Huddle Up (13 page)
Authors: Liz Matis
Tags: #Literature & Fiction, #Genre Fiction, #Sports, #Contemporary, #Romance, #Fiction
H
ayden hated weddings. Okay, maybe hate was too strong of a word. But the word fit perfectly for how she felt about her father’s order to attend Billy Burner’s nuptials as the Middleton family representative. Her father lectured constantly about the importance of treating the football team like family. Too bad he didn’t extend the same courtesy to his own daughter.
Billy and Angel wasted no time after the engagement, planning a no-fuss wedding at the courthouse. That was until Hannah and Samantha took over, rescheduling the ceremony for the team’s bye week.
The bride twirled, showing off the beautiful wedding dress designed by Hannah. Only the supermodel could pull off such a masterpiece in a month. The classic ball gown skirt swirled with the perfection of a storybook princess while the woven white leather rock star inspired bodice suited Angel’s hard edge. Dressed in an eighteen century styled suit, the groom wore his mane of blond hair in a slick ponytail that his daughter was currently tugging on. Gabriela, who was the picture of cuteness, almost made Hayden feel maternal.
Almost. She looked away before the sickening sweet scene ruined her foul mood.
Hayden’s gaze landed on Liam McQueen, the reformed bad boy quarterback of the Cougars. The press was currently hailing him the Savior of the Cougars’ season. She was surprised Liam wasn’t home having milk and cookies instead of nursing what looked like a Scotch. Hating his holier than thou attitude, she itched to mess with him. Could the choirboy be tempted to sin again? Challenge accepted. Just the something she needed to distract her from her latest run in with the paparazzi.
Oh, shit.
Liam had just caught her staring. Staring? More like ogling. With a smile created for endorsements, the quarterback strolled over without breaking eye contact. She toyed with her necklace, those clear brown eyes reminding her of the chocolate diamonds draped around her neck.
“Hey Hayden.” His six-foot-three frame now towered over her. The tux fit his wide shoulders to perfection.
The memory of the half-naked spread he did for Men’s Health lit up her brain. And other places too. She stalled unable to come up with anything. She told herself it would be far too easy to seduce him. Not worth her time. Falling back into bitch mode where she felt most at home, she said in a withering tone, “It’s hello, not hay. Where did you grow up, in a barn? Oh wait, you did.”
“Lighten up. It’s a wedding, not a funeral.”
He smacked her rump. With only the gold silk of her dress between her ass and his hand, she gasped with shock and yes, a tiny zing of pleasure. Where had that come from? Shock won out and she glared at him. With a little push, he urged her out onto the dance floor. Did the caveman think she’d dance with him?
“Heads up,” he said. “Incoming pass.”
What was that supposed to mean? By the time she caught sight of the bridal bouquet it was already too late. The cluster of purple lilies sailed over a bevy of vying females and smacked Hayden on the head. Cameras flashed as the flowers landed at her feet and women scrambled for the prize.
Hayden kicked the bouquet. How many of the attendees caught that on video? Her father was going to kill her. She stalked over to Liam and poked him in the chest.
She ignored the drum of his heart beneath her finger, the way it pounded in sync with hers. Ignored the spark of electricity firing up her body as if her arm were some sort of lightening rod. “Don’t ever touch me again.”
Hayden stormed out the door, losing a shoe in the process, but she wasn’t going back for it, even if she had once stroked the pair like a long lost lover.
She hated weddings. And she hated Liam McQueen.
*
Look for Hayden and Liam’s story in The Quarterback Sneak. Coming soon.
Liz Matis is a mild manner accountant by day and romance author by night. Married 28 years she believes in happily-ever-after!
Fun Fact: Liz read her first romance at the age of fifteen and soon after wrote her first romances starring her friends and their latest crushes!
Fun Fact 2: Liz kept an inspiration board for Huddle Up on Pinterest. Check it out here:
http://www.pinterest.com/lizmatis/
Blog:
http://www.taoofliz.blogspot.com
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Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5289185.Liz_Matis
Buy here:
http://amzn.com/B0063KJIGI
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