Line of Scrimmage (24 page)

“No, you stay still,” she insisted. “The last thing we want to do is more damage to that leg. Don’t move.”

“But—”

“I can do this.”

It was torture watching Erin ease herself completely off his body. When she lifted one leg very slowly to swing it over his cast and rest it between his thighs, completely exposing her delicious cunt with its well-trimmed cap of curls, Jake had a hard time not reaching for her. He wanted so badly to place his mouth on her sweet sex as he’d done before, and lick and suck and lap until he’d drunk his fill of her. If, that was, he ever did get enough, which he had an idea was highly unlikely.

Finally she was standing on both feet at the side of the bed.

“Don’t move,” she told him with a mischievous grin.

“As if I could,” he huffed on a slightly hysterical note.

“Good. I’ll be right back.”

But when she turned, he got a good look at the side of her body that had been closest to his cast, and he frowned.

“Come over here.” He tugged her closer. “Let me see this.”

“I’m fine.” She tried to pull away from him, but he held on tightly.

“Just hold still a minute, will you? I’m not exactly too flexible right now.” He ran his hand over the lower curve of one ass cheek and the outer side of her thigh. “Looks like that pillow case didn’t work so well. You’ll be sore here in the morning.”

She looked down at herself over her shoulder. “It’s not so bad. I’ll put some cream on it.”

Jake heaved a sigh. “This fucking leg and the fucking cast are ruining my life.”

Erin threaded her fingers through his hair and caressed his cheek. “We’re doing just fine, Jake. The cast will come off soon enough. And think how inventive we can be in the meantime.”

“Well, yes, there is that.” He gestured at his cock and the condom. “Can you give me a hand here? I have to, um…”

“No problem. I was just about to take care of things for you.” She headed for the bathroom. “I’ll be right back.”

She returned with some tissues and a washcloth and went to work. He forced himself to lie completely still while she tended to him. After easing the condom off over his now only semi-hard dick, she wrapped it in the tissues and set them aside. Then she proceeded to clean him with a warm cloth as she’d done that time he’d—no, he didn’t plan to dwell on that. He also didn’t want her to spend much time doing this right now. The orgasm had sapped most of his energy, but at her gentle touch, the stupid Little Head was trying to come to life again.

“That’s enough.” He wrapped his fingers around one wrist. “Besides, with the condom there isn’t much to clean up.”

“I know.” She giggled. “But I wanted to do it again and this time enjoy it.”

“Are you saying you didn’t enjoy it last time?” he teased.

“Just making sure. Maybe we can wake up our friend here again.”

He tugged her hand away. “Nice thought but save it for the next time.” He reached up and cupped her chin. “There will be a next time, right?”

Her now familiar slow smile cut right to the core of him. “I expect so. If you’re a good boy.”

“Wait until you see just how good I can be. Bring that gorgeous face down here.” When she did, he planted a gentle kiss on her lips, no tongue, just a symbol of emotion. “That’s my thank you.”

She studied him, then gave him an answering smile. “You’re welcome.”

Scott was as good as his word, and the alarm company had shown up bright and early the morning after the incident with the twins. With the system they brought to install, not even a SEAL team could have gotten into the house or grounds undetected. Well, she laughed to herself, okay maybe a SEAL team. But no one else.

Both he and Jim DiMarco had been irate about the incident and had their own ideas about who had put the girls up to it.

“Who do you think it was?” she asked.

“I’ll check it out,” DiMarco had said. “And I’ll put a stop to it. Unfortunately not everyone in the NFL achieves the level of maturity we’d all like. I know how some of these guys are. But don’t worry about it. It’s as good as taken care of.”

Erin hoped so. She knew first hand some of these guys, too, and they might not be put off so easily.

Scott Manchin also promised to keep an eye on things. Erin liked the man immediately. He was all business, no nonsense. But personable at the same time. And it was obvious he was very worried about Jake. When he left, she walked outside with him to have a few words in private.

