Chapter Four
Dominic
Dominic sat at the bar, already on his second beer. Practice had given him a raging headache. The boys had been feisty and revved up. It was the temperature. Every time the seasons started to change, they got all riled for a few weeks. He hoped that the long laps around the ball field had worn them out and they would all go back to their dorms instead of heading out to cause trouble. His gaze kept darting to the door. Would she come? Would she be so upset at not getting the job that she would leave town without stopping in to tell him good-bye? She might, hell, he would. He shouldn’t really care either way. It shouldn’t matter if she came or not. He knew for a fact he could leave with his waitress right now if he wanted to. She was cute enough. Doable. But he wasn’t that hard up, and unlike his friends, he tried to never bite the hand that fed him. Or made sure to keep a cold beer in front of him in this case.
He had almost given up hope when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw the door open. In walked Corey, and she looked so insanely hot his dick swelled behind his zipper. She wore her jeans well, and the cool evening air had given her cheeks a slight blush. Every male eye turned in her direction. Dom felt heat surge through his body. Mine.
Whoa, hold the fucking phone. Mine? Where the fuck had that come from? Maybe he had a brain tumor. She did look edible though, there was no doubting that. Her button-down was tight against her chest, and he wanted to run his fingers through her long hair. What? Nope, he didn’t. He wanted to grab a fistful of her long hair and haul her lips up to his. There, that was more like it. He’d be correcting his thoughts until his brain got it together. No big deal.
Corey smiled as soon as she spotted him. He sat at the bar, beer in hand, watching her make her way through the small crowd. “Corey, I’m glad you made it. How was the interview?” He readied himself for her reaction. Would she cry? He hoped not. He hated it when women cried. He never knew what to say or what to do with his hands. It was so irritating and uncomfortable.
She climbed on the stool he’d pulled out for her. “The interview was, uh, interesting. Dean McCormick assumed I was a guy. Then he didn’t want to give me the job when I wasn’t.” She chuckled softly. “But we talked, or argued really, and in the end he saw things my way. I got the position.”
Ha. He had a position she could get. Dominic was oddly proud of himself for that dirty comment. ’Bout damn time, words like sweet and cute had been running rampant through his head all damn evening. Wait. She’d gotten the job? “Really? That’s great, congratulations.” He tried to put more enthusiasm than he felt in his voice, but he didn’t think he was doing a good job.
What the hell had the dean been thinking? Corey wouldn’t be able to handle those boys. Shit, Dominic could barely keep them under control on their bad days, and he was cut from the same cloth. How was this sweet, sexy young woman going to be able to keep them in line? He’d have to talk to the dean first thing tomorrow.
But tonight? Tonight, Dominic wanted her all to himself.
Her brows knit. “You don’t really seem all that happy about this. Is something wrong?”
He shook his head, clearing his throat. “No, nothing’s wrong. The boys can be a handful, but if the dean thought you were up for it, then I’m happy for you.” In no way, shape, or form did he think she’d be able to deal with what the boys were going to try to dish out.
“Dean McCormick put some pretty strict stipulations on the job. My office will be in the athletic building, I’m guessing so the coaches can keep a close eye on the boys. I can’t conduct office hours after four p.m. and I have to send the dean a list of appointments every day so he knows exactly who’s coming and going. I don’t mind all that though. I really want this job and I know I can help these kids.”
Dominic didn’t have the heart to tell her that she couldn’t help, because they would never let her get close enough to try. She was young and beautiful, and would only be seen as a challenge, a game. And she definitely needed to stop thinking of these boys as kids. They weren’t kids. They hadn’t been kids for a while now. She had no idea what she was getting herself into. Hopefully, after he talked to the dean, he could get her out of it. Maybe they could find her another position, one where she didn’t have to interact with the students as much? His train of thought was interrupted when the waitress asked Corey if she wanted a drink.
“Yes, I’d love a Coors Light please.”
“Coors Light? What? No. She’ll have what I’m having.” He held his beer up for the waitress and then turned to Corey. “You come to Colorado, home of some of the world’s best microbreweries, and order a Coors Light? I don’t think so.”
Corey laughed and put her hand on his arm. “Okay, you win. I’ll try one of your beloved craft beers. I certainly didn’t mean to insult the microbrewers.”
