Hard & Deep: A Football Romance

She glared at him and he winked. She knew the cavalier attitude was simply a cover, but that didn't mean she had to like it.

“Besides, when we're done, all of your things will be moved to my place,” Mr. Hayes whispered in her ear as they approached a heavy wooden door. “I can't wait for you to be with me every night.”

Tracy couldn't help the warmth that seeped through her at the thought of being with him always. The relationship was moving quickly, but it didn't frighten her. She was excited to be moving into Mr. Hayes' mansion.

The heavy wooden door opened to reveal a masculine lounge. Heavy wood and velvet furniture filled the space, and the lights were low and dim. A jazz quartet played softly in the corner. It smelled of money and success.

Mr. Hayes walked confidently in and toward the back of the lounge. Tracy followed, doing her best not to look nervous. She hadn't seen John Tice since the charity ball a

nd she wasn't exactly sure what was going to happen.

“Paul,” Mr Tice greeted him, standing up from his table in the back. “And of course, Tracy.”

Tracy smiled politely, noticing that Mr. Tice didn't offer her a handshake. He was an older man with a lean frame. His graying hair was parted smartly on the side and combed over his head in an attempt to make it look fuller, but the only thing it accomplished was to accent his age.

Tracy shifted her weight uncomfortably under his gaze. Something about his pale blue eyes made her uneasy. It didn't help that when she looked at him, he met her eyes. The blinding white flash that told her there was a link hit her like a freight train. She stumbled more than sat in her chair.

“It's a pleasure to see you, John,” Mr. Hayes replied, taking the seat next to the older man. “I'm so glad that we've been able to move past our most recent unpleasantness.”

The older man scowled but attempted to transform it into a smile. As much as Mr. Hayes was over the incident with Jenna, John Tice most certainly was not. Tracy sat on the edge of her plush seat and picked up a menu. She needed a drink to get through this. Her head was starting to ache from the sudden connection. She'd never had one hurt like this before, but then, she was still fairly new to her powers.

“I'm glad you agreed to meet me,” John said. “I wanted to discuss the situation with my daughter.”

Mr. Hayes eyes darkened. Maybe he wasn't as over it as he seemed.

“What exactly do you mean?” Mr. Hayes asked.

“I'd like your men off her security detail,” John replied. “You have my word that she'll never bother you again.”

“I can't do that,” Mr. Hayes answered, crossing his arms. “The deal was and still is non-negotiable.”

John's cheeks flushed. “You have no right to keep tabs on her after what you did.”

“After what I did?” Mr. Hayes' voice grew louder before he could contain himself. He glanced around the room, making sure no one was looking at them. “I'm not the one who attempted to murder someone.”

“She was only doing what she felt she had to,” John insisted. Tracy would have snorted if her head didn't feel like it was going to explode.

“Had to?” Mr. Hayes scoffed. The beginnings of anger flashed in his eyes. “How is poisoning someone anywhere close to justified?”

“After what you did to her?” John sneered. His pale eyes were more ice than living creature.

“I didn't do a damn thing to her,” Mr. Hayes retorted.

“Raping her? Forcing her to do those sexually deviant things with your so-called girlfriend?” John looked over at Tracy and shook his head in disgust. “That girl adored you, Paul. She would have done anything for you. And you did that.”

“What?” Paul stood up, knocking his chair back in the process. “That is a bald faced lie, John. If that's what she told you, then you need to have a little chat with your daughter. She pushed for what happened that night as a full-grown woman. She knew exactly what she was doing.”

“How dare you, Paul?” John Tice growled. The man's face was a mask of rage. “I asked you here to give you the benefit of the doubt. I thought I could talk to you like a man, but now I see you're nothing more than a spoiled rich boy.”

Mr. Hayes face was a mask of fury. Tracy was afraid that he might actually hit the other man.

“Mr. Tice, I'm afraid this isn't going to work out,” she said, standing despite the way it made her head wobble. She took Mr. Hayes' arm. “Jenna walked us into her apartment that night knowing full well what her actions were. If she has told you anything different, then she's just trying to keep her father happy.”

“You whore,” John spat at her.

If her head didn't feel like it was on fire, she would have hit him.

“Better a whore than a murderer,” she hissed. “But then, your daughter is both, so it might be difficult for you to understand.”