“What’s up, Robby?”
“Sean’s drilling outside. Are you heading out?”
Sean is our quarterback, the heart of our team. He’s a tall guy, pale, red hair, square jaw. All-American-looking kind of kid. Smart, solid arm, but not the best runner in the world.
“Not now,” I say.
“He’s putting up some respectable numbers today, his yards-per-throw alone is just—”
“Thanks, Robby,” I say with a sigh. “I’ll see you out there.”
He nods and hurries away. Robby’s my assistant and he’s been with me for a long time. He’s been my right hand ever since I took over at Monray College, and I had to bring him with me when we got moved up to the NFL.
He’s a numbers guy, basically obsessed with numbers. I need that, to be honest. Keeps me honest.
I coach from the heart. I go by what I see and what I think. Previous experience tells me what I need to know.
But Robby keeps me in check. It’s annoying sometimes, but necessary.
I hurry on. I should be out on the field, watching Sean toss the ball, but I don’t feel like it right now.
I can hear voices coming from the training room. I recognize Felix, one of our wide receivers. I think he’s going to be our star, but it’s too early to say for sure.
He’s laughing, saying something else, followed by more laughter. I linger in the hall and look inside.
Leah’s there, pulling his arm back, stretching his shoulder. Felix is laughing with another receiver, a kid named Alan. I can’t hear what they’re laughing about, but it doesn’t matter.
I’m too busy staring at Leah.
The girl is beautiful, striking in a way I’d basically forgotten about. Long, thick, dark hair, bright green eyes, long lashes, pale skin. She looks like she belongs in a Disney movie or something. Her eyes are big and round, her body is full in all the right places, and she’s probably eight inches shorter than me.
I’ve given up a lot over the years. I don’t have a family and I haven’t had a girlfriend in a long time. I’ve been married to my job, to the great sport of football. I’ve spent my whole life coaching, getting better as a coach, improving myself. Certain things have fallen by the wayside.
I used to clean up as a younger man, especially in my playing days. I’d go from woman to woman, a new one every night. But I’ve slowed down over the years as my priorities have shifted.
Leah’s the first woman I’ve ever noticed. Hell, she’s more like a girl. She’s twenty-one, almost twenty years younger than me. She could be my daughter.
I don’t care, though. I can feel that old stirring inside of me. Desire, lust.
Better coaches than me have gone down for this. The NFL frowns at any sort of improper behavior in its coaches. Any whiff of scandal, and you’re out. They don’t mess around.
Wanting this girl could be a problem.
I rub my thigh and sigh. I have bigger issues, though.
I walk to the training room door and pull it open. The players both look up. “Excuse me, boys,” I say. “I need Leah there for a second.”
She looks a little surprised.
“Anything you want, Coach,” Felix says. “Just so long as you keep throwing me that ball.”
“We’ll see, son,” I say, grinning at him. Felix is as outgoing as he is talented, and it’s hard not to like him.
Leah follows me out into the hallway.
“How are you doing?” she asks me quietly.
“I’m okay. Just checking in on you.”
“Oh, yeah?” She smiles a little.
“How are you getting on?”
She shrugs. “The guys are all nice. Nothing major or complicated physically though, since the season hasn’t started.” She hesitates a second. “Except you, of course.”
I smirk. “I can be very complicated, that’s true.”
“You know what I mean.”
“I do. I have a depth of character that’s frankly hard to understand.”
She laughs a little. “Okay, yeah, sure.”
“It’s not always easy, getting along with all these guys,” I say, gesturing back at the room.
“They’ve been nice so far.”
“So far,” I repeat, grinning. “But come to me halfway through the season when they’re all tired, beat-up, and in a shit mood.”
“I can handle a few cranky football players.”
“I bet you can.” I lean up against the wall. “I’m just saying, you can come to me if you need anything.”
She hesitates a second, biting her lip. “Does that offer extend to all the trainers, or just to me?”
I hesitate a second. “To all of them,” I say finally. “But I picked you for a reason.”
She raises an eyebrow. “What reason is that, Coach?”
“Call me Cole,” I correct softly.
She grins. “Sorry. Cole.”
“You’re young, you’re new, and you’re talented. Plus, you look like you can keep a secret. And we’re both from around here.”
She looks surprised. “You’re from Fargo?”
“No, I’m from Grand Forks. But we’re both North Dakota natives, and we have to stick together.”