Power Play (Nashville Assassins Next Generation 2)

Aiden rolls his eyes. “You just want her to stroke your ego.”

“Yeah, ’cause you like her,” Wes sings. “You want to kiss her, you want to touch her booty—”

“But don’t. Shea Adler has tried to kill men for less,” Aiden warns, and I look at him wide-eyed.

“What the hell? Don’t bring him into this!” I yell, and it’s for one simple reason. Shea Adler. I don’t think I need to explain myself on that one. The dude is terrifying. Just like Posey. “None of this matters. I don’t like her. Nor do I want to kiss her. I just want her to tell me I did good.”

I’m a fantastic liar.

Or so I thought.

“Because you like her. You want her to stroke you,” Wes sings. He even adds a little body roll and chest rubbing.

He’s an idiot.

Aiden and Willy are laughing at the annoyance on my face, and I want to kick all their asses. But my mom says I can’t do that anymore. Apparently it’s a part of that adult gig. Not sure I’m made for it. Wes stops suddenly, and I glance over at him with my fork to my lips to hear him call out, “Hey, Coach. Wanna eat with us?”

I look up just as Posey stops at our table. A small smile pulls at her lips as she moves her hair off her shoulders. She’s still dressed from the game…and looking mighty delicious in this soft lighting. She looks down at our nearly empty plates and then shakes her head. “Y’all are almost done, and it’s late. You need to go home and go to bed.”

“You’re out,” Aiden teases, leaning back in his chair. “You can’t make us go home.”

She grins. “I had meetings after the game to talk about y’all. I deserve carbs and wine.”

Aiden nods. “Still no carbs at home?”

No carbs? Why can’t she have carbs?

She scoffs, her hair bouncing along her shoulders as she shakes her head. “No, and I’m still convinced that’s why Shelli moved out.”

She leans on the table, and I notice her nails aren’t done. I don’t think she likes being done up. She’d rather be in sweats. I’d rather see her naked.

“For sure ain’t for your stanky ass.” The way she says stanky is really sexy. It’s all drawn out, and she’s absolutely adorable. A fit of laughter moves through us, and how she smiles when she finds something funny is gorgeous. Her whole face lights up. Her eyes sparkle, and her jaw is taut from how hard she is smiling. Fuck, she’s lovely. “Seriously, though, don’t stay out late. We have morning skate.”

Willy salutes her. “Yes, ma’am.”

She rolls her eyes. “Proud of y’all. Real good goals on the power play, Brooks and Mac.”

I’m really not trying to be dramatic or even assume the worst, but I have a feeling this chick doesn’t like me. I scored tonight, yet she makes sure not to mention anything about me. What in the hell? I’m a fucking pleasure to be around. I’m talented, and I’m damn good-looking. I’ve been told I have the jaw of a Greek god. No, you can’t see it right now because of my stubble, but I’m still fun to look at. As she turns, she slides her eyes along me, and I feel as if she scorches my body. I don’t know what the hell is going on, but I’m getting really annoyed.

I watch as she heads to the bar, sitting down and crossing those thick legs of hers. The small sliver of skin from before is now a nice expanse of milky white thigh and almost a little ass. She even has freckles along her legs and dimples. I’m turned on by cellulite. Some men may be disgusted, but I want to lick those dimples. Her. I want to lick her.

When I feel Aiden’s and Wes’s gazes, I look between the both of them. “She hates me.”

Aiden groans, and Wes rolls his eyes. “She does not,” Aiden says before taking a forkful of pasta. “She doesn’t hate anyone. She’s easygoing,” he says with his mouth full.

“And if she did hate you, who cares? She doesn’t sign your paycheck. She just coaches us. Why does this matter?” Wes asks, and then he sets me with a knowing look. “Maybe because you like her?” He waggles his brows at me.

“You don’t have to deny it. We’re all friends here.”

I glare at Willy. “I don’t. Tell me you guys don’t get the vibe she doesn’t like me!”

Willy throws down a twenty to cover his drinks and tip and then gets up. “I’m done here. I will not listen to Hoenesy complain about Coach all night. Not when I got a sweet, sexy lady waiting for me at home.”

Aiden throws down some money before swallowing the last of his glass of wine. “Shelli just texted. She wants me home, which means I’m out. I don’t mind the complaining. I think it’s cute,” he teases, and the jackass laughs as he heads out.