“I really don’t think we can work together,” she said, sobering.
“Then I’ll just have to convince you otherwise.”
TWO
Two weeks had passed since Alex had come on board. He’d shown up at the stadium daily, ready to dig in and work. To Madison’s surprise and disappointment, they shared an office—due to lack of available space, according to Ian. Madison called bullshit, but only to Riley. She wasn’t about to start trouble with her boss.
Alex had stepped out a couple of minutes ago. Alone for the first time, she grabbed complete concentration time and stared at the list of speakers she’d begun lining up for workshops. She wanted to run programs dedicated to everything from health and nutrition to finances and taxes. There was one well-known lecturer in particular she wanted to secure, but she had the feeling nailing him down would entail a trip to Manhattan to convince him. He was on the pricier side, but luckily Ian had given them a generous budget to work with, indicating how important this issue had become to him. She wondered if his newfound relationship with Alex was the root of his support or if he just sensed the need in the sport. A combination of both, she assumed.
She pulled up the calendar on her computer, knowing the seminars had to take place during the off-season so as not to overwhelm the players, and she would need to confer with Ian on scheduling.
She was so intent on her work she didn’t hear anyone come up behind her, but she knew, the second she breathed in the sexy, musk-laden cologne, who had joined her. Her body responded as if she knew him intimately, which, of course, she did. She didn’t appreciate the reminder, her ni**les now erect beneath her sheer silk blouse and a pulsing awareness awakened between her thighs.
“Good meeting?” she managed to ask, knowing Alex had come from a sit-down with the head coach and his team to fill him in on their progress so far and what would be expected of the players.
“Yes with some coaches, no with others. They don’t want to think about having to pull players for mild concussions, which is part of what we’re advocating. It’s not just about getting the players educated, it’s about getting those in charge to treat injuries with more caution. Not easy when, in their minds, it’s all about the win.” A hint of frustration edged his tone.
“It’ll take time for them to come around,” she said.
“Well, it didn’t help that some of them behaved like I was their enemy instead of being on the same team.”
She winced, knowing how wide the football division was in the state of Florida. She could only imagine the locker room. “That must have been difficult.”
“I can handle it. I’m a big boy.”
He might not mean anything by his words. In fact, there was no innuendo in his tone. But Madison’s mind immediately went to exactly how big the man actually was, and the memory had her squirming in her seat once more. The friction of her slacks against her sensitized body parts was driving her insane.
He settled on the edge of her desk, too close for her peace of mind.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Saying hello.” His breath ruffled her hair, and she shivered. “And catching up.”
This friendly Alex was new. Up until now, he’d perfected being completely professional, but since they shared an office, the underlying sexual tension was ever present. She couldn’t inhale without smelling Alex’s familiar scent, reminding her of hot, passionate nights in his bed.
She couldn’t look up without catching a glimpse of his dark head bent over notes or his computer, bringing up memories of how she’d tangle her fingers in the long strands of his hair as her orgasm washed over her. The low timbre of his voice echoed through her, causing every nerve ending in her body to tingle with awareness. And they worked really well together, as it turned out, reminding her that their camaraderie had extended outside the bedroom as well.
On day one, when she’d accused him of not having staying power, it had been a subtle dig at his revolving door of women, not his work ethic. So she wasn’t at all surprised he’d thrown himself into this job with the same dedication he’d shown in his football career. She didn’t need anything to soften her toward him, but had to admit, she admired his enthusiasm for their project and the ideas he’d brought to the table so far.
Still, she’d expected him to leave at five. Instead, he’d stay until seven or eight, always walking her to the parking lot at the end of the day. What had happened to the parties at his house? The constant rotation of friends and teammates who came through his front door for poker, beer, and pizza? The bars with the groupies?
She frowned at the reminder. Maybe he went there afterwards, but he didn’t seem like he was partying. At all.
“What’s wrong?” he asked. “You’re looking at me funny.”
She frowned at how well he read her. “It’s just that you’re surprising me,” she grudgingly admitted.
“In a good way? Or bad?” He leaned in closer.
“Sit back,” she muttered. “I need breathing room.”
He shot her a knowing grin. “I don’t mind being so close to you.” His brown eyes sparkled with mischief. “You smell good.” He deliberately inhaled, his nose close to the sensitive spot behind her ear.
“Stop!” She slid her chair back from her desk.
Chuckling, he raised both hands in the air. “Fine. Then spend time with me away from work, and I won’t push any agenda here.”
She raised her eyebrows high. “So you admit you have an agenda?”
A dimple formed in his cheek. “I admit I want to spend time with you. Anything else I say can only get me in trouble.” He grinned, surely intending to disarm her. “Let’s go for dinner tonight.”
“I can’t.”
“You mean you won’t.”
“I mean I can’t. I have a date.” With her foster brother, Eric, but she wasn’t about to give Alex any information on her family issues.
His smile turned into a deadly scowl she’d only seen on the football field. Did her after-work plans really bother him so much?
“Who’s the guy? Is it serious?” he asked, suddenly back in her personal space.
She felt lightheaded at his nearness, and the desire to throw herself against his hard body was strong. “I’m meeting my foster brother,” she said, only realizing she’d buried herself with the truth.
A shimmer of light returned to his gaze. “Okay, eat light with him, and we’ll go out after.”