“You don’t really have to answer me,” she said. “I realize you know nothing about me and—”

He held up a hand. “I know that you’re doing a great job taking care of Jake, a job not many people could or would handle. I know you’re smart, sharp, and have his best interest at heart.” He smiled. “And I know Jake’s crazy about you, even if he’s too hardheaded to admit it.”

She stared at him. “All that from one visit?”

Scott laughed. “Studying people and reading them is my business. I’d be no good at my job if I didn’t.” His face sobered. “Jake’s got a tough row to hoe here. I hope he can depend on you. I hope
I
can depend on you.”

“Listen.” She blew out a breath. “This is just a temporary gig for me. I’m, uh, between jobs.”

He nodded. “I know. Jake told me all about it.” A smile tipped up the corners of his mouth. “He also told me how it came about. I’m just asking you to keep your options open.”

Since job offers weren’t flooding her inbox she had no reason not to agree to that.

“But I won’t always be here,” she reminded him.

He took a moment to reply. “How about this? I’m not sure what Jake’s final prognosis will be, but if it’s bad, he’s going to hit a downward spiral. If you can hang in there until we get past that, I’ll use every contact I have to get you into any hotel chain or freestanding in the world. Your choice.”

“Whoa. Wait a minute. I don’t take handouts.”

“And I don’t give them. But anyone who can handle this situation the way you are rates top marks in my book. So do we have a deal?”

What could she lose, right?

“Okay, but no more Eye Candy Mandys.”

Scott burst out laughing. “Can I put that in my cell memo? I love it.” He laughed again.

“Sure. Be my guest.”

They shook hands and she watched him drive away, wondering just what on earth she’d managed to get herself into. If Scott Manchin harbored any thoughts about something long term between her and Jake, he was definitely on the wrong path. She was going to enjoy it while it lasted, but when she was done, she was done.

The days actually began to move forward more smoothly. The weather was still nice so Erin served all their meals on the patio. They actually had pleasant conversations. But while she told Jake everything about her life growing up in a household filled with testosterone, he said very little about himself. She knew he and Ivy were close, and despite Ivy’s little game plan here, it was obvious Jake cared about her a great deal. He also said little about his mother except she’d been a strong force in their lives.

He did, however, tell her a lot about the Granite Falls Coyotes championship team and the four years of stardom. He talked about Coach Fenelli, who apparently had been a strong influence, and the team members he’d been close to.

“I know I’ve said this before, but it’s possible talking to these guys might give you a perspective on life after football.” She paused. “Don’t you think?”

“I’ll put it on the list.” But he didn’t sound all that enthusiastic.

So that was a little stumbling block, but she joked him out of it, and they moved on. She decided she’d just have to figure another way to make that happen.

During the day, she helped him with his e-mail, which he’d finally decided to take a look at. “Ivy said it was one of your responsibilities,” he reminded her, “and I hate dealing with it.” Then he winked. “Besides, you can filter it and sign everything as my executive assistant.”

She was glad at least he joked about it.

The phone calls became more constant and she handled those, too. Her personal evil satisfaction came from the few calls he got from groupies who managed to get either his cell number or his landline. She enjoyed telling them that Jake was not interested in them, now or ever, and to shake their booties in front of someone else. Whenever Jake overheard her on these calls, he laughed.

“Where were you years ago?” he asked.

She shrugged. “Years ago you probably weren’t interested in getting rid of them.”

“Damn it, Erin.” Anger and frustration mingled in his voice. “I told you those girls didn’t appeal to me. What will it take for you to believe what I say?”

Good question,
she thought, but at the moment she had no answer.

Then there were the nights. How on earth to describe them? Sometimes they watched movies and ate popcorn, but the other nights? Even in his situation, Jake was an incredible lover. It took a lot of planning and maneuvering, and some positions produced more laughs than satisfaction, but they’d finally figured out ways to make all the body parts work. He seemed totally focused on her every response, her pleasure, her sexual fulfillment. She’d never had a lover so dedicated to her.

At first the memory of the tantalizing striptease she did for him made her face flame when she thought of it. She wasn’t usually that bold. But as she became more comfortable with him in bed, as he focused on making her understand how important her pleasure was to him, the embarrassment disappeared, replaced by a need that never seemed to burn out. It was becoming a lot harder to keep reminding herself that this was temporary. When he was better, Jake would go back to his own life, and she’d go back to hers.

