13. Chapter 10
Jax
It was an accident. My pinky finger slid across hers and suddenly my body had a mind of its own, but I saw her reaction, and it wasn’t distaste, she wasn’t trying to find distance, so I had to make the most of the situation.
Now that the show is over, I decide to follow her to the lounge where she keeps her bags.
I walk into the room right behind her and quickly close the door behind us, and watch her for a beat before fully deciding my next move.
Her breath quickens, when she realizes I’m behind her, and her shoulders go rigid. Not in an uncomfortable way, but like she’s holding her breath, waiting for someone to tell her it’s ok. Ok to let herself go and take what she wants.
This is only confirmed by the way her eyes light up at the sight of me, the way she tries to look away, but her eyes move slower than the rest of her head, the way her chest rises and falls with even more urgency, tells me all I need to know.
“What are you doing?” she says breathlessly, with a curious look in her eyes.
I approach her in a few quick strides and lean in, trapping her between the table and my body, using one arm to cage her in. She can move away, but she doesn’t, instead her eyes close as I brush the hair from her face and tuck it behind her ear.
“Go on a date with me.” The words come faster than anticipated.
“I don’t date coworkers, it gets too messy,” she insists.
“Sloan, it doesn’t have to be messy. We like each other,” I state the obvious, because the tension between us is thick, both our resolve paper thin.
“I can’t. I need this job. Tanner—” She’s still refusing to look at me, so I take the crook of my finger and bring her eyes to mine.
She stares into my eyes intently. Like she always does. “You can. Tanner doesn’t make the rules.” I lean in a little closer so I’m just a breath away. “You just have to say yes.”
I move my hand from her chin to her jaw and leave it there, letting her take control. Her eyes are still on mine. Her breath ragged and frail.
“Jax…” she says my name, but nothing follows.
She closes her eyes and leans a fraction closer to me, parting her lips the smallest bit.
“I’m going to kiss you now.” I say it, and then pause just long enough to give her a chance to move away or tell me no, but instead she takes my jersey in her fist and pulls the fabric to her.
Her breath is hot against my lips, her fingers dance lazily with the fabric of my shirt, and it makes my skin prick.
That’s the only permission I need before I close the remaining distance between us.
“Sloan. Hallway. Now.” A thunderous voice breaks the silence in the room just before my lips touch hers, and her eyes flash open, panic crossing her expression.
Her relaxed posture, which was just full of desire, longing, and anticipation disappeared like a cloud of smoke, and when the dust of shock cleared, she was tense and stiff against my body.
It’s her asshole of a boss.
“What are you doing here, Tanner?” she snaps back, seemingly unfazed by this interruption despite the way she jumped when she heard his voice.
“Apparently, keeping you from ruining your career,” he snaps and storms into the hallway, slamming the door behind him.
She moves to follow him, but I grab her wrist and pull her to me. “Sloan.”
She shakes her head, “Jax, I have to go see what he wants. I can’t lose this job.”
“I don’t like the way he talks to you, Sloan. I’m about to go out there myself.”
“Please don’t.” I know she doesn’t take his shit, so I let it go… for now, and change the subject.
“One date. That’s all I’m asking. If you don’t want a second one, I’ll leave you alone, but I know you feel it, Sloan. You like me. I really like you. Just one date.”
She smiles and looks me in the eye, and they betray her. I see all the same feelings I feel in my own gaze—desire, lust, and the same plea to let herself have this.
“I’ll see. Let me think about it,” she says as she pulls her bag over her shoulder and walks out of the room.
I can barely hear their voices through the door.
It’s muffled, but I can tell they’re walking away.
I don’t know a lot about Tanner, but what I do know I don’t like.
He’s here sometimes, but most of the time Ali is here.
Thankfully, because he seems to have a chip on his shoulder when it comes to Sloan.
I wait a few minutes before going back into the hallway. When I do, Sloan is gone, but Horner is walking down the stairs.
“Hey,” I call him over. “What’s the deal with Tanner? They’ve been broken up for a while now, and he’s still such an ass,” I ask, wondering if he’s mentioned anything specific to Horner in their meetings.
He shakes his head, “I don’t know. He’s plenty nice when we meet. Ali mentioned one time they broke up on bad terms and lived together or something before he started dating his new girlfriend, but that’s all I know. Maybe he still has a thing for her, regrets breaking up.”
Shocked by this new information, I pause.
I knew they dated, but Sloan keeps her past with him close to the chest. I can’t picture it being that serious of a relationship.
I take a second before responding because the way he treats her pisses me off, and I might do something stupid if I don’t loop Horner in.
“I asked her out on a date.” I want to be transparent with him.
He takes a long agitated breath, “I don’t want any drama, Jax. It’s about the fans first, not your love life. Keep it out of the stadium,” he says as he walks away.
He stops after a few steps, “For what it’s worth, she’s a great girl. She’s motivated and sweet. But she’s also a spitfire who will hand him his ass on a platter, so keep that in mind. Let her handle him, Jax. She wouldn’t like you trying to defend her.”
“She’s perfect,” I yell after him, because he knows me better than most.
He waves at me over his shoulder as he keeps walking, and I take that as a silent seal of approval.
Now, I just have to get her to say yes.
“Oh,” he yells back at me as he starts walking up the stairs, “we finally signed that kid from Cirque Du Soleil, he starts next season, but he’s going to come train with the team a few days a week. I told him you’d show him the ropes.”
That bombshell hits with a shockwave straight to my heart. His words sound all too familiar.
Drafts are starting soon for next season. What the hell does that mean for me?
“This is Mitch. He’s also a pitcher, so I thought you could show him the ropes.” My old coach’s words haunt me.
Horner is not the same coach. I remind myself.