?”

I narrow my eyes. “What do you think?”

Natalie grins, biting her lip. I love it when she does that.

My fingers actually twitch with the need to touch her, to see if her skin is as soft as I remember.

I grip my clipboard harder. Focus on the practice.

“So, other than the usual soreness and Connor’s ongoing war with his feline roommate, you’ve got a fully functional team.” She shifts her weight, rolling up on the balls of her feet, just close enough for the scent of her to wreck me all over again. "And you, Coach? Feeling good?"

I drag my eyes back to the ice. I should be focusing on my team, my drills, my game.

Not on her.

“I’m fine.”

Natalie tilts her head. “Mmm. You don’t sound fine.”

“I’mfocused,” I correct. “We have work to do.”

She hums again, shifting just a little closer. “You know… work and stress go hand in hand.”

I grunt, keeping my jaw locked.

Don't go there Natalie. Don't go there.

“I just don't want you to overdo it, Coach. You’ve got to stay… loose.”

She draws out the last word, lips curving around it just enough to make something dark and hot curl in my gut. Fuck. She's going there.

I exhale slowly. “Natalie.”

“What?” she smiles, feigning innocence. “I’m just looking out for my boss. Stress relief is important.”

“Stop.”

Natalie laughs like she knows exactly what she’s doing to me. Swear to God, she gets off on just seeing me annoyed.

But then she leans in, just slightly, her voice dropping into something softer. “I guess you’re really serious about this, huh?”

I go still.

For a second, I consider pretending I don’t know what she means.

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