ROMANCE: SPORTS ROMANCE: Bad Boys of Sports: A Complete Collection (Alpha Male, Football, Hockey Secret Baby Romance) (Contemporary Sports Romance) (14 page)

CHAPTER 7

Bruce held her hand as he walked her home, and Angelica was grateful for it. She couldn’t believe how sideways the date had gone, and that she’d actually had a drink thrown in her face. Her face felt sticky and gross, and she couldn’t wait to take a shower and wash the entire night away.

As they walked, neither Bruce nor Angelica talked; both embarrassed for one reason or another. When they finally reached her front door, Bruce walked her up to it and pulled her into his arms.

“Despite the night’s events, I had a good time tonight. You know, before your bodyguard and his bitchy date showed up.”

Angelica giggled and tossed her curls over her shoulder. “That’s sweet of you to say, even after everything. You know, Chris is a cool guy… usually.  I don’t know what’s gotten into him lately.”

Bruce wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her in close. “He’s just got it bad for you,” he said, his voice dripping with false sincerity. “I can’t say I blame him.  Like I said, you’re one hot, badass babe.”

Angelica let her hands travel up Bruce’s arms, taking the liberty to feel how hard his muscles were. “He’s like my brother… But you can keep going about my hotness.” She said coyly.

Bruce smirked, and pulled her even closer. “Yes, ma’am.  Let me show you just how hot I think you are.” He leaned down, his eyes closing as his lips gently molded over hers. Angelica leaned heavily into the kiss, happy to finally enjoy it after so many years of wondering what it was like. The one they shared two days before didn’t really count since it was interrupted. But this – this was nice, slow, and sexy.

Angelica blew out a sigh of passion as Bruce pulled away. He smiled at her as he watched her eyes go in and out of focus, dizzy from the kiss.

He gave her a sensual smile. “So, why don’t we try to turn this evening around and go upstairs?”

The thought turned temptingly over in Angelica’s head. Her body was aching to say yes, but she thought of what Chris had said about guys just wanting her for her body. Maybe he was on to something. She wanted Bruce badly, but the thought of possibly being left in the dust after one night made her cringe. Chris was right; she needed to get to know Bruce better before making that decision.

“Not tonight,” she said softly, running her fingers through his hair. “I need a shower and I just really want to go to bed. I’m sorry.”

Bruce looked disappointed, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he just nodded his head and gave her another kiss. “Not a problem,” he assured her, stepping down from the stoop. “If you want to wait, I can wait.”

Angelica felt a twinge in her heart as she watched him walk away. Despite the night, he’d been a gentleman at the door, and it meant a lot to her. She smiled softly at his disappearing back, happy she that the night at least ended well.

CHAPTER 8

“Come on Angie,” Nikki pleaded, “just forgive him already. The guy won’t stop blowing up my phone!”

It was Sunday, and Angelica still had not forgiven Chris for his Friday night blunder. As a way to relieve some stress, they had decided to take a girl’s day and get pedicures. Nikki had been bothering Angelica to forgive Chris ever since the morning before, but she had been double-bolting the door to keep him out of the house. Because of it, he wouldn’t stop texting or calling Nikki, in hopes that his sister could change Angelica’s mind. Finally, she had to turn the device off because it wouldn’t stop ringing, and she knew that she had to get Angelica to change her mind about no longer talking to Chris.

“I don’t want to,” Angelica sniffed, her nose in the air. “He completely humiliated me. And his bimbo of a date – I still can’t believe she did that!”

Nikki softened, and nodded her head. “Yeah. She sounds like a crazy bitch. Don’t worry, though; I already chewed his ass out for that.  He’s always going on about how we need to date quality people, but he doesn’t walk the talk.”

“What a hypocrite,” Angelica retorted.

Nikki rolled her eyes. “Yes, okay, you’re right. The entirety of him showing up to sabotage your date is shitty. But let’s look on the bright side of things, shall we?”

“What bright side?” Angelica asked. She pushed the button for the back massage of the chair and sighed in relief as the built in machine began to knead her sore muscles. “Ahh, this is amazing.”

