“Face it. There’s nothing we can do. McCade screwed us twice. Once, when he signed us and again when he left us with her.”
“Fuck that,” I growled. “I’ll catch you later, Jacks.”
“She’s just gonna bust your balls, man. I tried to warn you,” he called after me. “We have practice in an hour.”
I charged out of the room with a new fire lighting my way. I wasn’t going to take his word for it. I walked down the corridor of the underground stadium tunnels, growing angrier with each stride I took.
I tapped the button, waiting for the elevator to carry me to the executive level. Within seconds, it took me to the top floor. My fingers curled into a tight fist. I could feel the blood pump through the strained veins on my wrist. My dream wasn’t going to vanish because some spoiled rich girl inherited my team.
The doors retracted and I stomped out. The executive suites were quiet. It looked as if it the entire place was empty. I rubbed the back of my head.
I expected to see Candy, but she wasn't sitting at her desk. I walked past it, remembering the few times we had hooked up. She was a hot fuck. The kind of girl who loved sex just for the sake of sex. She had no attachment to me or any of the other guys. I smiled. Why weren’t more women like that? Unattached? Available for just the right thing?
I was tired of women trying to take more than I was ready to give. I sure as hell didn’t want a girlfriend. I didn’t want commitment and all the bullshit that came with it. Candy seemed fine with a strictly fuck-for-fun arrangement.
This might be a wasted trip, but I walked to the old man's office. I couldn’t remember the last time I had been here. I stayed away from McCade. I stayed away from Coach. All I wanted was to play the game. This kind of shitty drama was exactly what I tried to avoid. I was here now out of survival. If I didn’t try to save my ass, I didn’t know who would.
I didn't bother to knock, assuming no one was here just like the rest of the office. But as soon as I opened the door, I realized how wrong I was.
Fuck.
I had never seen eyes that blue. Or lips that perfect.
Her beautiful mouth opened, and I realized she was staring at me. I wanted to dive in—cock first.
Her eyes were locked on my chest with a look of shock. I looked down. Shit. I had forgotten to throw on a shirt. I was wearing my warm-up shorts for practice and nothing else.
“C-can I help you?” she stammered. I saw the blush rise on her cheeks. Damn. She was gorgeous. Nobody had mentioned how insanely hot she was.
“I didn't think anybody was here,” I explained.
“Well, I am.”
“I see that.”
She shuffled papers on her desk. “Are you looking for Coach Applewhite?” she asked. “He left my office a while ago.”
“No.” I shook my head. “I’m looking for the new ownership.”
“Well you found her.”
I didn’t expect to find a woman so beautiful in the old man’s office. “I did.”
I took a step toward her.
“Let me guess. You're here because you want to talk to me about money.” She sighed.
I grinned. There was something about this woman that made me forget I had stormed up here ready for a fight.
“How did you know?”
Her eyes met mine. “I’m Vanessa McCade. You are here because of my grandfather. Or at least because of what my grandfather did. I've heard from a lot of your teammates today.”
She seemed frustrated or sad. I couldn't tell. “Right. Your grandfather. I’m sorry about that.”
“Thank you.”
I didn’t wait for her to offer a seat, I pulled up a chair and sat in front of her desk.