Killian (On the Line 1)

“I think the turnaround of the team kind of speaks for itself, right?” I said. “We haven’t been anywhere close to a second place ranking in the four years I’ve been here.”

He nodded. “Yeah, you guys keep this up, you’ll be in the playoffs.”

“One game at a time,” I said, taking the hand he offered and shaking it.

I forced myself not to look over when I walked past Sid and the group of guys surrounding her. I didn’t need to text her anymore. It was understood that we’d meet at her place every night we were both in town.

I knew that Fenway wasn’t really her home, though. She was living in temporary accommodation in a place that was pre-decorated and furnished. Her permanent home was waiting for her back in New York. She already spent a fair bit of time going back and forth between the two places and I wondered how long she planned to stay here.

I walked down the hallway, saying goodnight to a few of the guys, and as soon as I opened the door and walked outside, a rush of cool night air washed over my face. I’d forgotten my coat and was hoping to get to my car as fast as my battered body would allow.

“There he is. Killian!” a female voice called. I looked over and saw two women I vaguely knew heading my way, both dressed in tall leather boots and tight pants.

“Where have you been?” one of them asked, opening her arms and hugging me. I patted her back once, hoping we could call that a return hug.

“We never see you at Cosmos anymore,” the other woman said, frowning.

“Just been busy, you know?” I said.

“With who?” The first one asked. I gave her a look and she laughed her question off.

“Come out tonight,” the other woman said. “We miss you.”

I barely remembered these two, but when you spend more nights at a bar than anywhere else, the faces start to blur after a while. I’d been that guy before meeting Sid.

“Ladies, I’m sorry,” I said. “That game kicked my ass and I’m just not up to it.”

“Next time?” one of them asked hopefully.

“Ah . . . probably not. I haven’t been to Cosmos in a while.”

“Boo,” she said, frowning again. “You have a girlfriend, don’t you?”

“I am seeing someone, yeah.” I rubbed my hands together for warmth. “I’ve gotta go, guys. Have a good night.”

I cranked up the heat in my car and ran through the game’s clutch plays on the drive to Sid’s. Tonight’s win had been a tough one and I had some ideas about how we should handle the next game. I’d talk with Orion about them tomorrow.

I arrived at Sid’s first, so I let myself in with the key she’d slid to me over breakfast yesterday. She hadn’t said a word, so I’d picked it up and pocketed it silently. Once inside, I hung my suit jacket on a kitchen chair and opened a bottle of wine, pouring a glass for each of us. I was chopping omelet ingredients when Sid walked in.

“Hi,” she said, smiling. “Amazing game, Killian. I’ve never been so excited about a win. You were just . . . magic out there.” Her eyes were bright with excitement. I loved her enthusiasm for the game, and her enthusiasm for me felt pretty damn good, too.

“Felix was on fire,” I said. “That kid’s something else.”

She took the glass of wine I handed her and sipped it, leaning a hip against the counter while I continued with my dinner preparations.

“He was great tonight,” she agreed. “But you lead the offense. I had tears in my eyes by the time that last second ticked by on the clock.”

I leaned in to kiss her and she cupped my cheek in her hand.

“And, to top it off, you’re cooking dinner,” she said. “Mmm, I’m starving. Will you do me a favor and take off the shirt and tie? I love it when you cook with just your suit pants on.”

I started to comply, moving my sore arms gingerly.

“Oh, you’re hurt,” she said softly. “Here, let me.”

When I turned to her, she loosened my tie and slid it off. I watched her fingers work on my shirt buttons, her nails a dark, shiny red.

“I have to go to New York tomorrow,” she said. “For a couple of days.”

She unfastened the last button and I felt the warmth of her hands on my stomach. Leaning forward, she kissed my chest, her hands sliding around to my back.

“You feel good,” she said, laying her cheek to my chest.

“So do you.” I ran a hand over her smooth, soft hair.

She looked up at me with a hopeful gaze. “I got a call from Indy today. They want you for that roster spot.”

With a deep sigh, I turned back to the stove. “I don’t know, Sid.”