Escape From Obsession (6 page)

“Listen, don’t waste your time with me. I’m not interested and definitely not in being CEO of any agency. I like what I do and that’s it.” The elevator doors opened and they exited to the garage.

The security guy was standing in the booth talking on the phone as she made her way to her sports car. There was also a black van parked there and it looked like the guys were working on the security cameras. They were a good distance from where she was parked.

“That’s a nice ride, Gia. Pretty fucking hot, just like you.” He stared at her as he clicked the button on his car. She heard the noise and looked to the right down the first row and a red Porsche lit up.

“You and I have a lot in common, Gia. Why don’t you join me for a drink? We can talk and get to know one another better.”

“Not interested,” she replied then opened her car door. He was next to her in a flash, holding on to her door as he whispered next to her ear. She couldn’t move or her legs would hit the metal of the doorframe.

“I like you, Gia. You interest me and I always get what I want. You’ll see.” He turned and walked to his car as she got into her own.

She couldn’t help the feeling of fear that gripped her insides. Kaleigh was right. Jeffrey was an asshole. She waited for his red sports car to exit the parking garage. He was a pompous jerk. How dare he corner her against her car door like that? The way he whispered in her ear and threatened her gave her the chills. She thought about telling someone and then she changed her mind. She didn’t want Teddy or even the girls to panic or worry. He was trying to see if he could intimidate her. She knew his type all too well. But ultimately, his move, his demeanor reminded her of Antonio. This was just another indication that men couldn’t be trusted. Keep them at a distance and she wouldn’t have to deal with shit like this. She started her car and exited the building, prepared to pick Dale up from school and help him study for his math test.

Men are dangerous. Men cause pain.

The high school band was playing an upbeat tune as the home team took the field with gusto and excitement. Wes was running alongside the players and his fellow coaches, loving the feeling he had at being here on the same field he once played on in high school. The crowd was huge, as opening day always was. All decked out in brown-and-orange jerseys, the fans wore the same colors in support of the Houston Bulls.

A quick glance toward the crowd behind where his players sat and he could see many a proud parent and lots of community support. This game would indicate the type of season the Bulls would have, and he was feeling pretty darn enthusiastic and confident.

The young group of men gathered around and began to warm up as their opponents, the Red Devils, did the same on the other end of the field. They were soon all called off the field as the principal of the school and head of the athletic department gave short speeches and welcomed the beginning of another great season of football. Wes glanced at Davie Myers, standing with crutches, his ankle sprained during a scrimmage yesterday. The boy was pissed off and spitting vinegar every chance he got. Wes couldn’t blame him for being upset and missing the field on opening day. But, the team medics said it was just a bad sprain and he should be able to play by next weekend’s Friday night game.

They all stood for the national anthem, showing respect for their country and the flag waving up high above the announcer’s box. As Wes scanned through the crowds, force of habit after a good number of years in the military, he caught sight of Dale Warner’s parents, Jim and Teddy along with their wife Deanna. She was holding baby Julia and rocking her. Then he saw Gia and nearly made a noise. She looked gorgeous as usual as the sunlight reflected off her chestnut, not totally brown hair. It cascaded down her shoulders over the V-neck orange T-shirt she wore along with a pair of slim-fitting jeans. She wore dark sunglasses and even from across the distance she stood out as stunning. His cock hardened in his jeans as he licked his lips and felt excited about seeing her. Damn, he never had such an instant attraction over a woman, particularly one he didn’t even know. The past week, he kept finding an excuse to go outside with the players, Dale especially, just to catch a glimpse of Gia. He had heard the young men talking about her to Dale and the poor kid finally admitted that she was his cousin. He found out that Gia was only twenty-four and worked in advertising in the city of Houston.

The music stopped and everyone cheered as the anthem ended and he was still saluting like a good soldier did. He looked at her, wishing she would look his way before he paid attention to the game instead of the lethal attraction in the stands.

She wasn’t stuck up or full of herself despite her natural beauty and that fancy sports car she drove. During the week after she apparently tutored half the football team at the Warners’ house and all the players did fantastic on their tests, she sent Dale’s father Teddy in with a platter of homemade cookies and brownies. As he ate a few and thought that perhaps Deanna made them, the players told Dale to thank his hot cousin for making them the cookies and helping them to get their best grades ever in math.

He smiled at the thought then focused on the game. If he had any good luck at all, Wes would see Gia after the game at Casper’s and she could celebrate the Bulls’ first victory.

* * * *

Gia loved football. She especially enjoyed this game and all the enthusiasm and community support for both teams. As she watched the Bulls defeat the Red Devils, she also had the opportunity to watch Wes. The man looked like a football player himself and she had learned from Dale and his teammates that their assistant head coach loved to work out in the gym. It just so happened to be right next door to where her dojo was. She smiled to herself. The boys all seemed so impressed with Wes. They had a lot of respect and adoration for him. She heard that he played ball at the high school and after graduation had a full scholarship to Texas Tech. He was part of a military education program and attended the military academy before serving several years in Iraq. He was offered a teaching job at the high school in technology and then the position as assistant head coach.

“This is so exciting. I can’t believe how well Dale is doing, too. Three interceptions and two touchdowns,” Deanna said as Julia began to cry. It wasn’t long before she had to move from the stands and go to the car to calm Julia and give her a bottle where it was quiet.

The final play of the game was quite exciting as Dale caught another interception then ran forty yards for another touchdown, entering the end zone as the game ended.

“That was fantastic. My God, I can’t believe how awesome Dale looks,” Teddy said to Jim.

“He’s been working so hard. It’s quite an achievement to be playing a starting position as a freshman,” Jim added.

