Kickin' It (Red Card) - Rachel Van Dyken Page 0,37

my own, but if I had the money they would one hundred percent be what I would pick out for myself.

I kept staring at them as we walked, which meant he basically had to carry me into the lobby.

My feet didn’t feel huge and awkward, and as our nice driver took our bags in to the bellhop, I looked down one last time and smiled.

“Matt Kingston.” Matt gave his name to the restaurant host.

“Lovely,” the woman said, beaming. “Your companions are already here, shall I take you?”

“Wait!” I blurted, grabbing Matt’s elbow, holding us both in place.

“I’ll just give you a minute.” She winked.

“What if I yell at someone?” I wondered out loud, my eyes searching his, begging for some of his confidence to trickle down through our connection and give me strength. “What if I spill my water? What if—”

“Stop,” he said a bit harshly. I almost backed up. And then he said, “If you yell, I’ll yell too. I’ll make them think that we can’t hear them. If you spill your water, I’ll just have to spill my wine—the point is, you don’t walk in there by yourself, you walk in there with me.”

“My agent.” I nodded. “My coach.”

His face hardened a bit. “Your friend.”

And then he offered me his elbow.

I knew it would be wrong to ask for his hand.

But I wanted it. Needed it.

However, I knew they’d get the wrong idea.

I hated that people cared about things they had no business caring about. But I took the olive branch, the peace he offered, and placed my hand on his elbow. I held my head high. I’d put on some powder and mascara in the car, added a deep red to my lips, and called it good.

I knew how to do makeup, I just didn’t see the point when I would sweat it all off.

I took another deep breath as we weaved through table after table until we reached a back booth. It was near the kitchen and seemed to be private, which was good. Private was good.

I smiled as one of the men turned. He had silver hair and a mustache that was still dark. His smile was friendly, and he was wearing an LA Rams baseball cap.

I immediately relaxed.

“Parker!” He held out his hands. I took them and leaned in as he kissed me on the cheek.

I liked him.

He seemed relaxed.

And he was wearing black jeans and a T-shirt instead of a stuffy suit. I kept imagining my old coach in these situations—pinstriped suits, expensive shoes, cologne, the whole stupid package.

But this guy? He seemed comfortable in his own skin. Yeah, I really liked him.

“Matt.” He shook his hand. “Sorry for such short notice, but your assistant said you had already landed. I didn’t realize my new assistant coach would be able to make the meeting, but his plane just landed as well.”

“Wow, I didn’t know you were looking to hire on.” Matt shrugged and offered his hand to the other man with slicked-back dark hair. His back was still to us, and then he stood and turned.

I stumbled backward, partially hiding my body behind Matt.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Erik held out his massive hand to Matt. I could see when Matt put two and two together because he squeezed Erik’s hand longer than necessary while I forced a watery smile.

“I think I’ll just use the restroom really quick,” I said lamely, trying my best not to black out as I made my way toward the bathrooms on other side of the restaurant.

I shoved my way inside the women’s restroom and braced my hands against the countertop as nightmares assaulted me.

“Stop saying no, Parker.” He kissed my neck. “Nobody else does . . . Just think of where I could take your career.”

“No.” I shoved against him. “I can’t, I’m not like that.”

“Yeah, you are . . .” He gripped my ass as his length pressed against my body in a predatory way that confused me, made me feel wanted but wrong about the situation. I’d always idolized him. “I see the way you look at me, the way you want me.”

“No.” Did I? Did I look at him that way? Did I do something wrong? He was fun, and I’d always loved my coach and would have done anything for him.

He reached under my shirt and cupped my breasts. “Come on, Parker, we both want this, you know we do.”

I ran into the stall and dry heaved, careful not to get anything