Only One Touch (Only One 4)

“Becca.” I hear my name and look over to see Ryder, one of the assistant coaches, coming over to me. He’s wearing a gray suit, and he kisses me on the cheek. “So nice of you to come.”

“Thank you,” I say, and then another waitress comes over with a tray full of eggnog and champagne. I grab a glass of champagne. “This is a nice spot.” I make conversation, and he smiles and looks down. I think he’s nervous, but I’m not sure.

“Hey.” I hear from beside me and turn to see Manning walking in. “You’re here,” he says, and I smile at him.

“I’m here.” I take a sip of my drink while he looks over at Ryder and nods. I look around the room to see if Nico is here. I see a couple of players that I represent. “I’m going to go say hi to Jake and Patrick,” I tell Manning. “Save me a seat beside you.”

I walk around people, smiling and then stop by Jake and kiss his cheek, and I do the same to Patrick. “Becca,” Patrick says, “you are looking beautiful as always.”

“Well, thank you,” I say. We talk about the holidays and how happy he is that his family is coming in from Canada. I’m in the middle of talking to him when I feel a hand on my back, and I turn to see Miller standing there. “Hello, you,” I say, and I turn to hug him. “You look nice.”

“Thank you,” he says, and I look over his shoulder for Layla. “Where is your better half?”

“I’m right here,” she says from beside him. “You look fabulous,” she says, looking at my outfit. “I love this skirt.” She then looks at Miller. “Where is my phone?”

“In my pocket,” he says, looking at her, “and you aren’t getting it until Monday.”

“Miller Adams, I will,” she says, and I laugh.

“I’m going to go get a fresh drink,” I say. “Do you want one?” I ask Layla, and she smiles and nods her head. I walk to the bar and place my empty glass down on the wooden bar.

“What can I get you?” the bartender asks.

“Whatever she has is on me,” Ryder says from beside me, and I laugh, and so does he. “It’s actually all on Nico.”

“Well, in that case,” I say, “I’ll have two glasses of wine.” Ryder just looks at me. “One is for Layla.”

He leans one hand on the bar. “Tell me, Becca, why haven’t we spent more time together?” I look at him and throw my head back and laugh.

“I’m going to go out on a limb and say because I don’t mix business with pleasure,” I say, trying not to tell him that the other reason that I won’t go out with him is because I have never thought of him in that way.

“How about we bend the rules for once?” he says, and then he leans in closer. “Take a chance, Becca,” he says.

“What’s going on over here?” I feel a hand on my back. This time my whole body lights up from his touch.

“I’m trying to convince Becca to bend the rules and let me take her out,” Ryder says, and I look over at Nico.

“Is that so?” he says.

“It is so,” I say as the bartender sets the two glasses of wine on the bar for me. “Thank you so much.” I step forward to grab the two glasses, and my back still feels the heat from where his hand was. “If you gentlemen will excuse me, Layla looks like she needs a drink.”

“Let me help you,” Nico says, grabbing a glass from me. “Lead the way.”

Chapter 18

Nico

Walking into the holiday party, I shake Manning’s hand and then Miller’s, who’s standing next to him. I do a sweep of the room and see her right away.

She’s standing at the bar with Ryder, who is leaning into her. I don’t even bother with the conversation going on in front of me. I walk over to her. I texted her last night, and she never got back to me. I don’t know why the fuck it bothered me, but it did. I checked my phone a ridiculous amount of times while I was at dinner, and to be honest, I have no idea what was even going on.

I was gone for four days without talking to her or seeing her, and the minute that I saw her, I missed her more than I cared to admit.

“What’s going on over here?” I put my hand on the base of her back. Her body has a slight shiver.

I look at Becca and then Ryder. “I’m trying to convince Becca to bend the rules and let me take her out.” Ryder smirks and then looks over at me. The only thing I can see in my head is me throat punching him.