Page 60 of Heat It Up (Off the Ice)
My mouth flops open, positive I misheard him. “But how did you find out about it?” And how many others will also be scrambling for it once they hear about it?
“I called in a favor.”
“A favor? Wait, are you telling me the position is for me?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. I told the head trainer about your situation and he offered you the position. If you’re interested and it depends on your grades.”
Any other person would scream for joy at this opportunity. And under different circumstances, I would too. Working with a professional team like the Bears would be a tremendous boost for my career. Yes, I should be kissing Kyle and doing cartwheels, but… “Wait! I had sex with you then you get me a practicum with your former employer?” He could’ve slapped me and it would have hurt less. “Wow, I must be better than I realized.”
The muscle in his jaw jerks hard. “It’s nothing like that. I told him about youbeforelast weekend. And I did it because you’re a friend. And because I have that much confidence in you.” He pushes himself out of his seat and storms off.
It takes a couple of seconds for what he said to sink in. “Kyle, wait.” He stops and turns to face me, the space between his eyes pinched with lines. He’s not the only one in the café to look my way.
Ignoring everyone else’s curiosity, I rush to him. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have reacted that way. Thank you so much. I can’t even begin to tell you how much it means to me what you did for me.”
His expression softens and his lips shift into my favorite one-sided sexy grin. “You could show me.”
I stiffen. It’s one thing to be his friend with added perks. It’s another to become part of his harem.
“Is something wrong?” he asks.
“Why would you think something’s wrong?” I glance around. No one’s paying attention to us anymore.
“This weekend we were kissing and screwing, but now at even the slightest hint I want to do that again, you look ready to run.”
He’s right. I do want to run. Run and forget this arrangement between us.
“So what’s going on?” he asks.
“When I agreed to our friends-with-benefits arrangement”—I lower my voice for the last four words, but it feels like I yelled them—“for some stupid reason I thought I’d be the only girl you’re screwing around with. I didn’t realize there’d be others.”
Kyle’s eyebrows draw together and I instantly wish I hadn’t said anything to him about it. “What others?” he asks.
“Well, how about we start with the woman you were kissing Monday night, right after I told you I couldn’t come over. Or maybe you were kissing her even before talking to me on the phone.”
Kyle’s eyes widened. “How did you know about that?”
At least he didn’t try to deny it. Bonus points for him.
“I saw a picture of you two together, playing tonsil hockey.”
He shakes his head. “It’s not what it looked like.”
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure it looked like you were kissing a girl. But don’t worry about it. I understand. But you need to understand that’s not me. I’m not comfortable being part of your entourage.”
His eyebrows lift. “Are you finished?”
“Yep, that pretty much covers it.”
“Like I said, what you saw wasn’t what it looked like. She kissed me and I told her I wasn’t interested.” He steps closer. “And how could I be interested when all I could think about was you.” His lips brush against mine. “How could I be interested when you’re the only one I want to kiss.” This time his lips don’t just brush mine. They savor them. Our kiss deepens and I momentarily forget what we were talking about.
Then it hits me like an out-of-control train and I pull away, frowning. “So you weren’t all over her?”
Kyle’s expression mirrors my own, then it shifts as if he remembers something. He curses under his breath. “Where did you see the picture?”
“Joni showed it to me yesterday.”
Kyle groans. “So the guy just happened to drop by and show you the photo?”
