Quarterback’s Surprise Baby(8)

“He can get in line,” I joke. I pick up the fresh gin and tonic that is just placed in front of me. “But seriously. You ladies are never going to believe that I just work for him, are you?”

“We prefer to keep life interesting. As you can see,” Nanette says as her eyes twinkle. “But sure, just a client,” she singsongs. “Just the sexiest client ever.”

Happily for me, we’re interrupted by the excitement of the crowd, and considering I don't know too much about football, I'm pretty lost. Luckily the two players' wives are easily following every play despite only half paying attention, and they’re kind enough to keep me informed as to the play-by-play. Apparently Griff is the absolute star player in this franchise, and it would be more than obvious even if they didn't say so—his every move is lauded, filmed and replayed over and over, more than anyone else’s. What's worse is that his stats are continuously being displayed, giving me the perfect opportunity to check out the perfect still shots of his body and his gorgeous face, which in turn reminds me of the nasty things we did to each other in his oh-so-comfortable bed.

I begin to think by the way that they're speaking so admiringly about Griff that perhaps I gave him too hard a time.

“So, uh, you guys know so much about Gryphon, do you know anything about any ex-girlfriends of his?”

They both look at each other.

“Sabrina? Bitch!” they say at the same time. “Total bitch,” Nanette continues. “She was the worst. Total worst. All she cares about is money.” She takes a sip of her drink.

“For sure, and she was always trying to take advantage of Griff in every possible way.” Ayesha shakes her head and puts down her glass, leaning forward.

“Remember that time that she went out on the town and took his credit card, and racked up all those charges?” Nanette’s voice drips with disdain.

“And then Griff actually paid?” Ayesha shakes her head. “He should have taken her to court, not the other way around.” She eyes me. “Wait a second…Sabrina’s accusation isn’t why you're working for him, is it?”

“Well as I said, I can't really say anything about an ongoing case, but...” I trail off. “It's just helpful to know something about a person’s character. Hear what people say about him. You never know when you might need a character witness,” I finish lamely. “I’m still in an information-gathering stage.”

Nanette nods. “Well I don't know if I would date the guy, but it's not because he's some kind of monster. It's more that he is absolute eye-candy and every woman in town would be after him. And is after him.” She nods to herself.

“Well you can't exactly blame them. I don't know how you're resisting, Odell, but I can imagine if I were the lawyer the briefs would be out of control!” Ayesha and Nanette laugh while I blush again.

“So you guys think he's a good guy?” I cautiously venture.

“I dunno if I would have him take care of my sick grandmother or anything, but yeah, he's a good guy,” says Nanette thoughtfully. “He was really good to Sabrina. I think when he really likes someone, he’s pretty devoted.”

“Why wouldn’t you ask him to look after your grandma?” asks Ayesha.

“He's just kind of a lone wolf,” Nannette says. “He's more bad boy than family man. But you know, in a fun way. Besides, he’s too important for that.”

“Interesting,” I say. Maybe I was too hard on him. Maybe I shouldn't have assumed the worst of him when he showed up at the firm, and when he pinched my ass and winked. He could have just been flirting. We do come from different worlds. He might have been just as surprised as I was. Maybe it's the gin and tonics, but I'm starting to think that I shouldn't have been so rude in the meeting. Dammit, Carlton was right. But I was nervous. It was my first day, for crying out loud!

“Hey, do you want to come out with us afterward?” says Ayesha. “We're all going to a bar for a drink, us and some of the players. Would that be against the lawyer-client confidentiality thing?”

“Oh that's so nice of you,” I say just as the crowd roars. I guess there was another touchdown? “I'll think about it. As I said, I'm his lawyer, and I don't want to impose on Gryphon's good time. But I’ll talk to him after the game and probably just go home for the night.”

“Sure, we get it.”

“You would be our guest,” grins Nanette. “If that makes any difference to you. Our treat!”