Her problem, as she lay in bed most nights in his arms, was that she wasn’t so sure anymore she wanted to go back to what she thought of as her “real” life. Her emotions were in a whirl where Jake Russell was concerned. She’d discovered she enjoyed being with him, spending time with him. They laughed at the same places in the movies they watched and yelled at the same scenes of conflict. They liked to eat mostly the same things and even wanted to travel to a lot of the same places. And learning more and more about the real Jake Russell turned her ironclad image of football jocks on its ear. Oh, she wasn’t foolish enough to think they were all like him, but he was real, he was respectful, he was a decent guy who’d been dealt a really bad blow.

That was a fact that still shocked her. Bit by bit her negative expectations of him were crumbling away. She might even—

Nope. Forget it. Not going there.

But at least her changing view of him made life between the two of them much easier and more pleasant. Enjoyable.

Jake continued to insist on holing up in the house, but Erin did manage one small victory. At the moment, Joe Reilly was in San Antonio with his wife, visiting her brother, and they wanted to have dinner with Jake. They extended the invitation to her also, but probably because she’d be his transportation. Getting Jake to this dinner tonight had taken a combination of threats and bribery, but she’d finally convinced him to accept. He was doing a lot better with the crutches, though, and she worried that if he just stayed in the house refusing to see anyone he’d sink into a deep depression. Plus, the big SUV gave him plenty of room to stretch out his leg if she pushed the seat all the way back.

She’d made reservations at a place known for good food but way out of the mainstream, where Jake would not likely run into people he didn’t want to see.

“I hope you don’t mind doing this at such an out of the way restaurant,” Jake said after he crutched his way to the table where Shay and Joe were waiting.

“Not at all,” Shay told him. “It’s kind of nice for us, too. It’s a change to be somewhere that everyone doesn’t immediately recognize Joe.”

“Of course it is,” Erin agreed.

Without making an obvious fuss about it, she inched Jake’s chair away from the table, quietly took his crutches, and stood by while he eased himself into the seat. Erin leaned the crutches against the wall near them, seated herself, and smiled at everyone.

“Joe, it’s nice to see you again. And Shay, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” She held out a hand. “Erin Bass.”

“Pleasure here too,” the other woman said.

They ordered drinks and set aside the menus while they chatted. Erin found the Reillys extremely comfortable to be with. She’d looked Joe up on Google after his first visit to the house and was somewhat stunned at what she found. He’d been a typical jock as far as she was concerned, no less than she’d expected. A playboy. A skirt chaser. He took full advantage of all the non-financial benefits his position as a star quarterback presented him with. But apparently when an injury had forced him to retire, he’d cleaned up his act, gotten a plum job with Fox Sports, and spent his free time raising money for scholarships and conducting clinics for coaches on teaching responsibility to athletes.

He’d gotten married last year to Shay Beckham, sister of the man who’d been his best friend since childhood and who had also been on the championship Coyotes team. Erin was pretty sure that was an interesting story.

She was glad to see Jake relax over dinner, enjoy a drink, indulge in some chitchat with Joe. Except for the interview at the house and the visits by DiMarco and Manchin, this was the first time he’d spent with anyone in any way related to football. She watched him carefully to make sure he wasn’t getting upset or irritated by something, but he seemed to be having a good time.

“Have you been together long?” Shay asked in a low voice.

“What?” Erin’s hand jerked and spilled some of the water she was holding. “Oh, no, that’s…I mean, we aren’t… That is, you’ve got this all wrong.”

Shay’s mouth curved in a small grin. “If you say so, but the signs are pretty clear. He’s definitely got a thing for you.”

Oh, yes. Sure. A sexual thing, but that was about it.

“We’re just, um, what I mean to say is this is just a business arrangement.”

“Uh-huh. None of my clients ever looked at me that way.” She chuckled. “Which is a good thing, because Joe would take their head off.”