Page 28 of I Want to Know What Love Is

The damn truth is, without the purpose of tutoring between us, I feel vulnerable in his company. Like I haven’t felt with anyone in more than a year, or in forever, maybe since I was in junior high and scored my first kiss. Maybe that’s where I should go? Let him kiss me. If it’s anything like that first one all those years ago, the disappointment will extinguish any lust or interest or any other stupid, girly, vulnerable notions I’m feeling.

I turn around and there he is, towering over me, and it’s not often that happens since I’m usually the tall one in the room. And he’s wide. And close. I can feel the energy pouring off him. My survival instincts ring loud in my head, screaming at me to run. Fast.

My other instincts, let’s call them the reproductive needs, are screaming a whole other song. I dare to look up at him and somehow manage to not lean in because his gravitational pull is strong. But I’m stronger.

“Go. Just go.” I prompt him with a wave of my hand, hoping he’ll walk ahead of me, but no.

“How about if I walk you to your car. It’s late.”

“Not late enough,” I say, sticking to my defensive sass, keeping it wrapped around me like a protective shield. Which is ridiculous because what is he going to do to me? He’s not the kind of guy who attacks women. In fact, he’s probably the kind of guy who has women attacking him. I won’t be one of them.

He chuckles and we walk side by side in spite of my rebuff, in spite of my best intentions to avoid him and to not feel… good about being with him, almost comfortable.

“I know I don’t need to worry about you taking care of yourself. You’d make meatloaf out of any guy who tried to mess with you.”

“And don’t you forget it,” I say. My words sound the opposite of tough and I smile at him. My bravado slips a notch.

“Can’t do that. You’re a pretty unforgettable woman.”

And that causes an unnecessary rush of heat to storm through me. We get to the end of the hall, to the lobby of the field house. The place where we first met. I’m almost nostalgic about the memory, which is ridiculous since it was only a few days ago.

“Where are you parked?” he asks. I dart a look up at him.

“Never mind where I’m parked. Really. Go on home. It’s late and you need your rest. You’re still a growing boy.”

“Ouch. I shouldn’t let you get away with shots like that.” We push through the door into the cool September night and I breathe in the delicious pine scent, fresh and energizing, a far cry from New York City where I lived a month ago.

“I got it from here.” I back away and remember I’m a professional not a bitch. “But thank you.”

“See you at the game.”

“Not if I see you first.” I call the words over my shoulder and listen to the satisfying sound of his laugh follow me in the night. My lips curve and the sensation of a warm protective blanket falls around me until I reach my car in the staff lot not far away.

I get inside and the spell of his company breaks, leaving me cold and empty. The tinny feel of lonely, stale air surrounds me as I close the door and start the engine.

Damn. I should have let him walk me. I should have offered him a ride.

I should have let him kiss me with those sensual lips so I could feel that hot mouth on mine.

The next sound I hear is my groan of disgust and disappointment in equal measures. Disgusted at myself for being a tiny bit tempted and disappointed I missed out on the exact kind of experience I’m starved for. Maybe my self-imposed male starvation diet has finally driven me crazy for real.

Backing out of my spot, I glance in the rearview and stomp on the brakes. There he is, directly behind my car. My stomach lurches and I literally spin around in my seat to see if I’m hallucinating. But no, it’s him. I almost hit him.

And now he’s walking up to my door. I lower my window because again, I’m not a bitch, And I owe him an apology for almost running him down even if he was stalking me.

“Coach Lake, you ought to look where you’re going before you back up.” He’s grinning like he has me cornered and the way he leans down, resting his massive hard forearms on my door frame, I realize he does. Of course, I could lean away inside my car, but I don’t. Backing away from a challenge isn’t my style. I know, I know, my survival instincts are screeching, but they’re currently being overpowered by everything else in me, including curiosity.

“What the hell are you doing following me?”

“I’m flattered you think I followed you, but no. My car is parked a few spots down.” He nods in the direction of another car not far from mine in the nearly empty staff lot.

“This lot is for staff—”

“And a few select players,” he says, and his smile changes from lighthearted to something else as he mesmerizes me with those deep brown eyes.

I forget to act outraged though I should be. His scent and his heat and sensual energy surround me now and have me in a choke hold. Except I’m not choking, I’m welling up with desire and lusty need. Shit. This isn’t good. He has me turned on just by being near. I’d be a goner if he kissed me.

“Thank you for tonight. For the finance lesson and the company.” He leans closer. I don’t say anything, don’t breathe or blink. “You’re pretty special. There’s more than sass to you and I’m glad I found out.”