Page 18 of Nanny for the Athletes

As I walked back to the kennel building, I couldn’t believe that I felt unsafe around Logan.

8

Logan

“He picked the wrong guy to mess with,” Christian said in the passenger seat.

Braden leaned forward from the back seat. “I know, right? It’s like he’s never seen Logan Goddamn Landry pick a fight before.”

“We’ll make a gentleman of you after all,” Christian agreed.

“Didn’t do it for her,” I insisted. I was in a bad mood for a whole bunch of reasons, but the black suit I was wearing was currently at the top of my list. It was scratchy. I hadn’t worn it in a while; I preferred to don one of my grey suits when I had to dress out on game day. But a grey suit wasn’t appropriate today.

“Sure,” Braden said, patting my shoulder. “Whatever you say, big guy.”

I let out an annoyed growl. I wasn’t some fucking knight in shining armor. I didn’t uphold chivalrous intent, and I sure as hell didn’t go looking for helpless women to protect from douchebags.

But I hated bullies. They were always fearless when they picked on someone smaller or weaker than them. Putting someone like Trip in his place felt like therapy to me.

It did feel good to help that woman.Beth seemed like a sweet person. Dog lovers always were. Not to mention how fucking gorgeous she looked in jeans and a T-shirt smeared with dirt from playing with the dogs.

I shook off the thought and said, “You didn’t have to come. Especially with a game tonight.”

“That’s the best time to come,” Christian said slowly. “Since we have a game tonight, we don’t have practice this morning.”

“And we don’t have to report to the stadium until two.” Braden reached up and squeezed my shoulder. “We’re here for you, man.”

“I’m fine,” I said for what felt like the hundredth time. “I haven’t seen her in seven years.”

“Still, though.”

“Isn’t this a distraction?” I suggested. “I try to relax as much as possible on game days. I sure as fuck wouldn’t be going to the funeral of someone I didn’t even know.”

Braden was always quick to laugh, and he did so now. “I tune out all the distractions when I’m on the field, man. Clear mind, clear sight. Don’t you do the same on the ice?”

No, I don’t, I thought to myself. When I was on the ice, I channeled all the anger in my life, like a magnifying glass focusing the sun’s rays into a superhot beam. I took all the pain and struggle and suffering from my past and let itdriveme. I wouldn’t be the great player I was without that.

When I didn’t reply, Braden changed the subject. “What’d you think of Beth?”

“It’s a good kennel.”

Braden shook his head. “I wasn’t asking about the kennel. I was asking abouther. What’d you think?”

“Don’t see how that’s relevant.”

“Braden’s got a crush already,” Christian said. “He thinks she has potential for… you know. More.”

“She texted us photos of Pickles and Heidi during the game on Sunday,” Braden explained. “They were all sitting nice and polite, in front of a laptop with the game on, and the caption said:the gang is all rooting for you, even Hank!It definitely motivated us. Chrissy especially. He balled out after reading her text at halftime.”

“What happened to tuning everything out on the field?” I asked.

Braden shrugged. “I mean, I tune out all the unimportant stuff. Texts from a sexy lady don’t count.”

Once again, an image of Beth popped into my head, jeans smeared with dirt and her blonde hair all disheveled above a hopeful smile.

“You don’t shit where you eat,” I said emphatically. “If you go out with her and it ends badly, then you lose her boarding services.”

“It’s fine!” Braden insisted. “It won’t be awkward.”

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