Tyler
Physio Room Four
Saturday
I hadn’t seen her since the semifinal when I almost kissed her, but you can bet your ass I’d replayed that moment a thousand times in my head. Every time I set foot in the shower, in bed, the goddamn gym.
Every time my mind went quiet, there she was.
She was so fucking beautiful. She made me want to be better, made me want to listen.
No woman had ever done that for me before.
Probably because I’d spent half my life chasing the wrong kind of women; the easy fucks, empty souls, no one who could look me in the eye have a decent conversation with me.
Orla saw everything. And it didn’t scare me off, it only made me want more.
I was even on time for once. No late nights, no clubs, no vodka shots. Just ice baths, rehab, early nights, and jacking off in the shower to the thought of her lips on mine.
Not something she ever needed to know.
I brought her a coffee, again. The paper cup was burning a hole through my palm. Americano, milk, one sweetener—I remembered her preference from when she’d told me the night I took her to the pub. Jeez, when did I turn into such a sap?
She looked up when I walked in, and this time she smiled. Actually smiled. Not the scowl I’d gotten used to. Maybe it slipped out but…fuck. That smile went straight to my head.
“Americano. Milk. One sweetener,” I said, holding it out.
She blushed as she took it. “Thank you. That’s… sweet of you.”
Sweet? Jesus. I was dying.
“Just wanted to say thanks. For the other day. For talking me down.”
She brushed it off. “I just told you what you needed to hear. It’s how my dad used to talk to my brothers.”
Her expression flickered fondly, almost too fast for me to catch, and then the professional armor was back on. “Lie down, let’s take a look.”
I lay back on the table the crinkle of the sanitary paper loud in the quiet room as I shoved my shorts up. She placed her warm hands on me. Her fingers brushed the edge of my thigh, higher than usual sending a jolt of heat through my groin.
Again, too close. My cock twitched, and I bit down hard, staring at the ceiling. Good lord, why couldn’t I have pulled a shoulder instead? At least then I wouldn’t have the most beautiful woman I’d ever met practically grazing my dick every day.
She was fucking killing me.
“It’s pretty tight now,” she said briskly massaging the area. “Rest it until the scan results come back, then we’ll reassess.”
She moved to the desk, scrolling on her tablet. The glow lit her face, her lashes casting shadows on her cheeks.
“I’ve put together a rehab plan. It needs to be intense. Daily. Someone’s going to have to work with you every day for the next month.”
I pushed up on my elbows. “Oh yeah?”
“Yes. Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that.” Her brows knitted together as she set down her tablet on the countertop.
Fuck. My stomach dropped. That tone didn’t sound good.
“They’ve offered me a job. To go on tour with you. In America.”
I froze. “That so?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t play dumb with me. I know you knew.”
I smirked despite myself. “Maybe.”
She held my gaze intently. “I’ve accepted.”
FUCK.
Relief flooded through me so hard I almost grabbed her and spun her around the room. Something hot and stupid and hopeful surged through me so fast it felt indecent.
Instead, I grinned so wide my face hurt. “Okay. So that means I get to take you to America with me?”
“It means I’m going with the team. To run things,” she said pointedly.
“Yeah, that’s what I said.”
She laughed, shaking her head, and it was the best sound I’d heard in weeks. But then her face softened into something serious. “Tyler, this is huge for me. Career-defining. So I need to keep things professional.”
Fuck, baby, this is huge for me, too. I need you. Not just your hands, not just your plan. You. If only she knew the half of it.
I forced a nod, swallowing back the truth. “I get it. Look, I liked hanging out with you the other night. I could use a friend like you, so if that’s what you want, fine. I’ll keep it professional. But please, at least let me be your friend.”
She smiled warmly at that. It was my undoing. “Okay.”
I tugged my hoodie over my head, my heart doing weird things in my rib cage. “Then I’ll look forward to working with you on the road.”
I slung my bag over my shoulder and hesitated at the door. “Hey…since we’re gonna be working together full-time, maybe you should give me your number?”
Her brows lifted and she paused. “Tyler…”
“For professional reasons,” I added quickly, hands raised in innocence. “Treatment schedules. Rehab check-ins. Totally above board.”
She narrowed her eyes but reached for my phone when I held it out. Her fingers brushed mine as she took it.
She tapped in the digits and handed it back without a word.
“Thanks, Doc,” I said, pocketing it with a grin I couldn’t hide. “Strictly professional. Promise.”
Her look said she didn’t believe me for a second. But I couldn’t show her she was right.
I walked out with the biggest smile on my face, her number burning in my pocket, her ‘yes’ still swirling in my head. I’d promised to keep it professional. And I would.
At least until I changed her mind.