Edge(34)

“Man, is it good to see you,” I said, pulling back and looking down at her. “How are things in Chicago?”

“Good. How’s the knee?”

“Aren’t the doctors keeping you updated?” Panic spread through my chest. Was I already considered a has been?

She waved a hand and scowled. “I don’t trust those damned doctors. I’d rather hear it from you.”

“The knee’s good, actually. I’m still ironing out my game after the long break.”

“Butch Price’s girl is the trainer here, isn’t she?”

I nodded and glanced over at Dell.

“I’ve heard she’s good. Wouldn’t mind talking to her sometime, actually. She’s prettier than I’d like a female trainer to be, but that’s not her fault.”

I cleared my throat. “Dell’s very professional.”

“It’s not her I’m worried about. It’s you damn animals who make every decision based on the direction your cocks are pointed.”

I grinned at her. I’d missed our colorful owner as much as my teammates. But her mention of talking to Dell about a spot with our team was unsettling. Dell made me feel things – guilt, jealousy and possessiveness – that I didn’t need to drag around on a full-time basis.

“Let’s go say hello to her,” Jean said. Like me, she carried a bottled beer. Jean held her own in a male-dominated field. I hoped she’d want me on her team long-term.

Dell saw us approaching and her eyes met mine. I couldn’t decipher her expression, but it wasn’t happy.

“Dell, this is Jean Naughton, my team owner,” I said. “Jean, Dell Price.”

“Pleasure, Miss Price,” Jean said, shaking her hand. “I hear very good things.”

“Thank you,” Dell said, looking taken aback.

“Hey, Landis,” I said with a half-nod. A flicker of aggravation passed over his face.

“Mrs. Naughton, Dr. Todd Landis,” he said. She shook his hand but kept her attention on Dell.

“Has my boy been behaving?” Jean asked.

Dell’s cheeks betrayed us both, flushing a rosy pink that was so sexy my cock stirred.

“He’s …” She took a sip of champagne. “Of course, Luke’s a perfect gentleman.”

Jean laughed lightly. “Loyal to the players. I like that. I know you’re full of shit, of course. Luke’s one of the boys whose signed a tit or two after games.” She turned to me. “Didn’t a woman get your autograph and have it tattooed on her cooch?”

I cringed. “It was somewhere in that area, I think, yeah.”

“Bet your dad would like to have you for his team,” Jean said to Dell.

“The subject has come up,” Dell said. “But I’m very happy where I am.”

Landis put a hand on Dell’s lower back and leaned in to her ear. “Can I get you a drink?”

“Maybe some more champagne,” she said.

“Coming right up.” He winked at her and I clutched the bottle in my hand, imagining how good it would feel to break the fucking thing over his head.

“What’s this about?” I asked when he was out of earshot and Jean was saying hello to someone next to us.

“What?” Dell gave me an innocent look.

“You and Landis.”

“He just needed someone to fill in at the last minute, so I said I would.”

I shook my head with disgust. “Likely story. He wants in your pants.”

“And what, no one should?” She gave me a pointed glare.

“Excuse me,” Jean said diplomatically, turning to leave. “Great to meet you, Dell.”

“Thanks for embarrassing me in front of her,” Dell hissed when she was gone.

“What should embarrass you is having that dipshit pawing you. Why would you come as his date?”

“I had nothing else going on.”

“The way you look – he probably thinks you want to go home with him after.” I hadn’t meant to sound scolding, but it came out that way.

“The way I …?” Dell’s face closed off angrily. “What do you mean, the way I look?”

I gestured at her. “A sexy dress, makeup, your hair all loose and wavy like that. And those heels. You might as well have fuck me written across your chest.”

She laughed bitterly. “You’ve got a lot of nerve, Luke. Right now I wish I had fuck you written across my chest.”

“What, because I think Landis is a prick?”

Landis slid in next to her and handed her a glass.

“I heard that,” he said. “Dell’s here with me tonight, so leave us alone.”

“You think it bothers me that you heard it? You’re a prick who’s just trying to get Dell into bed. I know your type, man.”