Wicked Game (20 page)

“And then what? You walked in on him and another student, didn’t you?”

She nodded against his chest. The tears became more than just a threat. “Another aide. She was twenty-two. He said I’d gotten too old and my mind wasn’t open to new experiences anymore. I was twenty-four, for fuck’s sake. I moved out and she moved in. I stayed the year and finished my contract at the school, then I went home. I never told my mother most of this. She just thinks I had my heart broken. She doesn’t know the details.”

“But you did have your heart broken, Cass. She probably knows more than you think.”

“I know. She’s eerie that way. She tried so hard to save me from making the same mistakes she did, and what did I do? Shack up with the first guy to give me a wink. Shit, and now here I am shacked up with you.”

“At least you know I’m not banging my student aide.”

“It’s not funny, Jaime.”

“I’m sorry, Cass, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. It’s not as if you waited all this time. You found a rebound guy and…”

“You can shut up now.”

“Aw, come on, Cass. Please tell me there’s been someone between me and professor douche bag. A cute guy at work, a lonely dad, a lonely mom, the janitor—somebody?”

She didn’t answer. What was she supposed to say? That she jumped the first guy she saw in the hall after leaving with her tail between her legs. Or one of the guys she grew up with stuck living at home just after she moved back in with her mother. No, thank you.

“Well, okay. That explains some things, I guess. I mean you are very eager to please me and…”

“If you ever want me to please you again, you will drop this topic. I swear, Jaime, just when I think there’s a human being hiding under that stupid jock exterior, you have to go and be a jerk again.”

“I wouldn’t mind exploring that pleasing option, if you are in the mood. Ouch. Cut it out, Pepper. I mean it or…”

“Or you’ll what, spank me? Ooh, Jaime, I’ve been a bad, bad girl and I need a spanking. Think you can catch me with your arm lashed to your body?” She squealed when he locked his left arm around her before she could make a break for it.

“Just because I am half injured doesn’t mean I can’t warm your bottom. When I’m done you’ll thank me like a good little girl.”

“Okay, that just sounds skeevy. And I’ve got to go pee.” She stifled a laugh when he rolled her onto her stomach. His eyes, though ringed with dark circles, burned with that fire that set her blood to bubbling like molten lava. “Are you going to lie there, or are you going to warm my bottom, Lord Ironman?”

“Pepper.” His voice turned husky, and it didn’t matter if he didn’t love her. “You make me crazy.”

She gasped when his hand connected with her flesh. “That feels so good, Jaime, do it again.” She lifted her rear into the air and wiggled it for him.

He laid his head on the small of her back; a strangled groan that sounded oddly like a wounded animal rumbled in his chest. “God, Pepper, you’re killing me.”

Chapter Twenty-One

On Wednesday, Jaime shanghaied Cass to drive him up to the practice field. Freshly released from total arm immobilization, he wore a sling and seemed more like himself than he had the day before, but he still wasn’t ready to drive.

About halfway there, Cass decided there was no reason why Jaime couldn’t have driven himself. He was drug-free, mostly pain-free, and full of pent-up energy. He talked all the way, telling her about the guys on the team and the coaches. By the time she followed him onto the field, her hand firmly clutched in his, she decided he’d done this on purpose. She’d never have come otherwise.

“Jay-man, look at you.” An overly large man ran past, slapping Jaime on the rear end. “Good to see you aren’t dead.” Another shouted out.

By the time they reached the fifty-yard line, a small group of men swarmed around them, curiosity about her held in check only by their relief to see him looking and acting like a man not on death’s doorstep. They traded banter and relived the night right down to the gory details of Jaime lying on the field before Jaime even seemed to remember he’d dragged her along.

“Hey, Jay-man, aren’t you going to introduce the babe?” Another overly large man loomed over her, smiling down at her with a row of gold teeth. “She’s sort of short. But I like ’em short.”

“And you’re overgrown. What did your mother feed you when you were a baby, Miracle Gro?” The words popped out of her mouth before Cass could think to rein in her tongue.

“Pepper, leave the overgrown wide receiver alone. He isn’t up to verbal warfare with you. Plus, you really are short.”

“I’m five seven, that’s hardly short. Just because you lot ate too many Wheaties as kids doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with me.”

“Guys this is my friend, Pepper. Pepper, the offensive line.”

“Offensive line, huh? Well, that certainly explains a lot.”

