Page 4 of Over the Moon

I stretched my leg out on the bench seating and nodded.

I had my work cut out for me, and I doubted Eloise Gable was going to make it easy for me.

But he was right. I was up for the challenge.

two

. . .

Eloise

“This isthe cutest guesthouse I’ve ever seen,” I said, as I glanced around the place. I rented the guest house from Emilia Taylor after finding the place on an online app for short-term rentals.

Wood floors, large white-paned windows looking out at the yard, and the most adorable cottage décor.

“Thank you, I just renovated it, so you’re the first person to rent it out,” Emilia said, as her cowboy boots clanked against the wood floor. She had the cutest style with her jean cutoff shorts and a cute white tee. “I figured it would be short-term tourists who would want it, so this is great for me that you’re here for almost three months.”

I was irritated that I had to relocate to accommodate a prima donna athlete, but as my father reminded me multiple times when I packed up to leave the city, this was my job, and I was lucky to have it.

Yes, I’d been hired by the San Francisco Lions as the team’s physical therapist.

Yes, my father was the coach.

Yes, everyone assumed that’s why I got the job.

But I was also extremely qualified, and I wouldn’t have gotten this job if I hadn’t been. My father may have gotten me in the door, but I had proven that I deserved to stay.

I attended one of the few universities that offered a dual degree program, allowing me to receive my doctorate in physical therapy and my master’s in athletic training.

The team already had an athletic trainer, so I’d only been hired on as a physical therapist, but I was as qualified as one could get.

And from where I was sitting, Clark Chadwick was a diva.

He’d taken none of my advice thus far on the few interactions that we’ve had, and now I had to move to a little town and work one-on-one with him because he was ever so important to the Lions.

Yes, I also had my Ph.D. in sarcasm.

I couldn’t stand an athlete who thought he was more important than anyone else on the team.

You know the saying… there’s no I in team.

But interestingly enough, all the letters in the worddickhappen to be in Chadwick.

Call it girl math… but I had this guy’s number.

“Well, the team has offered to pay for three months’ rent, but I’m hoping it doesn’t take that long. I’m just here to work with one of our athletes.”

“Is it Clark Chadwick? You mentioned you worked for the Lions, right?” she asked.

“Yes. I’m guessing you know him if you’re from here?”

“I do. I grew up here. Everyone knows the Chadwicks. They have a big family. And Clark being a professional hockey player and winning the Stanley Cup is a big deal in Rosewood River,” she said, pulling her long dark braid over her shoulder as she set the keys down on the counter. “You missed the big parade for him a few days ago.”

“I heard about that. And yes, there is so much to celebrate.” I shrugged, not wanting to praise the bastard any more than he already had been. He was on every news channel this week and several sports magazine covers, as he’d scored the winning goal for the Stanley Cup.

He was big news everywhere at the moment, so of course, his hometown was going to celebrate him.

“Yes, it’s very exciting, and I’m glad that brought you here.” She smiled. “Have you checked out downtown yet?”

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