He stood and took my hand. It took all I had not to sigh when he touched me. His hand was warm, his skin rough to the touch. “Likewise. I’ll see you then.” He kept hold of my hand and then slowly let go. My skin broke out in goose bumps and I shivered. Opening the door, he glanced back at me once over his shoulder and then disappeared down the hall. Once I heard the elevator doors open and close, I shut my door and leaned against it, breathing in Jack’s cologne, which still lingered in the air.
My cellphone rang, but I could barely hear it because it was buried in my purse. I rushed over to dig it out and saw Ryan’s name on the screen. “Hey,” I answered breathlessly.
“Hey, you okay? You sound out of breath.”
“I’m fine.” I laughed. “I was just rushing to find my phone before you hung up.”
“I gotcha. So what are you doing tonight?”
“Getting ready to head home. Why?”
“Wanna come over for pizza? I ordered your favorite, barbeque chicken and banana peppers.” My stomach growled and I moaned. I was so busy that I had forgotten to eat lunch.
“Great. I’ll be over there in about twenty minutes. I just finished with my last appointment for the day.”
“Oh yeah? How’d it go?” he asked, sounding interested even though he had no desire to understand what I did for a living. My first and only thought went to the mysterious Jack and how Monday afternoon I’d be seeing him again.
“Great, actually. I can honestly say I’m ready for Monday to come around.”
Chapter 7
Jaxon
Before leaving for Seattle, I called my mother and brother to make sure everything was okay. So far there hadn’t been any changes in my mom’s health since the other day. She wasn’t doing worse, but she wasn’t any better, either. I felt like the worst son in the world for not being there for her. She fully supported my career, but I couldn’t help but feel guilty.
Now some of the guys and I were on the way to our Seattle hotel to get ready for our game. It had been two days since the meeting with Bristol and I couldn’t get her out of my head. I knew that until I’d fucked her, I was stuck with an aching dick. And even then, I knew that once wouldn’t be enough.
“Dude, why are you so anal? Did you not get laid this weekend or something?” Derek asked. Rolling my eyes, I glanced over at him and flipped him off. He burst out laughing and leaned against the steering wheel. Luckily, we were almost to the hotel, so I could get some fresh air. I had too much shit on my mind.
“I’m sure I’ll get some soon,” I answered grumpily. Hopefully, the sexy brunette I planned on seeing Monday. I didn’t want anyone but her.
Aaron and his boyfriend, Michael, were in the backseat, chuckling. Michael was Hayden’s best friend and her working partner at the veterinary clinic. Since she was working this weekend, it gave Michael the chance to travel with Aaron. Only a select few of us knew Grainger was gay and we kept it that way. He wasn’t ashamed of what he was, but he was afraid of what the others would say if they found out, especially someone like McCarthy. That fucker would rag Aaron until he was forced to quit and I couldn’t have that. Aaron was a damn good punter and we needed him. Being a kicker wasn’t exactly the most prestigious position on the field, but if it came down to a field goal winning the game, it was all up to me. I’d had plenty of games depend on my kicks.
When we got to the hotel, we all separated to our own rooms for the evening. It was a Saturday night, but I didn’t feel like going out on the town. I was half tempted to call Bristol to see what she was doing. What if she was out fucking another guy? The thought made my blood boil. I don’t know why I cared, but I did.
I ordered in room service, a sizzling filet mignon topped with crabmeat, surrounded by a load of garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus. Once everything was delivered, I turned on the TV and sat on the plush leather couch in my suite. I never ordered in on a Saturday night, nor did I watch TV by myself. My life was the party scene, but ever since the news of my mother’s imminent death, I couldn’t bring myself to celebrate anything.
The food was decent and I was just about to take a shower when my phone rang. Derek’s name popped up on the screen. “What’s up, fucker?”
“I was just about to ask you the same thing. Were you expecting anyone this weekend?”
“What are you talking about?”
He cleared his throat. “Well, I was getting ready to go to bed when I had a knock at my door. Apparently, the girl on the other side had the wrong room number because she was looking for you.”
Who the hell would be looking for me? “What did she look like? Did she give you a name?”
“She kind of looked like the girl you went home with last weekend. I could be wrong, though,” he replied.
Groaning, I ran a hand through my hair. “You have got to be fucking kidding me. Please tell me you didn’t give her my room number?” The line went quiet, and it wasn’t two seconds later that there was a knock on my door. “Fuck,” I hissed. “I am so going to kick your ass for this.”
“Is she there?”
Another knock sounded, this one louder than the first. “Jax?” she called out. I didn’t have to look through the peephole to know who it was. She knocked again. “Jax, it’s me.”
I slowly retreated to the bedroom and shut the door so she couldn’t hear me. “Dammit, D, what the hell is she doing here? She’s like a fucking stalker or something. The front desk is going to hear about this. It should be illegal to give out room numbers.”
“It’s not that bad.” He laughed. “She’s probably here for the game and saw you in the lobby. I’ve had people show up at my door once before too. Cut her some slack.”
“I don’t want to cut her some slack; I want her to leave me the fuck alone. Most girls get the hint by now.” Better yet, most of the girls I’d been with knew what I was about and were fine with a one-night stand. However, this girl was taking things to a whole new level.
“Why don’t you just tell her the truth then, but in a nice way?” Derek asked. “The girl obviously has a thing for you and thinks you feel the same way.”
I walked out of the bedroom to the hotel room door, where a piece of paper was sitting on the floor.
“She left me a note.”
“What does it say?”
I opened it up and groaned.