“Pepper!” His voice dropped an octave, and she knew it was time to shut up before she got hurt, but the biggest one—the one with the gold teeth—started laughing.

“Jay, man, leave her alone. I like her. She’s got balls. Hey, Pepper, I got your back, babe.” A whistle sounded across the field. He smiled a huge toothy grin, gave her a thumbs-up and ran across the field, the others trailing behind.

“Well, that went better than expected. At least they didn’t eat me,” she said to a round of laughter, this time from the offensive line coach, Marcus Wells.

“I knew I liked you. Pepper? It’s Pepper, right? Hey, Jaime, how are you doing? The doctor told me the arm is progressing nicely. Range of motion looks good, but right now, he wants you to keep it rested. And the ribs look good. Keep it up and I’ll put you back out there next Wednesday.” He caught Jaime’s free hand and pumped it while he talked nonstop.

“Going to do my best, coach.”

“I know you, Jay. You’re only following doctor’s orders because someone is making you. I’m sure it’s this lady here. Pepper, you have my sympathies for hooking up with a guy like him. Stubborn, mule-headed … well, you get my drift.” He grabbed her hand. His face split into a wide grin when she blushed. “Look at that. She just put Darnel Johnson in his place, and now she’s blushing. She’s a keeper, Jay.”

Jaime didn’t say anything to that. He just found her a shaded place to sit, got her a Coke, and went back to pace the sidelines as practice carried on without him. Most often, she found him talking animatedly with a guy about his same build.

“That’s my son, Caleb Thompson. He’s Jay’s backup QB.” A woman around her mother’s age joined her on the bleachers. “I’m Lucinda Thompson. We met briefly Sunday night.”

“I’m sorry. Sunday night is still sort of a blur. I’m Cassandra Pendleton.” Cass took her hand noting the curiosity in her eyes. “Everybody, well, everybody except Jaime calls me Cass.”

“And what does Jay call you, if not Cass?”

“Pepper. Don’t ask; it’s a long and confusing story.” She settled in to watch the practice, but Lucinda’s stare seemed to bore into her.

“Caleb tells me you’re the new woman in Jay’s life. Seems no one knew the old one was out of the picture. Last thing they heard he was going to marry … what was her name…?”

“Lisette. Yeah, Jaime told me about her. And well, let’s just say things didn’t work out. But I wouldn’t go right to saying I’m his new woman.”

“What are you, then, if you don’t mind me asking? I mean Sunday night the two of you looked like a couple even if it was from across the field, and of course, there was that picture splashed all over the internet. You looked pretty cozy in his arms.”

“Well, hey, Lucinda, you’re sort of putting me on the defensive here. I mean, you’re asking some pretty personal questions.”

“Well, honey, the guys have been talking, you know, wondering why he’s keeping you a secret. But looking at you, I can see that you’re not his usual type.”

“I’m not supermodel material, I got that. I’m not blonde, I got that too. And I’m not a bimbo, but you know, whatever Jaime and I are or aren’t isn’t anyone’s business but ours.”

“No need to get all huffy. I was just curious is all.” Lucinda swung one long tan leg over the other and bounced her sandal on her toe. “You seem to have a brain, and honestly, up close you are breathtaking, especially your eyes. I can see Jay getting confused in those fiery blue orbs of yours. So tell me honey, is he as hot in the sack as he is on the field?”

“Pepper, let’s go,” Jaime shouted from the field, interrupting the thoughts of mayhem that were currently populating Cass’s brain. She could feel her teeth grind together. It was all she could do not to smack the brazen hussy one in the mouth.

“Saved by the bellow.” Lucinda smiled, and before Cass could respond, she uncrossed her legs and rose to leave. “Until next time, hon.”

* * * *

“Pepper, sweetheart, would you mind slowing down a bit. You just blew through a red light.” Jaime gripped the seat with his one good hand, as she swung hard into a parking lot coming to a halt straddling two spaces. “Uh, Pepper, is something bothering you? Did one of the guys say something to you?”

“It wasn’t one of the guys, Jaime. It was a player’s mom.” She put the car in park and leaned against the steering wheel, agitation in her every move. “Is it always going to be like this?”

“Like what? What happened exactly, Pepper?”

“Stop calling me Pepper, dammit, Jamie. It’s not cute anymore.”

“Okay. Cass. What happened?”

“Are we in a relationship or not?”

“I don’t know, Cass. Do you want to be?”