“I thought he looked awesome. Do me a favor and tell him I said good job, okay?”

“Wait, aren’t you going to come with us to the celebration party?” Teddy asked as he adjusted his pants and the ankle holster he wore. Even though he and Jim were off duty, they still carried. But then again, so did a lot of people living in Texas.

“They planned a party? What if they lost?”

“Bite your tongue,” someone yelled to her and she glanced at the stranger and Jim and Teddy chuckled.

“Come on, Cuz, we’ll explain on the way over to the school,” Teddy told her and they headed down from the bleachers.

* * * *

Gia was a nervous wreck as she pulled her car into the parking lot at Casper’s. She knew damn well that both Garrett and Wes would be there. Most of the players and their parents joined the party sponsored by the McCallister family. She was pleasantly surprised to see an outdoor area behind Casper’s set up for all the players. She walked in with Teddy since Deanna and Jim took Julia home to rest. As they made their way through the crowd to get to Dale, she caught sight of Wes talking with Garrett. Both of them happened to turn and look at her and she paused where she was. Boy, were these men lethal. She couldn’t move, she could hardly breathe. All she could do was think about making a run for the door. But strong arms wrapped around her from behind and she gasped as two of the seniors she had helped study for their math exams carried her toward the other players.

Wes and Garrett looked pissed off until the boys set her down near Dale. They had parted the crowd so she could congratulate him.

“Thanks for the help with the math, Gia. My parents are so happy. I thought I might miss today’s opening game,” one told her and then the others added similar remarks and thank-yous. The coaches heard and gave her smiles and then Dale hugged her.

“You’re the best.”

“Like a big sister right? And cool, too?” she teased him.

“Big sister sounds cool,” he replied and she laughed.

“You were amazing out there. All of you were,” she told him and his friends.

“Will you be at all our games, Gia?” one of them asked. As the boys joked, making fun of him, she realized that he might have a bit of a crush on her.

“I’ll try to,” she said then they started joking around with one another as the waitresses brought platters of appetizers and sandwiches out to them. Gia stepped back and turned to look for Teddy, but instead was greeted by a hand on her waist and a tall, very appealing Wes McCallister.

“Do I get a congratulations, too, Gia?” he asked in a very flirtatious manner. She was a bit shell shocked feeling the warmth of his hand on her waist and the close proximity of his body to hers. Muscles, muscles, and more muscles, the way Wes had them, should be illegal. Gia’s cheeks warmed at his teasing, and surprisingly, she didn’t pull away from him. On the contrary, the scent of his cologne, the magnitude of his size and charisma seemed to wrap around her.

“Congratulations, Coach McCallister,” she said, tilting her head way back to look up at him. She realized he was way over six feet tall and with her only wearing a pair of white tennis shoes, she felt like a shrimp in comparison.

His eyes seemed to darken at her response and then he guided her toward the sidewall and out of the crowd of parents and kids.

“Coach McCallister? No way, darling. You call me Wes.”

He held her gaze and boy did this man pack a hell of a punch. She could hardly find her voice and every damn nerve ending in her body roared to absorb as much of him as she could, because her sensible pessimistic side was itching to make her run far, far away.

“That was a fantastic game, Wes.” She heard the deep voice and felt the even larger presence behind her. A quick turn and she nearly smacked into the tower of muscle wearing a navy-blue button-down shirt. Her eyes absorbed it all very quickly. Holster, gun, handcuffs, and a military stance and gold star on his shirt. Her eyes moved up his body to his shoulders and face and she gulped, stepping backward right into Wes, who placed his hands on her hips and his chest against her back.

If she could fan herself without making a scene she would. Her breath hitched and she forced herself to remain still instead of bolt for the nearest exit.
Holy shit.

She was greeted with a very serious, yet teasing expression as her eyes locked gazes on the gold star with the words
Texas Ranger
and then an absolutely fine-looking cowboy. He wasn’t traditional good-looking. No, uh uh, no way. In fact, he was not what she would call
gorgeous
, but he was a hard-looking man. He reeked of power, control, and authority and would still have those assets even without the badge.

“Hey, Gunny, thanks. This is Gia.” Wes introduced them and she said a quick hello then placed her hands on Wes’s to remove them from her waist. When she did, she felt the immediate loss of his hold and the warmth of his very large hands. She was far from average in her size and height. Petite was more like it and standing here between these two Goliaths made her body shake and her palms sweaty.

“The name is Gunner, but my friends and family call me Gunny, darling,” he said then offered his hand. She froze in place. She couldn’t touch his hand, shake his hand, or whatever. She just knew that she would feel an even greater attraction than she already did. She needed to vacate the area quickly.

“Hi, Gunner. Nice to meet you. If you’ll please excuse me, I need to find my cousin,” she began to say when she noticed Teddy with a concerned expression and then Garrett standing next to him. Both men approached and she avoided Teddy’s gaze.

“Hey, Gia, so nice to see you again. I didn’t know you were cousins with Teddy,” Garrett said as he approached and she immediately stepped away from the three McCallister brothers and closer to Teddy. Teddy seemed to understand her move as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and hugged her to him.

“You sure did a great job with the players, Gia. The coaches are very happy that all their starters could play today,” Garrett said as he appeared to sense her uneasiness.

She felt a lot more comfortable with Teddy so close, but the darn Texas Ranger looked at her as if he were examining her. He was older. Way older than her and probably the oldest of the three brothers. With the three brothers standing around her, the testosterone was threatening to kill her resolve.
My God, it should be illegal to have three brothers look so damn sexy.

“Well, I’m glad I could help. They’re a great bunch of young men. That was an exciting game to watch,” Gia added and Teddy released his hold.