Game On! (Seaside Heat) (13 page)

“I doubt a man alive would endure such.” She squinted but kept hold of his hand.

“You’re probably right. I’d rather be shot.”

She rolled her eyes while the paramedic took his vitals.

“I’ll stay in touch so I can happily remind your future wife.” Her brown gaze lasered him with an intensity he remembered from their mile-high fun on the plane.

Riding to the hospital with him said a lot. Her trembling fingers locked tightly in his said even more.

He’d never wanted to frighten her.

Jordan paced behind the curtain in a small area while they’d taken Heath to be scanned by an MRI machine. A closet claustrophobic, she didn’t envy his time in the tube.

Please let him have only sustained a concussion
. After he’d been taken from the field on a backboard, she’d raced to the room where the trainers evaluated him. Never before would she have pushed her way into such a situation, but she had to know he’d regained consciousness.

This injury shouldn’t take his dream. He’d helped her back from a bad place. She’d do the same for him. Trying to ignore the anesthetic odors of the hospital that made her queasy, she settled on a stiff-backed chair then texted GiGi and her father.

Finally, the staff returned with a drowsy Heath who all but spilled off the tiny bed.

He raised his head and gave her a thumbs-up.

The nurse rolled his monitor to the side of his bed. “You’ll need to wake him every thirty minutes.”

“I’m staying if that’s okay?” Taking his hand, she missed its normal warmth.

Heath wore tired smile. “Thanks, darlin’.”

GiGi and Dugan slipped in a few minutes later. Dugan looked pale and worn. GiGi stood close at his side, her hand tucked around his arm.

Heath pressed the button to raise the bed. “How was the rest of the game?”

“It was tough without you, bro, but we took care of business.” Dugan winked and elaborated on the rest of the game.

“Mr. Lancaster.” A tiny female doctor whisked though the curtain and shook his hand.

“Doc?” Heath tried to sit while GiGi and Dugan stepped out.

“A moderate concussion.” She glanced at his monitor and then to Jordan. “He should feel better every day. No football until you can pass the concussion test.” She patted his shoulder.

He nodded. “Got it.”

“The nurse will bring you some prescriptions and instructions. You’re his wife?” She glanced to Jordan.

“No, but I’ll be his nurse.”

Heath chuckled.

“Good luck with that.” The doctor grinned.

Against his protest, the nurse wheeled him to the exit where Dugan and Gigi waited with the Jeep.

Jordan sat with Heath in the back and Dugan took the wheel while GiGi followed in her car.

At the beach house, Dugan helped Heath up the steps.

Jordan followed him to the bathroom and helped him undress and get into the shower. She held her breath hoping he wouldn’t fall or pass out while he bathed. “You okay?”

“Just a skull-crunching headache.” He partially opened the shower curtain. “Don’t look so worried. I’m okay.”

Even though he looked like a conquering Viking standing naked in the tub, he’d been out cold and in an out of consciousness all the way to the hospital.

“Let’s get you dressed and horizontal.”

“Being horizontal with you sounds good.” He grinned, cut off the water and accepted the towel. “Forget the clothes.”

“Funny.” Painkillers talking. She led him to his room and grabbed a pair of shorts and t-shirt from the dresser.

“I’ll sleep better in the recliner and I want to see Dugan and GiGi before they leave.”

Anything to get him off his feet for the night. “Okay big guy.”

Jordan fixed Heath a tall glass of water while he settled in the chair.

“He probably won’t be interested in food,” Dugan said. “When I had a concussion, I was nauseous for a couple of days.”

“You’re a pussy.” Heath snorted.

Dugan glared. “You’re a real comedian on Vicodin, dickwad. Next time you can crawl up the stairs.”

“Brotherly love.” Jordan turned to GiGi and offered a sympathetic smile.

“We can stay, if you need us.”

“Naw, we’ll be fine.” Heath levered the recliner back. “I’ll have Jordan turn on some X-rated cable shows. That should keep me awake.”

“Don’t you love a smartass flying high on narcotics?” GiGi patted Heath on the shoulder.

“Thanks, guys. I’ll call you in the morning.” Jordan walked them to the door.

