Page 8 of I Want to Know What Love Is

“ Since I took over as President of BMOC House and Captain of the fucking football team. Quick newsflash—it’s more responsibility and work than glamour.”

“In that case, it’ll be a hard no when coach offers me Captain next season.” His grin is infectious as he slaps my back, but my gaze wanders back to the front door and escape from the mob. It’s not the same this year, not as exciting as the last two years when all the attention was a new experience.

“Who are you waiting for?” Jasper asks, following my line of sight. I’m about to laugh it off and say no one, but the words disappear before I open my mouth.

Because the exact person I want to see, even if she’s the last person I expect because this is the last place she ought to be, appears in the door in all her superior splendor, tall and breathtaking and fucking bold as hell.

Coach Lake walks in looking like she owns the place, making the girls in the crowd fade away like she has a magic eraser in her wake. She’s dressed in white jeans, a ruby red tank top and matching spike sandals that she doesn’t need to enhance her long legs. She meets my eyes and heads straight in my direction as I watch her get hit on by three guys, all from the team.

“Will you look at that?” Jasper says. He sees her. Fuck, everyone sees her because she’s a fucking head-turner. “Damn you Dylan—you’ve been holding out.” I expect him to go into a tirade of teasing, so I cut him off.

“I have no idea what the fuck she’s doing here.” It’s true. I wish I knew what she’s doing here. If I were a crazy fool, I’d wish she were here to see me. But I’m not a fucking idiot. Though my dick didn’t get that message and I shift uncomfortably.

“Sure. Whatever you say.” Jasper laughs like a loon.

I stalk her with my eyes, holding myself back, my chest tightening along with my jeans while I watch her cut down each of my unfortunate teammates who ought to know better than to make whatever lewd juvenile propositions they’re making—not that they’re serious. Maybe half serious in spite of my warning earlier that she’s off limits. As if I should need to state the obvious.

But since she’s here tempting fate, maybe I ought to take the three knuckleheads aside to reaffirm the off-limits warning.

Or maybe I ought to ask her what the fuck she’s doing here at a student party and clue her in about how far off the reservation she is.

Maybe she wants to bust us for under-age drinking, but if so, she’s off-base because no one lives here who isn’t drinking age and we check IDs at the door. For the most part.

She closes in on us and I brace myself, ignoring Jasper’s grin and the nudge he gives me as if we’re in grade school. We may as well be at a kiddie party because compared to her, we’re juveniles. When she reaches us, she looks up at me, tilting her head up only slightly and I enjoy the fact that I don’t have to bend to hear her.

“I heard you were having a party, Jonesy,” she says like she belongs, her voice cool, her eyes hot. She ignores Jasper. “You must have forgot to send my invitation.” I smirk and try not to read anything into her flirting, try to stay cool in spite of the uptick in my heart rate into the red zone.

“What are you doing here, Coach?” I’m not playing her games. I know she didn’t come here for the party. My ego isn’t that huge. Unfortunately, my dick is getting there.

Chapter Four

Amanda

Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to show up at a college jock party, but I’m here now and I can’t back down. It’s not in me to back down. The fact that Jonesy is a hot hunk doesn’t hurt, but I know better than to do anything more than tease him, toy a little to maybe teach him a lesson. Though he doesn’t seem to need any lessons as far as I can tell. The kid is cool as a cucumber. And do not look down at his crotch to check out his cucumber.

“There’s a rumor you need a tutor,” I say, holding onto my sanity. His response is comical. Did I think he was cool? He mocks my estimate of him with shocked surprise. Maybe he’s beyond cool. Maybe he has so much confidence that he’s genuine.

“In finance.” He relaxes into a smile, that smirky grin with way too much charm and those eyes that look deep enough to make a person feel like she’s the only one in the world. “What are you going to do about it?” He folds his arms across the rippling muscles of his chest. Is he toying with me?

“What makes you think I can’t do something about it? That I couldn’t be your finance tutor?” He nods in a silent touché.

“You have range. I’ll give you that. Basketball coach and finance prof?” He looks me over and I feel exposed. And admired. Which makes me think I ought to quit fooling around. No more flirting with the kid.

“I teach a class in finance and Coach Radz asked me to help out. I was on my way by your house while I was out getting Chinese and figured I’d stop in. Let you know. I didn’t expect you’d be having a party during preseason two-a-days.”

He nods but his skepticism is loud and clear.

“Why don’t we go outside and talk?” He aims an arm toward the door, carefully avoiding me and looking awkward. The second I mentioned Coach Radz it got serious, like he thought he could blow me off if it wasn’t for his coach’s involvement. I get the feeling he’d like to shove me out of here and slam the door shut. But I nod and head outside because maybe he’s more embarrassed by my presence than flattered. We walk across the front lawn toward my car because I’m leading the way, and when I get there, I lean against the door. As soon as he stops, a good three feet away from me, he speaks up.

“It’s not a good idea.” Silence. His jaw tics as he keeps his mouth clenched tight and I pause a couple beats.

“Care to explain why not?” I finally say. I don’t bother keeping the annoyance from my voice. He shakes his head in disbelief, as if it’s all too obvious and I should know why not. And maybe I do have an idea, but I’m a put the cards out on the table where everyone can see them kind of girl, so I wait him out.

“Because the guys think you’re hot and I don’t feel like being the object of gossip on my team.”

“I don’t believe you. You sure it’s not you who thinks I’m hot?” WTF is wrong with me? Since when do I let the first thought that comes to mind come out of my mouth? I’ve always known how to play with the guys, flirt harmlessly and stay at arm’s length, keep from being a threatening bitch and at the same time keep from being a brainless bimbo. Riding the fence to get along and stay respected has been my specialty and I owe it to my outsized self-confidence.

Don’t let a little thing like the anniversary of your attempted wedding get in your way, Mandy.