40-Love - Olivia Dade Page 0,70

Lucas had noticed on that screen. How his experience informed and changed his perspective on the match. What she’d missed in her ignorance.

As the women left their benches for the start of the second set, Lucas shook his head. “If I were Lilly’s coach, I’d have used that visit to discuss a few specific fixes, instead of just encouraging her to focus. Her ball toss is too far behind her, and she’s ceding too much ground when Forrester serves. She needs to get closer to the baseline.”

Fascinated by the concentration creasing his forehead, the sharp intelligence in his gaze as he studied the two women, she nudged his shoulder with a forefinger and tried not to press her thighs together. “What would you tell Forrester?”

“Her coach was dead on. She has to work on her movement. Instead of lunging for the ball, she needs to get her legs going and take smaller steps. If she did, she’d have much more control over her shots.” He blew out a breath. “But a lot of that will come in time. After this tournament, I’d also suggest some doubles matches to improve her play at the net. Maybe—”

After glancing at Tess, he paused. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Competent men murder my vagina. In the best possible way.”

Instantly, he turned away from the television, his head bowing so their eyes could meet. “Is that so?”

His voice had deepened. Turned gravelly in a way that shivered down her back.

“Yes. Which makes my current state unfortunate.” She sighed. “I know sex is possible right now, but I’m just not a fan of mess.”

His arm around her shoulders drew her closer to his heat. “You know, I’ve heard—”

“So let’s change the subject and discuss whether you ever considered coaching after you left the Tour.” Tilting her head, she studied him. “Maybe the idea doesn’t interest you, but with your knowledge and communication skills, you’d clearly be amazing at it.”

His mouth opened. Closed.

It took him a while to answer. “I didn’t really consider the possibility, no.”

In one way, she hated to say all this, since becoming a professional tennis coach would require him to traverse the globe once more. It would literally and figuratively distance him from any possibility of a future together, however slim that possibility might be in the first place.

But he needed to understand. Needed to acknowledge the gifts he had and the options that lay before him.

In the end, their time together might be brief—and for all he’d given her, she had so little to offer him in return. As her ex always said, she was no good at emotions, just pragmatics. But this…this, she could do. This, she could give him.

“The other night, I was thinking what an incredible tennis commentator you’d be too.” Funny. Charming. Handsome. Reliable. Sharp as the paper cutter in the school’s copy room. “But I’m sure you must have weighed that option before.”

His chest rose beneath her in a hitching breath, then fell again.

“No,” he finally said. “I can’t say I have.”

That had to be enough of a nudge for the moment. They had other issues to discuss, unfortunately.

“Lucas, I need to talk to you about something.” Flattening her hand over his heart in mute apology, she looked up at him. “I want to spend some time with Belle in the evenings. We don’t live in the same place anymore, and she’s my best friend. It’s not right to leave her alone every night during a trip we planned to spend together.”

His mouth pressed tight for a moment, but he nodded. “I understand.”

“I also need to start working again. Not as much as I was”—and if that was a mistake, it was hers to make—“but sometimes. Maybe for an hour or two every other night.”

“Okay.” His tone was neutral. Unusually so.

Shit.

Her fingers curled, folding into her palm. “Not that you necessarily want to spend every night with me. I’m sure you have other pl—”

“Tess.” He squeezed her shoulder. “I want to spend every night with you. I want to spend as much time with you as I can before you leave.”

“Oh.” She let out a relieved breath. “Then I’m sorry that time will be somewhat limited.”

His smile was wry. “That was always going to be true, no matter what. And like I said, I understand.”

“Speaking of work...” Her hand flattened on his chest again. “I have a favor to ask.”

He didn’t even hesitate. “Whatever you need.”

“I was hoping you might keep me company while I’m