Heath slipped into a doze.

She set her phone alarm to ring in an hour. Scanning through the cable menu, she found reruns of a sitcom and sprawled on the sofa.

When her phone alarmed, Heath woke and took her hand. “Come on, baby, let’s go to bed.”

His alluring, husky voice caused her to forget for a moment he was injured.

In the bedroom, he sat on the bed and shrugged off his shorts then pulled her down next to him.

She snuggled close, resting her head on his bare chest. His easy breathing reassured her and lulled her into a light sleep. Through the night, her phone buzzed a preset times and she woke him as instructed.

By morning, a wall of warm muscle spooned behind her as sunlight glinted off the dresser mirror. Heath’s erection prodded her rear.

She hoped it meant his head felt better.

Last night was a first for her sleeping over at a lover’s place. Until now, she never thought of it as a means of distancing herself from them and staying uninvolved. Maybe deep down she’d suspected her ex was in a relationship because he never asked to stay at her apartment.

Now, she lay next to a man she’d offered a sexual game and she wished for more. If she were brutally honest, she realized she’d fallen in love with him when fear of losing him had left her helpless. Admitting their days were numbered blurred her vision with unspent tears.

* * * *

“You’re thinking too hard,” Heath whispered hoarsely against her ear. Probably about staying the night. He didn’t understand the big deal.

“Sorry.” She started to turn but he held her still.

“Mmmm, those sweet cheeks of yours are begging for my attention.” He’d tempt her with other things since she didn’t want to talk.

She broke his hold and faced him. “How’s your head?”

“It’s down to a dull ache. Thanks for staying.” He tipped her chin and met her lips. They conformed to his in a tender kiss. He rolled atop of her and braced his weight on his arms.

She wrapped her legs loosely around his hips. “The lengths you’ll go to just to get me to spend the night.”

He caressed her cheek. “Am I special then?”

“You have to ask? I forgot about a cruise.” She laughed, her ribs rumbling against his.

That she had. Dugan had told him that GiGi had never seen her so scattered. He hadn’t planned it, but he wanted to prove he was different. His stomach twisted at the omission he and GiGi kept from her. Only one more home game to keep her from running into her persecutor. How could she be mad if she found out later?

What he’d do after the Tritons’ season continued to complicate his life. Should he stay here, give up football and hope to change her mind about a relationship? Or return to Texas if called or find another team if not? The throbbing in his head increased with his anxiety. Gazing into her eyes, he searched for his answer. “Having a woman forget her vacation has gotta be a first for me, darlin’. But then I’ve never had a woman give up an evening to worry over me in a hospital, either.”

Her tawny brows furrowed. “One of my brothers’ college teammates was paralyzed after a brutal hit.” She swallowed hard. “I got into a habit of praying every day when I knew he was practicing and during the games.”

Jordan had many layers, and he wanted to uncover more. “Thank you then.”

She nodded with a bashful smile. “Now, make love to me.”

His heart nearly burst and he slid inside her welcoming body.

She whimpered. So out of character for her. Jordan’s eyes dilated to deep mocha and turned glassy.

Heath’s throat grew tight as he took her in an easy rhythm.

She held on. “We only have a couple more weeks before your season is over. Maybe I should start staying over.”

Who knew a blow to his head would soften her resistance? “Careful, you don’t want me to think you might care.”

Rocking her hips, she met his deepening thrusts. “I care a lot.”

He paused mid-stroke and stared deeply into her eyes. “Enough to say this is more than a game?”

“I love what we have.” She held his face. “Is that enough?”

“For now.”

Then she breathed his name in a pleading tone. “Heath.”

“Yes, darlin’.” He closed his eyes and came along with her.

* * * *

Heath stood along the sidelines during practice, hoping he’d have an opportunity to play at home for their final game of the season. This week’s away game was shot.

His nausea had subsided by the second day. Although his appetite had returned, Jordan had decided he still needed her tending. It’d taken so long for her to spend the night, he wasn’t about to argue.

While she coached an afternoon field hockey practice, he’d filed an application online with the local public school division for a physical education substitute. One of the local trainers had mentioned a need, and he qualified with his degree. A temporary position might give him a chance to see what might be left for Jordan and him after the Tritons’ season.

