I loved the old man, even if he was a bit of a tyrant.
"Here they are, my ladies."
I smiled at my dad before looking at the guy coming in behind him. My heart started to thud and all the blood rushed out of my head.
"Carol, Belinda, this is my newest player. He's going to surprise the heck out of everybody, just wait and see."
My dad stepped aside and I froze, staring at the young man standing behind him.
At first, his familiar blue eyes looked happy to see me. He had a warm look of promise written all over his face. I almost stepped forward to greet him.
Then something clicked in his eyes. He narrowed them at me and nodded. He looked pissed. He also looked determined. He smiled at me and I shivered.
I recognized the look in his eyes. He was saying 'game on' without uttering a word. I swallowed nervously, knowing this was a game I was bound to lose.
Kyle was my dad's new star quarterback.
Chapter Five Kyle
Her hair was in a neat French braid. Her cheeks were flushed and her lips were parted. Her pink floral western style shirt was buttoned up almost to the top. Not that it did a thing to disguise those luscious curves of hers.
Oh yeah, that was my girl.
She looked like she'd seen a ghost.
I grinned, reaching out to shake her mother's hand. Mrs. Carmichael was beautiful, her features softened by time without aging them dramatically. She lacked her daughters vibrant coloring though. Coach pulled off his baseball hat and I saw where she got it from.
Coach was a ginger.
As happy as I was to see her, I was now in one hell of a pickle. My girl was off limits. Severely, career changingly off limits. But that wasn't going to stop me from claiming her.
I just had to be smart about it.
Smart, and sneaky as fuck. Treat it like a covert operation. Use my mad skillz, as Kenny would say.
But first I had to run her to ground. I didn't like hunting, but I knew all the tricks. Camouflage. Mating calls. But most of all, it required patience.
I watched her ass twitch as she walked away from me.
Patience was one skill I did not have in my toolbox. I was very, very impatient to get what I wanted. I wanted it now.
I smiled politely as coach's wife brought us two glasses of iced tea. Then I went about phase one. To convince coach and his wife that I was a good boy, not the kind of guy who'd deflower their daughter on the first date.
"You have a lovely house Mrs. Carmichael."
"Thank you Kyle."
It was a lovely house. Tastefully furnished in soft grays with dark wood furniture. Comfortable but classy. Belinda's mom smiled at me, instantly won over.
Oh yeah, I was a wolf in sheep's clothing.
And I was coming back for seconds.
Little Red riding Hood didn't stand a chance.
Belinda
"How do you like our campus so far Kyle?"
Kyle smiled benignly at my mother. He looked as innocent as a choirboy. Meanwhile, under the table his foot was brushing mine. I wasn't sure if it was deliberate until he did it again. I scowled at him as he oozed charm and good will. All false of course.
I wasn't fooled.
"It's the most beautiful I've ever seen. And the students have been... very friendly."
He grinned at me pointedly and popped a bite of food into his mouth. He made it clear he was talking about me as his foot caressed mine again. I kicked him and he nearly choked. I smiled serenely as my father pounded his back.
Kyle glared at me as he wiped his mouth.
I gave him a look that clearly said 'two can play at that game.'
"Thank you Coach."
"Make sure you chew your food, boy. Can't lose you before the season starts!"
I put my chin on my hand and smiled sweetly. I knew more about sports than most men. But Kyle didn't know that. I intended to milk it.
"Daddy, isn't it unusual to put a walk-on on the team?"
"Hardly ever happens at this level. But Kyle here is an unusual young man."
"He is?"
"He's unnaturally talented on the field Bellie. His military training had a lot to do with it, but some people are just naturals."
"Bellie?"
Kyle's eyes were glowing mischievously. I could have screamed. My plan to control the conversation had completely backfired. If he started calling me 'Bellie' I would lose it. I really would.
"That's what we call our little girl. Did you know they actually pay her to attend school? She had a full ride of course, but they actually give her a stipend and all sorts of administrative jobs for extra money. She has career academic written all over her."
I groaned inwardly. Did he have to make me sound like a cross between a 12 year-old and a grandma? That's what I was really. Kyle was right when he called me Miss Priss. Just a little girl who acted like the biggest, most responsible, boring goodie two-shoes ever to walk the face of the-Kyle was staring at my breasts. Not just staring either. He licked his lips and made an appreciative grimace. Like he couldn't stand being this close to me and not touching me.