Hard & Deep: A Football Romance

He wasn't sure how he'd ever repay her. He'd been sending messages to the team manager, asking if there was a PT opening for the team. Oliver really wanted to get Elsie a job. She was made for sports medicine and her talents were being wasted here. The manager continued to say that there might be an opening, but they wouldn't know for sure until the beginning of the next season, or at least pre-season training.

Realistically, it was a long shot that something like that would pan out, but Ollie kept his fingers crossed. If Elsie had a job working for his team, not only would she make three times as much money, but he'd also get to see her every day.

Once the coffee had brewed, Ollie filled his mug and then walked across the house. He stepped into the makeshift gym, which he'd unofficially named “The Torture Chamber.” After three months of relentless training, the new equipment was now very broken in. The mats on the floor were worn and the padding on the machines were indented. It was the sign of a lot of hard work.

I guess I'll need to figure out what to do with all of this stuff, he thought. There's no way I'm packing all of it up and taking it back to California.

He'd hardly finished the thought before someone came knocking on his door. His eyes lit up out of reaction. The only person who ever came to his place was Elsie. He thought it could be her, until he glanced at his watch. It was only nine in the morning and his final session wasn't until later that afternoon. Oliver spun around and went to the front of the house. From the living room window, he saw a car in the driveway that he didn't recognize.

That's odd, he thought.

He pulled the door open and did a double take when he saw who was standing there.

“Nikki?” he said, taking a step back.

She pushed her sunglasses to the top of her head and smiled wide. “Hi, Ollie.”

Nikki was wearing her business suit, which meant she had likely flown in on first class. She looked amazing, all curves and sultry lines. She looked incredibly sexy, just the way Nikki wanted.

“What ar

e you doing here?” he asked.

“I came to see you,” she replied, as though the answer should have been obvious. She pushed her hand playfully against his chest. “I told you a few weeks ago that I had bought tickets.”

Oh, my God, he thought. I didn't think she was actually serious.

“Nikki, I'm going to be going home soon,” he said, backing away from her touch. “Why would you fly all the way out here if you knew that I was coming back?”

“I just couldn't wait to see you.” Nikki walked up and gave Oliver a hug. He held his hands at his side, though, refusing to embrace her.

After a moment, she released him and then walked into the living room. She looked around, poking her head into each room. Oliver closed the front door, shaking his head. “Nikki, what are you doing?”

She slid back into the living room, shrugging innocently. “Just taking a look to see how you've been living for the past couple of months. Is it really this small? I don't know how you tolerated it all this time.”

“Is that really what you were looking for?” Oliver asked, as he walked toward the couch and sat down.

“I might have also been checking to see if your personal trainer was here,” she admitted, fiddling with a blond curl.

“No, she's not here, Nikki. Because I'm not having a session right now.”

“That's good.” She sat next to him on the couch, leaning her head onto his shoulder. “Speaking of your trainer, though, how is your recovery coming along?”

“I'm feeling great,” Oliver said, slowly scooting away from Nikki. It didn't do any good, though. She clung onto him like a magnet.

“Yeah?” she asked. “You're ready for spring training?”

“More or less,” he said. “I've got a session with Elsie today and she'll be able to tell me then whether or not I can start training right away.”

“You're starting right away regardless,” Nikki informed him. “It's not up to her any more.”

“What are you talking about, Nikki?” Oliver frowned.

“Coach wants you back,” she said, flipping her hair behind her. “He wants you back right now.”

“I can't go back right now,” Oliver said. His eyes narrowed. “And besides, is it Coach who wants me back or is it you?”

Nikki sat up and faced him. Her blue eyes were illuminated by the sunshine that poured into the living room. Ollie thought she looked pretty, but the way she was acting made her completely unattractive.