Dominic turned toward her, intertwining his thighs with hers. The contact made him light-headed. He wanted to reach out and bring her even closer. When the waitress set the tall beer in front of Corey, she picked it up and took a long drink without taking her eyes off his. She seemed like such a happy, bright person. Easily touching and flirting like it was no big deal. She wasn’t scared of him or even wary of the fact that he was obviously attracted to her. She took it all in stride and seemed like she enjoyed it. Yep, the boys would eat her alive. And she was naïve if she thought otherwise.
“What do you think? Better than a Coors? If you say no, I’m afraid I can never bring you here again.”
“It’s good, for sure stronger.” She grinned with her perfect pink lips against the glass.
“Have another. I can always give you a lift home. This is a celebration. You landed a new job. Go crazy, drink two beers.” Lightweight, he thought. One tiny little pale ale was going to her head? Fine by him, he’d offer her a ride home. He was nothing if not a gentleman.
Corey pursed her lips, contemplating. “Actually, beer makes me feel so full. Could I get a Jack and Coke please?”
Dominic raised his eyebrows. Interesting. “I’ll take one of those as well. Jack and Coke? Woman after my own heart. At least you have good taste in liquor.”
They drank their whiskey and chatted about mindless crap: the weather in Colorado (thankfully getting warmer), the history of the campus (long and steeped in tradition), the baseball team (going to be stellar this year), her cross-country drive here (tiresome but beautiful). Through all of it, the girl kept drinking whiskey. And she didn’t seem even remotely drunk. He on the other hand was starting to definitely feel a little tipsy. Seemed like his plan had backfired. He felt like a pussy. He needed to get his shit together and sober up. He couldn’t let her drive him home, he’d never recover and he’d never get her under him.
“Are you hungry? They make a great burger here.”
Corey nodded, her fingers toying with her black straw. “Sure, that sounds great.” Dominic flagged the waitress down and ordered their food. “Need a little sustenance to soak up some of that whiskey, champ?”
He laughed at the playful notes in her voice. “Honestly? Yeah.”
She shrugged, a sexy smirk dancing on her lips. “What were you thinking trying to go drink for drink with a small-town Southern girl?”
He held his hands up in surrender. “You’re the first Southern girl I’ve ever drank whiskey with. I give up, you win, beautiful.” When the waitress came back with their burgers a little while later, he asked for water, making Corey giggle. He tried to tune out the sound ’cause he liked it too much.
They ate, making small talk between bites. Dominic couldn’t seem to take his eyes off her. They way her throat worked when she swallowed, the way she moaned when she took a bite. She wasn’t hiding from him. She ate her whole burger, downed whiskey, and laughed freely. Corey was refreshing, and he wanted her. Without a doubt, he wanted this woman.
When the check came, Dominic insisted on paying. “This way it’s a date,” he said, grinning. “If any of the guys ask you if you’re dating anyone, and they will, you can tell them yes.”
“Well, how thoughtful of you, Coach Hardy. Are all the men at St. Leasing as nice as you?” she deadpanned.
“No, unfortunately they aren’t, so you better stick close to me.” What was going on with his brain and mouth? They had gone fucking rogue. He’d meant for that to sound flirty and sexy. Instead it came out like a creepy AF warning. Call this a date? Stick close to me? What the actual hell? He didn’t want a relationship. He wanted to screw her and then spend the next few weeks avoiding her and making things awkward at faculty meetings. For real, that was the extent of his plan. She looked down and bit her lower lip. Well, fuck, that was hot.
“I hate to ask, but would you mind following me home? I don’t know my way around, and it’s dark.”
She was making this so easy on him, she was so trusting. “Of course I don’t mind. I’d be honored actually. Are you staying at the bed-and-breakfast here in town or have you already rented a place?”
“Luckily there was a place on campus available. I’m staying in four-oh-seven, down at the end of the row of faculty houses.”
Two houses down from him. Convenient. Maybe he’d keep her around for a while after all. She was so dang close he could run over after practice, bang her, and then be home in time for Sports Center. “You are right down the street from me. We are separated by a lovely English teacher and a not-so-lovely math teacher, both over the age of sixty, and neither has tolerance for noise of any kind.”
Corey laughed softly. “Good to know. And even better to know that my one and only friend in Colorado lives two doors down. How did I get so blessed?”
Dominic felt himself cringe. Friend? She needed to stop thinking of him that way ASAP. Unless, of course, she was willing to start adding the words with benefits to the end of it. He absolutely wouldn’t have it any other way.