Hard & Deep: A Football Romance

The stranger sitting next to her gave her an odd look, but didn't say anything. Elsie took a deep breath in and tried her best to ignore Nikki and how she was making Ollie smile.

Chapter 20

Ollie

Oliver sat at the table across from Elsie. He adjusted his blue tie, loosening it a bit around his neck so that he didn't feel like he was choking. He wore suits for games and as part of his duties as a professional spokesman for the team, but he tried to avoid wearing a tie. Ties felt too formal and fancy for him.

But tonight was different. His girl was in town and he'd taken her to finest restaurant within fifty miles, a place called The Ruse. It was located on the beach, just a few hundred feet from the San Francisco Bay. Ollie had never been there, but when he asked his teammates where to take the most beautiful girl in the world to dinner, this was the place that they'd unanimously agreed on.

The interior was beautiful. From the tables, to the chairs, to the art work on the wall. Everything was crafted with perfection. He hoped the food would be just as good. Even if it wasn't, he'd still consider it to be a great night, though, because the girl of his dreams was there with him.

I'd probably be just as happy at a McDonald's right now. As long as she was with me, he thought, as he gazed across the table to his date. God, she looks beautiful. She always does, but tonight...wow.

Elsie had worn a tight fitting black dress. It hugged her body perfectly, accentuating her womanly curves in all the right places. He'd never seen her wearing anything like it before, but hoped that he'd get the chance to many more times in the future.

“You look beautiful,” Ollie said, unable to take his eyes off of her. “I know I've already told you that at least ten times since I picked you up from the hotel room. But seriously, Elsie. You look like a model.”

“You're too sweet, Ollie. I have to admit that I feel a little weird wearing this dress, though,” Elsie said, as she played with the pearl bracelet that hung loosely on her wrist. “But I'm flattered that you like it.”

“Please wear it every single time I see you,” he joked. “It's either that, or the green scrubs. You can choose.”

Elsie chuckled as she swirled the red wine in her glass. She may have been a country girl from a small farm town in the middle of nowhere, but she sure as hell knew how to look and act classy.

“Tell you what, I'll wear this dress every time you wear your suit,” she said, before taking a sip of her wine.

“I have to wear a suit for all my away games,” he replied. “You'll just have to come to all of them.”

She grinned. “Don't tempt me.”

A surge of hope filled him as he taking a sip of his whiskey and ginger ale. He didn't want to hope for things he couldn't have. He cleared his throat.

“Still, I still can't believe I'm sitting across the table from you right now,” he said with a smile. “Seeing you today at practice was honestly the best surprise I've ever had in my entire life.”

Elsie smiled, which of course made Oliver's heart melt like butter.

“To be honest, I wasn't sure how you were going to react when I showed up.” She shrugged, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “A part of me worried that you'd be mad.”

“Mad? Not a chance,” Oliver said, shaking his head. “I'd never be mad at you. The reason I thought it was best that we move forward, was because I didn't want to hurt you. I thought that if we started something more serious, then it would distract you from the life that you've built in Iowa. I didn't want that. But the fact that you flew all the way out here to see me says so much about you. I can't let you go again. Even if I have to fly out to Iowa every week, I will. I'll do whatever it takes.”

Oliver had never said anything like that to a woman before. He'd never felt that way about anyone. Not even Nikki. But he realized that Elsie was worth fighting for. She was worth sacrificing whatever he had to in order to be with her. For years, he'd been looking for his “why”. Why does he work so hard at his career? Why does he wake up every morning and give the day one hundred and ten percent? Why does he keep going, even when everything seems lost?

Maybe she's my reason, he thought. Maybe she's who I've been looking for my entire life, but didn't even realize it.

“I wouldn't expect you to fly out to Iowa every week,” Elsie said. “That would be insane. I'm not saying that a long distance relationship couldn't work, though. To be honest, I didn't come out here to etch anything in stone. I just needed to see you again. I don't know what the future holds, all I know is that I was pretty damn miserable without you around.”

“Me too,” Ollie said. He reached out across the table and took her hand. “I wish that you never had to go back.”

He paused after speaking.

The job, he thought. Oh my God, the physical therapist opening!

“Elsie, did you get my email from the other day?” he asked. “I'd sent you something important.”

Elsie shook her head, shaking the strand of hair out from behind her ear. “I've been a little busy and have a million emails to answer right now. Was it important?”

“This would be one worth reading,” he said, leaning toward her. “There's a job opening on the team. It's for a physical therapist. Full time, with benefits and a nice salary.”

Elsie nearly dropped her glass of wine from surprise. She set it to the side and Ollie watched as her eyes widened. “Are you serious? The Bandits are looking for a sports therapist?”