Page 14 of Playing It Forward

“Why not?”

“Ugh! I don’t have time to discuss this now. I have a mermaid ice sculpture to rescue, a seal to move, and five-hundred heart-shaped watermelons to make.”

He blinks. “I’m waiting for the punchline.”

“You can keep waiting. There isn’t one. Bridezilla number one is going to lose her mind if she finds out about the mermaid or seal. And she’s already teetering on the brink of insanity about heart-shaped ice cubes.”

“Your job is crazy.”

“I love my job, and I refuse to lose it.”

His brow wrinkles. “Refuse to lose it? Why would you lose your job?”

I guess we’re doing this now. Melting mermaids be damned!

“I can’t date you or hook up with you or be friends with benefits. Whatever the cool kids are calling it. I can’t do it.”

“Why not?” His eyes heat. “I thought you enjoyed our time together.”

I more than enjoyed it. Somehow Nolan brought me to orgasm faster than any man has before. And we were in a closet with our clothes mostly still on. How much pleasure can the man give if he has time and a bed?

Tingles travel from my stomach down to my core. What I wouldn’t do to find out? Nope. I shove those thoughts away. I can’t find out.

“I can’t lose my job.”

He frowns. “Explain.”

“Fine. Hudson has a strict policy. None of the staff at the resort are allowed to date any of the players on the Steel City Seals team.”

He scowls. “I’ll speak to Hudson.”

He starts to walk away. Is he going to speak to him now? I grasp his wrist to stop him.

“You can’t. I can’t lose my job. I have people depending on me.”

“What people? Are you married? Do you have kids?”

I roll my eyes. “Thanks for proving you know nothing about me.”

“Which is why I want to date you. To learn more about you. You fascinate me.”

I fascinate him? He’s a famous quarterback and plays for one of the best teams in the NFL. I’m nobody. A small-town girl who wasn’t enough for her mother to stick around for.

Pain lashes through me at the memory of my mom. Of finding her. Of realizing she was gone.

I place a hand on my stomach and inhale a deep breath to calm myself. I refuse to break down in front of Nolan Allen.

“Did you not hear me? Hudson doesn’t allow relationships between staff and guests.”

“And you can’t risk losing your job.”

I nod. “Exactly.”

He rubs a hand over his jaw. “I’m certain there’s a solution here. Hudson was probably trying to protect his staff from players like Tanner.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Tanner? He’s the player? Not you?”

“I am not a player,” he grumbles.