“I don’t know. I don’t, Jaime. I really have no idea what I want, but when people ask, I don’t know what to tell them. I mean. Oh yeah sure. Jay Dalton and I are burning up the sheets. God, once he tied me up in New York City and did incredibly dirty things to me, but we’re just friends, you know. And I’m tired of my height and hair color being an issue. I haven’t heard anything about my weight yet, but I’m sure that’s next. I mean, Hell, I know I’m not a bobble-headed lollipop by a long shot. I’ve got hips and thighs and … and…”

“Cass, will you just slow down? You’re not making any sense. Who have you been talking to?”

“Everyone, but today it was your backup’s mom, Lucinda Thompson. She said her son Caleb says that the whole team wants to know what happened to your fiancée, and they are all so curious about me. She had the nerve to ask me what you’re like in bed. Damn it, Jaime. What do you want from me? Tell me, so I know what to do and say when I’m put in this position next time.”

“Wait, back up. You said a woman named Lucinda Thompson said her son Caleb is backup quarterback? For me? Are you sure?”

“Yeah, so? She pointed to the guy you were sort of coaching when she sat down.”

“Fuck. Cass, there isn’t a guy named Caleb Thompson on the team. That guy is Aaron Havers, and I know for a fact that his mom is in the Bahamas on a second honeymoon with Aaron’s dad.”

“So who the hell was that Lucinda woman?”

“That is a great question. I’ll see if I can find out when we get home. That is, if we get home in one piece.”

“Do you want to drive? You can drive if you have a problem with my driving.”

“I can’t drive a stick right now, baby. You know, doctor’s orders.” He wiggled the fingers of his right hand just to torment her.

“It’s a dual transmission, and right now it’s in automatic. You’re just being difficult.”

“Still, Pepper, the doctor said not to strain my shoulder. You don’t want to go against doctor’s orders, do you?”

“Fine, but unless shotgun is called on for directions, then shotgun keeps his cakehole shut. I’m getting a milk shake. Do you want a milk shake?”

Jaime noticed for the first time that they were sitting in a McDonald’s parking lot. “I could stand a chocolate one, if that’s all right.”

“Fine, two chocolate milk shakes. Anything else while we’re here?”

“A double quarter pounder and some fries, maybe?”

“Okay fine, but you’re paying.”

“Sure, you’ll let me buy you lunch, but you have fits if I try to buy you anything else. Since you’re in a receiving mood, Cass, why don’t we go to a jewelry store? You can pick out anything you want. You deserve something pretty after everything you’ve done for me.”

“I don’t want jewelry, Jaime. Damn, you just don’t get it, do you? I don’t want anything from you. I’m not interested in expensive gifts or…”

“Then what do you want, Cass? I mean, I want you to be happy. I will give you the world if you ask me for it. I’ll even tell the press you’re my girlfriend if it makes you happy. There, Cass. I said you’re my girlfriend. Can I buy you a necklace or some earrings or something to celebrate?”

“Is that what you want? Me to be your girlfriend? Then ask me. Don’t tell me.”

“Okay, Cassandra Pendleton, will you be my girlfriend?”

She sat there looking at him for a long moment, her eyes shimmering with what looked like tears, and then she put the car in gear, drove to the line, and ordered lunch.

Once they were back on the road, he asked her again if she wanted to be his lady.

“Jaime, the last thing I have ever wanted in my entire life was to be your girlfriend.”

Jaime wisely decided to eat his lunch and just let her drive for a while. Mulling over what was going on just kept leading him back to the land of the confused. So some woman, probably a reporter or blogger, asked Cass a bunch of leading questions under the guise of a common interest. He got that much. If the questions were so upsetting to Cass, then why didn’t she just tell the woman where to stick herself? She’d just mouthed off to a six-foot seven-inch giant of a man and lived to tell the tale. She had the balls to take on a nosy bitch.

“If I ask a question, will you take my head off?” He waited until she turned into their neighborhood, hoping she’d cooled down by then. She just looked at him with murder in her eyes. Obviously not, but that wasn’t going to stop him from asking. “Are we fighting? I mean I need to know if you’re just venting steam or if we’re actually fighting, because I can’t tell.”

“We’re always fighting. It’s what we do. It’s what we’ve done since kindergarten.”

“This feels different. This doesn’t feel like the petty arguing we do. This feels oddly … I don’t know … wrong.”