Nikki turned hers on and smiled in understanding as she felt the knots in her back begin to release.

“Well for starters, Bruce still kissed you, despite everything that happened.”

“True.”

“You got to have a drink with the legendary football player.”

“That’s true too.”

“And, if it weren’t for Chris laying down his cash, you would have had to embarrassingly pay for his drinks. So you were saved by his gentlemanly manners.”

Angelica sighed. “Also true. Okay, so yes, it wasn’t all bad. Having Chris pick up the tab was really nice of him, even though his date didn’t appreciate it.”

“That sounds like a strike against Bruce, though, not Chris,” Nikki pointed out.

Angelica focused on the feeling of her feet being massaged by the woman who was about to paint them, wishing she didn’t have such a mess on her plate. Bruce was not matching up to what she thought he would be, but still.  The feel of those juicy lips on hers…  The thought of it made her want to melt to the floor right then and there.

He had invited her to come to his house later that evening to watch a movie.  Her imagination threatened to run wild about what could go on in the privacy of his room, but she forced herself to come back to reality.  If knew that if she overthought it, she’d be a nervous wreck.

“Fine, I’ll forgive Chris,” Angelica decided. “But, I’m not calling him until tomorrow, and he has to be at my beck and call anytime I need him until I’m over the mess he created.”

Nikki shrugged her shoulders, turning her phone back on to deliver the news. “Sounds fair to me,” she replied.

~

Bruce’s kisses felt good going down her neck. So good in fact, that Angelica almost missed that he had unsnapped her bra. Her head spinning, she sat up and pushed at his chiseled chest.

“Slow down,” she whispered.

Bruce smiled at her sexily, making her regret her need to take things at a slower pace.

“I’m sorry,” he apologized, his mouth going to her neck again. “You just taste so good; I didn’t want to stop.”

Angelica moaned in ecstasy as his tongue lapped over the sensitive area of her collarbone, making her shiver. So many parts of her wanted him, to give him everything he wanted. Her brain wouldn’t shut up, though, and was making it hard for her to concentrate on just the pleasure of his touch. She pushed at his chest again, this time sitting up and then eventually getting to her feet.

“I should go,” she told him, reaching under her shirt to hook her bra back in place.

“What? Why?” Bruce asked. “I thought we were having a good time?”

“We were. I mean we are but, well… I want to get to know you better,” Angelica explained. “I still don’t know very much about you.”

Bruce bit his lower lip, his gaze sliding seductively over her figure. “Well, for starters, I really like the way you look. You have a very sexy librarian thing going on here,” he told her, threading his fingers through her belt loops. He kissed her lips again, and the tip of her nose.

“Except maybe, I might change your glasses. They’re a little too authentic.”

“Authentic?” Angelica asked, confused.

Bruce nodded his head. “Yeah. I mean they look like you actually need to use them. Most girls buy the kind that doesn't have lenses in them.”

“But I do need to use them,” Angelica explained, trying to ignore the flare of annoyance she was feeling. “I have to wait to pick up my new contacts until tomorrow.”

Bruce raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Oh? Okay, well not a big deal. I can still work with that.  I know you smart types like to get freaky in bed, right?  The glasses can definitely stay then.” He leaned forward to kiss her again, but this time, Angelica stepped out of reached and pulled his hands away from her hips.

“I really do need to go,” she insisted. “I have a gossip date with my roommate. You know, girl stuff.” She began walking towards the door, suddenly not wanting to be touched.

“I’ll call you tomorrow,” Bruce called, not bothering to walk her out.

On the street, Angie reached both hands up into her hair and shook out her curls as she let out a big breath. She wasn’t sure what she was feeling, but she was positive that it was something to blame on Chris.

CHAPTER 9

Chris looked anxiously around the campus food court, watching for Angelica’s sun bleached bouncy curls. They were supposed to be meeting for breakfast in ten minutes. Because he was so nervous, he’d gotten there twenty minutes early and filled a table with every breakfast food that he knew Angelica liked. He also went ahead and got her coffee, orange juice, and a glass of water. He’d also gotten himself a cup of coffee, but he had yet to touch it. His stomach was in knots; worried that she wouldn’t show. He really had made an ass out of himself Friday night, and he had no excuse for his behavior whatsoever. He was ready to beg for forgiveness if he had to.