He hadn’t received a call from Texas about a spot on the practice squad. The team’s roster was overflowing with potential for the coming season and part of the reason Dugan and he had sought a place on the Tritons. As aging athletes, their time was limited.

The concussion pushed him to the inevitable career fork in the road sooner than he liked. But putting down roots appealed to him after his football vagabond lifestyle. Getting to know Jordan only solidified the urge.

He gave his replacement some pointers for the upcoming game then started to leave the field when Dugan caught up with him. “Hey, GiGi is asking if you will help her out with her fashion show in October. She’d provide the tux and all.”

“What about you? Have you heard anything?”

“Yeah, I need to talk to you about that.”

Was this where his brother from another mother and he parted? “You got a call from Texas?”

“No, but GiGi has a friend in a large corporation who’s offered me a trial position at his company in Mechatronics. I did an internship during the summer I messed up my knee. Honestly, Heath, this year has been wearing on my bones. We’re not new kids on the block anymore.”

Heath chuckled. “And I’m not looking forward to losing more brain cells. Now that we’re sharing, I applied for a substitute physical education position with the local school division. Don’t know if it’ll happen, but it could tide me over.”

“So you’ll help GiGi then?” He stepped back as a tackle took down another player with a grunt.

“Sure, I owe her.” He helped the guy to his feet.

“Yeah, I heard. One more game.” His friend cut him a sly glance.

He frowned. “She told you?” Heath started for the locker room.

“Pillow talk. You know how it is.” He shrugged.

“I didn’t get the impression there were any pillows in y’all’s repertoire.”

Dugan snorted. “Got rug rash to prove it, bro.”

The afternoon of the Tritons’ last game, Jordan waited at Heath’s place. For some reason, GiGi insisted on picking her up. Sneaky little shit, she was probably helping Heath with something.

He’d promised her a special dinner after the game. Could he be planning to tell her he’d be staying? After living at his place, the last couple of weeks, she admitted she might want more than just sex from him. The damn “L” word sat on her tongue waiting for a confession.

Jordan paced until the Miata roared into the driveway. “Where in the hell were you, G? We’re going to miss kickoff.”

GiGi looked at her as if she had a cob up her butt. “Chill, baby.”

“You can say that. Your guy’s staying for a few more weeks.”

She smirked. “You’re uptight for a PE teacher.”

“Yeah, let’s see how tight your butt is a week before your fashion show.”

“Get in.” GiGi backed out and punched the gas.

After arriving, they rushed to their seats. The team burst through the inflated King Neptune wearing their red, white and blue.

Jordan clapped until her palms burned. It was crazy of her to get so attached. She never meant for this to happen. As they called his name, tears welled in her eyes.

During the first play, Heath shoved a tackle sideways, allowing the running back to gain a first down. Jordan held her breath until her man rose to his feet.

She had to quit babying him. He’d allowed it at home, she suspected only because he wanted her to stay. He wanted her beyond their game and all but said so the morning after his injury. It was the first time she’d ever felt like a man was making love to her. More than sex and damned if it hadn’t begun to heal her scarred heart.

As the game continued, Jordan’s tension eased, but her heart ached over what might be her last hours with him.

At fourth down and three yards to goal, the opposing team’s offense took over at their thirty-yard line. Their quarterback called a play and faked a hand-off before firing a pass to a downfield receiver.

Dugan read the play. Leaping nearly five feet vertical, he tipped the ball. It bobbled. He secured the pigskin and barreled through the scrambling offense.

Jordan and GiGi launched to their feet.

His teammates blocked the offense and defended his advance. Covering ground at a diagonal he plowed across the goal line.

GiGi howled to the point of losing her voice.

Jordan gripped her shoulder to keep her from falling into the row of spectators in front of them.

Cheers drowned out the announcer, but referees signaled Dugan’s touchdown.

On the next offensive plays, Heath snagged a couple of passes, putting them in the red zone to score. With thirty seconds left on the clock, the punter shot the ball straight through the uprights, winning the game.