Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Butch
The pounding on the door matched the pounding in his head.
He opened his eyes slightly and shut them against the sun streaming in.
His stomach twisted and he waited to see if he needed to make a dash for the bathroom.
His stomach settled and he tried to find sleep again, anything was better than how he felt.
And it wasn’t just the hangover. She’d slammed the door in his face, not even letting him explain why he’d kissed her.
He didn’t know what he would have said, he didn’t know why he kissed her other than seeing her standing inches away from him, her eyes full of fire connected with something inside him, something he couldn’t put in words.
The pounding returned. Fuck. “Go away!” he croaked wincing as his own voice made his head fell like someone was pounding a bass drum in there.
A key twisted in the lock and the front door opened. Was that always this loud? He groaned and put his arm over his eyes. Maybe they’d go away and just let him die in peace.
“What the hell happened in here?”
Crap, it was Trey. Why was he? Oh yeah, they were supposed to go workout. Right now a workout might actually kill him.
He heard the clink of bottles skittering across the floor. “Butch? You awake?”
“Yeah, but I wish I wasn’t,” he mumbled as Trey walked into his bedroom.
Trey peeked around the door jam. “You’re alone?”
Butch waved his hand at him. “Go away.”
“I figured I find you curled up with that hottie you had a date with last night.” Trey wrinkled his nose. “It smells like booze and sweat in here. You need a shower.”
Butch sat up. The world tilted around him, making his stomach clench.
“I…” he stood and raced to the bathroom. After puking up what felt like everything he’d eaten in the last ten years, he flushed and rinsed his mouth. How much did he drink last night?
Trey stood leaning against the dresser, eyeing him up and down. “How much did you drink last night? Who hit you?”
“I don’t remember.” That scared him, he really didn’t remember. After downing the bottle of bourbon he’d had in the cupboard he’d started on the beer. He had a vague memory of finding a bottle of vodka from a party a couple of years ago. He never drank vodka.
“What happened?” Trey asked, handing Butch a glass of water and couple of pills.
He sipped the water, praying it would stay down. After a couple of minutes he took the pills and hoped for the best. Wrinkling his nose, he agreed with Trey, he needed a shower.
“What happened to your date?”
“She got pissed and left the restaurant,” he said, the memory hazy.
“What did you do?” Trey asked as he pulled the sheets off the bed.
“She was pissed because I kissed Rocky.” That memory was crystal clear. The feel of her lips under his was something he’d never forget. Sex with her hadn’t fixed anything, it had made it worse.
Trey’s eyes went wide. “You kissed Rocky? Why?”
He sat on the bed. “Well, the sex we had the day of the bail hearing didn’t get her out of my head.”
Trey grinned. “You and Rocky? How did you manage that?”
He smiled, fuck if he knew. “I don’t know, it just happened.”
“And how did that lead to you kissing her last night?”
“Well, I took Rosaria to The Prime. After we were seated, I noticed Rocky was a couple of tables away with him.” He rubbed his hands over his face. How was he supposed to explain something he didn’t understand himself?”
“Him who?”
“She met him at the meet and greet. He was there with his kid. There was something about him I didn’t like. Still don’t.”
“And how was that your business?” Trey sat on the dresser.
“I don’t know. I wish I did.” This whole thing made no sense. Why had seeing Rocky with that guy driven him to act like the asshole she thought he was? “I stared at them all through dinner and Rosaria wasn’t happy about that.”
“I can understand why,” Trey said as he crossed his arms.
“Yeah, me too but I couldn’t seem to help myself.
” He rubbed his eyes. “And then Rocky came over and started in on me so I grabbed her arm and pulled her to the hallway where the bathrooms are so we could have some privacy. She said something about me being there with my flavor of the week. That’s when I kissed her. ”
“And then what happened?”
“After that, it’s all hazy. I’d had a lot to drink sitting there staring at her. But I’ll never forget that kiss. You ever have a kiss that changes everything?”
“No, unfortunately I haven’t. But how did you having sex with Rocky lead to you kissing her at the restaurant?”
“Seeing her staring at me, her eyes blazing with anger and something else, my body took over and I kissed her. If we had been somewhere private I would have buried myself in her. She’s got me twisted up in knots.”
Trey laughed.
Butch frowned at him. “This isn’t funny. I don’t know what to do.”
“You’re in love with her, dumbass.”
“No, that can’t be it,” Butch replied even though something told him it was true.
“Go shower, I’ll make you some breakfast.” Trey said as he walked out of the bedroom.
Love? He didn’t think he was capable of love.
Rocky
Rocky sipped at her coffee, staring at the blank television screen. Steve had to be wrong. There was no way Butch was in love with her, he hated her. He’d tried to get her to quit the team. You don’t do that to someone you love.
She had to admit he’d started acting differently toward her.
It had started with him acting all alpha male when he found out she had a stalker.
And then beating up that stalker, almost breaking his hand.
And then the sex. That glorious bout of sex they’d had.
She’d thought it would have scratched that itch and they would both move on.
Obviously, that hadn’t happened. He’d been invading her dreams and her concentration had been shit the last few days. Was it more than just sex?
She heard a key in the lock. Kylie was home. Was it that late already? Where had the day gone? Kylie was going to want a play by play of her date last night.
“Hey, Rock. How was your date? I didn’t even hear you come in last night.”
“It was, interesting,” She got up to get some more coffee.
“Oh?” Kylie asked as she pulled a soda out of the fridge. “Interesting how?” she asked, grabbing the bag of chips off the counter.
“Steve said Butch is in love with me.”
“He’s not wrong.” Kylie said as she plopped down on the couch.
“What? I mean…”
“Have you ever watched how he looks at you?” She crunched on a chip.
“That’s just because of the sex, I’m sure.”
“No, this is different. The last few times I’ve seen him, he’s always watching you as if he’s waiting for something.”
“Something like what?” Rocky asked. He couldn’t really have feelings for her, could he?
“For you to give him a sign that you have feelings for him too.” She got up and walked to the hallway. “I’m going to go workout, want to come?”
“You never workout alone. What’s up with that?” Rocky asked, trying to keep her mind on something other than Butch.
“This guy I like usually works out at this time. I’m hoping to catch his eye.” She disappeared down the hallway.
He thoughts returned to Butch. What should she do?
Even if Kylie and Steve were right and Butch had feelings for her, they couldn’t do anything about it.
Her contract specifically stated she couldn’t fraternize with another player.
So, it didn’t really matter anyway. Too bad, he really was great in bed.