“And if we know Gryphon James, he is not going to mind one bit seeing his hot-ass lawyer sitting across the table!” They laugh like sisters, and for a second, I feel like one of them. A player’s wife. What would that be like?

Still, Sandra’s voice is still in my head, with her constant refrain: “hold out for a lawyer.”





7





Gryphon



“Amazing game, Griff,” says the running back as he pats my ass on the way by. I can never seem to remember what that guy’s name is.

“Yeah, he ain't fixin’ to get fired yet!” yells Drake. He's defense. “Man wants to keep his job!”

I laugh, but inside, I know I just might get sacked if I don't win this ridiculous lawsuit. “You guys aren't so bad either,” I toss out gamely. “I’ll let you stay for another season.”

I gotta keep a good face on especially considering how badly I fucked up in that meeting this morning. It occurs to me that you should find out if a woman is practically in charge of your destiny before you fuck her, or fuck with her, not after. But I don’t know if I could have resisted her body in either case. And I can’t change anything now.

Her sweet round ass, and those doe eyes. There's not much that will get me hotter than a woman who looks like that, and if I’m honest, she might be the best-looking woman I’ve seen in a long time.

I get in the shower, turning inward toward the spray because my cock is getting a bit hard at the thought of her. Think of baseball, I tell myself. I turn the taps to cold to keep myself and my cock under control.

The water feels great against my steaming body, running down the back of my neck onto my back, my pecs, my thighs. This is one of my favorite parts of the game, just relishing the feeling after a good game—the feeling of pushing myself to the limit, working up a sweat, winning, and washing it all off. But today I can’t forget everything— there's still something nagging at me, and it's the thought of Odell.

Truth be told, it’s the way she held me and touched me, and how I felt toward her. It was hot, yeah, but it was also something else. Like there was real potential there. We were banging for fun and because we were attracted to each other, and I would do her again any day of the week—no problem—but there was also that feeling that it could grow into something real. If only I were someone and not just trailer trash. A high-priced stuck-up lawyer, and already a partner in a firm even at her clearly young age, and I'm just a guy from the wrong side of the tracks who got lucky and learned to throw a ball.

Feelings or no feelings, it would never work between us.

I suppose it's better just to wash my hands of the whole thing. Show up for the meetings, force myself to act professionally, and get the fuck out of there. I probably should stay away from her anyway. It’s the right thing to do.

I grab a couple towels and, still dripping, walk back to my locker. All around me the team is celebrating, going wild, dancing and cheering our victory. I'd get into it, considering I'm more than responsible for the win—but I can’t get into the idea of partying tonight. My emotions are too turbulent, and I can’t get away from them. I wipe my face hard with the rough towel.

Then I open my eyes, and who's standing in the doorway, jaw on the floor, but Odell. My lawyer.

And more importantly, my beautiful one-night stand.

“Did you get a good look, honey?” I ask, as I lazily wrap the towel around my waist to cover my naked length.

“I'm so sorry,” she chokes. “Uh, I don't know what to say!” She puts her fingers in front of her eyes, but immediately spreads them so that she can half see me. “Actually I was coming here—”

“To sneak a few peeks, yeah, I get it,” I say. I'm starting to enjoy her reaction. Gives me a little payback for the way she treated me today. A grin stretches across my face.

“No!” she says, and her eyes shut tight. “Not at all! In fact I was coming here to… to apologize!”

“Apologize,” I repeat. “For what?” This should be good. “For staring a little too hard? Because you might want to add that to the list.”

“Apologize for not treating you right today.” I look at her a little more closely, her glowing skin, her flashing dark eyes. Those full lips. Good thing my towel is wrapped tight, because all I can think about is grabbing her and putting her up against the locker and taking her in my arms, and I’m already practically naked.

“Hey, that's ok,” I say. “Don’t worry about it.”

“No, actually—it really wasn't ok.” She looks around at the team, whooping it up in the club house. “Is it all right if I come in? I don’t want to intrude.” She pointed averts her eyes away from my body, staring at the row of lockers.