True to her word, Angelica walked into the cafeteria at eight o’ clock sharp. She was wearing a heather gray maxi skirt and a simple white tank top. The colors made her naturally tanned skin glow healthily. He watched from his seat as guys turned their heads to catch a glance at her, and she didn’t even notice.  She never did.

She had spotted him right away and was coming right at him, her eyes only on him. Chris stood up and opened his arms, suddenly needing more than anything to hug her.

“Hi Ang,” Chris greeted, a little too emotionally. Relief spread through him as he felt her much smaller arms wrap around his waist and hug him back. He wasn’t sure if she would even let him hug her or not.

“I’m so, so sorry for being such an ass,” he whispered, giving her a final squeeze before letting go. He pulled out her chair for her and Angelica smiled at him as she took a seat and looked down at the spread.

“Boy you went all out didn’t you?” She asked, picking up the coffee to take a sip. She looked up at him surprised. “How do you know how I take my coffee?”

Chris shrugged, finally able to enjoy his own coffee. “I know a lot of things about you, Angie.”

“Oh God,” Angelica laughed, resting her chin in her hand. “We have known each other for a long time, haven’t we?” She picked up a blueberry bagel spread with cream cheese and took a bite.

Chris nodded his head and picked up the egg, sausage, and cheese on English muffin, knowing that she’d pick the bagel. “We have, which is why I was so worried when you shut me out. We’ve always been at each other’s throats for one reason or another, but we always kissed and made up. When you wouldn’t answer my calls the other day, it scared me, Angie.”

“I noticed,” Angelica replied, matching his serious tone. “You wouldn’t stop blowing up Nikki’s phone after I turned mine off and locked the door. But you understand why I did it don’t you? How you behaved, how you let your date treat me, I-”

“I had no idea how jealous she was, Angie, I promise you.” Chris interrupted. “She seemed really cool at first, but as soon as she saw you she went crazy. It was like she thought you were trying to steal me from her or something.”

Angelica couldn’t help but laugh. “Of course.  You know she had a right to be jealous, though.”

Chris’s eyebrows went in up surprise. “Oh yeah?” He asked, chuckling. “Why’s that?”

“Because Nikki and I will always be the steady women in your lives. Relationships will come and go, but we’re your family.”

A soft smile spread across Chris’s face. “So you forgive me then?” He asked.

Angelica shrugged and smiled at him. “How can I not? It’s hard work to stay mad at you. However, don’t think I’m letting you off that easily. I am going to make you pay.” Her grin turned mischievous as she stared at him over her coffee cup.

“Oh boy,” Chris groaned, knowing he was about to be used like a pack horse.

“Oh yeah,” Angelica answered, nodding her head. “You’re going help me with my final research project, and you owe me a dinner and a drink.”

“Done.  It’s a date then.”

She paused, her smile slowly fading.

“Also, I need you to back off from Bruce. I think that there may be something there between us. I really think that he and I have a shot at something serious.”

Chris felt a stab in his heart as she told him these things and made her request. His entire body rejected the idea, but if he wanted to stay in her life, he would have to play by her rules. Solemnly he nodded his head.

“I understand,” he told her. “But I just need to say this. When he breaks your heart – and he will – I want you to know that I’ll be right here.  You can always lean on me.”

~

Angelica thought about Chris’s warning as she headed to her first class. She wanted him to be wrong, but she had to admit, something deep down told her that he may be right. He was an alpha male, fiercely protective of his family, which included her, but he wasn’t a liar. Still, she knew that she had to find out for herself what Bruce’s true intentions were.

Before she knew it, Angelica reached her class and pushed all thoughts of boys out of her brain. Her mind was starved for more knowledge, and she was happy to be stepping into the academia once again to get her fill. This is the world she cared about, the world she wanted. And if boys didn’t fit into that equation, then she would just have to be fine with that. From behind her, Nikki linked her arm in hers, and together they walked up to their seats.