Page 63 of Irresistibly Risky

The door swings open, and in walks Asher. He’s not surprised to find me here, and it shows as he quickly studies me, scowls ever so slightly, and then turns his full focus on Joe. “You wanted to see me, Coach.”

He doesn’t apologize for interrupting. He doesn’t offer to come back another time. Instead, he moves deeper into the room and shuts the door behind himself.

Joe leans back in his chair, wiping a hand across his sun-weathered forehead. “Yes. How’s the shoulder feeling?”

“The pain is mostly gone, but I haven’t tested it much. Dr. Hathaway gave me very strict post-op instructions that I’ve been following. I’m here to meet with the rehab team this morning.”

“Do you feel you can travel with the team this Saturday even though you won’t be playing and you’re on injured reserve?”

“Absolutely.”

“Good. I think the kid will need you there.” Joe stands, shuffling useless bullshit on his desk so he can seem important. “Why don’t the three of us go down and meet with the training staff?” He moves past us, having to lead the pack because, again, he’s just so important.

“After you, Dr. Hathaway.”

“Oh, a gentleman,” I quip acerbically. “How rare your breed is to find in this sport.”

Joe makes a noise, and I grin as I move in behind him, walking toward the main hallway that will lead us back down to the locker rooms and training area. Asher slides in beside me, his hand reaching out and brushing mine before he snatches two of my fingers.

My head snaps in his direction, but he’s facing forward, his expression stoic, giving nothing away. His fingers squeeze mine and then he releases them, shifting to place distance between us.

He doesn’t know anything more than what I initially told him about Joe, and he hasn’t asked. I need boundaries after what happened Saturday night. I fell asleep in his arms, and other than checking my cheek daily, he hasn’t said anything else about it. But he was there for me when I needed him, and I believed him about the date with the model.

His eyes weren’t on her that night. They were all over me.

My mind is tripping on that, and I can’t seem to find my balance with him.

The moment we enter the gym and then move through to the training room, loud music blasts through the speakers, and all the players who are scattered around various pieces of gym equipment stop to sing along, pointing their fingers at Asher and using their fists as fake microphones. Asher groans, but there is no hiding the amusement on his face.

“Is this a Central Square song?”

It has to be. I don’t know for sure because I’ve never heard it before, and I’m not all that familiar with their music, but it has to be.

“Our first hit,” he grumbles. “Baby, This Is Where You Belong.”

“Excuse me?” My eyebrows shoot up to my hairline.

He rolls his eyes at me. “That’s the name of the song, Doctor. They play it after every win.”

“Only the team didn’t win Sunday’s game,” Joe barks sharply. “So there’s no business playing that nonsense.”

“No,” I snap in response. “But their quarterback had a successful surgery and could return this season. I’d count that as a win for the team, wouldn’t you, Joe?”

Joe ignores me as he keeps going, storming down the hall and into the training room with a slam of the door behind him.

Asher stares bewilderedly at me. “You just stood up for me to Coach.”

“Don’t let it go your head, player. I simply dislike you less than I hate him.”

He gives me that cocky grin. “All I got from that was that you like me more.”

“Come on, Reyes,” one of the players yells. “Let’s see those sweet dance moves.”

The guys start to whistle, whipping their sweat towels around in the air. Gross.

“Only if Dr. Hathaway will dance with me,” he calls back, his gaze still on me, that arrogant grin growing as now everyone is into it, hollering and whooping and stomping their feet.

“I can’t believe you just did that!” I scream as the music in the room intensifies.

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