Page 3 of Dirty Play

“You’ll see.” Tina grins.

We pass the locker rooms, where muffled laughter and voices spill into the hallway and a dozen other rooms we pass. Finally, Tina stops in front of a set of heavy double doors.

“Ready to meet the team?”

“Ready!” My palms go clammy again, but I nod.

She pushes open the doors, and I step into the gym.

It’s impressive. State-of-the-art equipment everywhere, with high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows letting in natural light.

At least a dozen men are scattered around, all in various stages of warm-up or training. Sweat glistens off toned muscles, and the room hums with testosterone. The air smells like effort and a faint hint of expensive cologne.

And then I spot three of them who stand out like they’ve been plucked from a magazine spread.

The first guy is tall and broad-shouldered, his dark brown hair combed back, with tattoos swirling down his naked torso and arms. He’s bench-pressing an ungodly amount of weight, his jaw as flexed as his muscles.

Next to him is another man, spotting for him, I think. He’s just as tall but has tousled black hair and a couple of strands falling over his pale blue eyes. He glances at me before he’s back to watching the first man with focus, his heavily tattooed arms crossed, exuding the kind of quiet confidence that says he knows exactly how good he looks. If the first man was tattooed, this man is blacked out. Ink covers his arms and whole neck, and even his hands and fingers have tattoos, making me wonder if there’s any…skin left untouched.

I blink, shaking away the thought.

And then the third man turns around.

My stomach plummets.Oh, this is just lovely.

It’s him. Mr. Line Cutter.

I almost laugh because, of course, he’s here. The barista knew his name, the café being so close to the Panthers’ HQ. Of course, he’s part of the team. My luck is justthatimpeccable.

“Alright, listen up!” Tina claps her manicured hands, and the room quiets as the guys turn to us. “As you know, we have been on the lookout for a new PR agent to represent the Panthers since Angela stepped away. I want to introduce you to Livia Moody, your new PR agent!” She waves a hand at me with a wide smile.

“It’s wonderful to meet you all,” I say with a small nod, feeling a bit out of place as some of the guys share looks.

The silence lasts for maybe two seconds before someone wolf whistles. Then there’s applause, and the comments start flying, coming from everywhere.

“Welcome to the jungle!” a blond man by the squatting rack bellows.

“Don’t scare her, man!” another teammate elbows him before smiling at me.

“Welcome to the team!” another one yells, and a collective, “Yeah!” follows.

Yells and cheers ripple throughout the room, and I cross my arms, pretending I’m not about to hyperventilate. I’ve never had so many eyes on me at once.

“Are you guys always this enthusiastic, or is this a special welcome for me?” I try my best to keep an easygoing smile despite the prickling sensation at the back of my neck. I can feel his eyes on me. He’s watching me. I can see him from the corner of my eye with his large arms crossed.

“Depends,” a shirtless guy with a towel slung over his shoulder quips back. “Can you handle us?”

“You pack of puppies?” I wave a finger around. “Oh, I’ll be fine.” I nod with a wave of my hand.

That earns a round of laughter, hell yeahs, and a few mock barks. I can’t help but grin. It’s ridiculous, but it’s breaking the ice.

“Welcome to the team, miss PR agent,” the blond guy from earlier yells, jogging up to me.

“Just Livia.” I take his large, outstretched hand and shake it.

“Livia,” he huffs out a nervous laugh. “I’m Cole, by the way. Sorry about the sweaty palms. I was doing pushups.” He flexes his bicep in my face.

“Yeah, I can see that.” I laugh right before another player smacks his arm away to introduce himself, then another, until the whole pack of puppies swarms me. The whole pack of puppies, except for three big dogs, looking at me from the corner of the gym.

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