Jada parked her rental behind her salon in the parking lot. She couldn’t keep the smile from forming on her lips. Even though her car had died, she still felt as if she were walking on cloud nine. It had taken the tow truck a little over two hours to come get her car. Once it had arrived, she had called for an Uber to come take her home.
The two hours of waiting had been spent laughing and conversing with Reiner. They had shared tales of growing up with each other that had her grinning even now. Her smile slowly faded as she thought that she would never see Reiner again. They hadn’t exchanged numbers or anything. As much as she wanted to ask for his, the fear of rejection kept her lips closed.
The company had been good, but she doubted that someone like him, who was in such great shape and had money, would be interested in a woman like her. Not that he bragged about being wealthy, she could just tell. His truck was top-of-the-line, and if he lived in the neighborhood where her car had stalled, it was a given that he was loaded.
No, Reiner wouldn’t be interested in her. She sighed, thinking of the dreams that had plagued her last night. Reiner had been the star of each and every one. It had been a long time since she could remember that she’d had such X-rated fantasies. They were so hot that she woke up painfully aroused and needing to get herself off. A few swipes of her fingers against her swollen clit, and her body had exploded.
“No more thinking of Mr. Sex God,” she muttered, exiting the rental. She grabbed her messenger bag from the back seat before heading into her salon.
The Dalton Design Team was her baby. She’d opened it three years ago. She had been a licensed cosmetologist since graduating from high school. Her school had a cosmetology school built into it, so when she’d graduated with her diploma, she’d also got a diploma in cosmetology. A month after high school, she’d sat for her boards and passed.
Her parents, Ollie and Clare Dalton, were determined blue-collar workers who stressed the importance of education. They couldn’t afford to send her to college, so after securing her first job as a hair stylist, she’d taken night classes at the local junior college and earned an associate’s degree in business management. After much hard work and scraping to get by, she was finally able to open The Dalton Design Team.
Because of having to go get a rental that morning, her best friend and lead stylist, Trissa Morris, had ensured the salon had opened on time.
“I’m here,” she called out as she let herself in through the back door. The salon opened early every day to accommodate clients who would need morning appointments.
“Finally! Betsy finally died, huh?” Trissa asked, coming into the back where Jada’s office was located.
Her and Trissa’s friendship dated back to Jada’s first salon job. They both had been green behind the ears then. Over the years, their friendship grew, and when Jada mentioned wanting to open her own salon, Trissa was right by her side.
“I’m not sure. I’m sure all the smoke that came from underneath the hood was not good.” She groaned, flopping down in her leather chair.
“Why didn’t you call me?” Trissa asked, concern lining her face as she leaned against the doorjamb.
“Phone died. Car died.” She couldn’t fight the smile from spreading across her face. Thoughts of her time in the truck with Reiner came to mind.
“Well, it if was that bad, why are you smiling?”
“No reason. Just thinking of the hot guy who stopped to help me.” She exhaled.
“Oh, do tell.” Trissa flew to the chair that sat in front of her small desk.
Jada laughed at the expression on her friend’s face while she bounced in her chair. “Not much to tell. He was tall with a perfect body. The rain caused his shirt to be plastered against his broad chest.” She sighed, getting lost in her daydream of Reiner. “He even had dimples when he smiled.”
“Girl, you getting me all hot and bothered. Please tell me you exchanged numbers with him.”
“Nope.” Jada’s smile disappeared, and she thought of what he must have seen when he’d observed her. An overweight, drowned-looking little brown girl. Definitely someone who would not catch the eye of someone who belonged on the cover of the top fashion sports magazines. His muscles were too bulky to be model-worthy. No, he had those muscles that professional athletes flaunted.
“Why not?” Trissa slammed her hand on the desk, causing Jada to jump. “Well, if he didn’t ask for your number then he is an idiot and not worthy of the sexy Jada Dalton.”
“What’s up?” she asked, changing the subject.
“I have two tickets to the Knights charity auction next weekend and was wondering if you wanted to go with me.”
“The Knights?” she asked, appearing to be confused.
“You know, the professional football team. Only the best football team ever. Our city’s team!” Trissa rolled her eyes and slapped her forehead.
“Oh, yeah.” Jada ducked her head and chuckled. She knew Trissa was a football fanatic, while Jada only watched the games because of Trissa. She did have fun getting dragged out to the sports bars to watch the games. Had it not been for Trissa, Jada wouldn’t know the name of their local football team. “What type of function is it?”
“A charity auction. Some of the guys from the team will allow themselves to be auctioned off. They auction other things off, but usually the players are the ones that bring in the big money. It will be fun.”
That did sound like fun. Not that she could ever afford to participate in an auction of that magnitude, but it wouldn’t hurt to work the event. Might even draw up some extra clients.
“Can you go or not?” Trissa asked, tapping her long fingernails on Jada’s desk.
“When is it?”
“Next weekend. Matter of fact, you are going. We are going to get you out of the house, get drunk in the name of charity, and hopefully find someone for you to get laid.”
Reiner had come to the conclusion that his trainer was trying to kill him. His body ached in ways that he didn’t even know it could. There would be no question that as soon as they were finish with the workout, he would be soaking in an ice bath.
“You make this look easy, old man,” Jerry joked with him as Reiner jogged back to him.
“The new recruits will be starting this week. I got to be able to hang with them.” Reiner laughed, sweat dripping off his face.
“Let’s do some quick release drills, then I’ll let you go,” Jerry announced, throwing the pigskin to him.
Reiner cradled the familiar object in his hand. For as long as he could remember, he’d held a football in his hands. He had fond memories of his father tossing the ball to him and his brother when they were barely able to walk.
His younger brother, Andre, was also in the league. He played for the Predators organization. Once a year their two teams collided, and their parents tried to remain neutral.
The Predators and Knights were rivals, and the media continually jumped on the fact that the two Strickland brothers were playing against each other. He and Andre were competitive and played on the media each year. It was something they’d always done growing up. Reiner released a snort knowing that this year he’d be kicking his younger brother’s ass.
An hour later, Reiner came out of the showers with his towel wrapped around his waist.
“What’s up, General?” his good friend and center, Ben Barber, called out to him from his seat in front of his locker.
“What’s up, Ben?” Reiner gave his center a salute walking over to his locker.
“You participating in the auction this weekend?” Ben asked.
Reiner rolled his eyes at the mention of the Knights annual auction. He knew it was a charity event and drew millions of dollars for whatever organization the team sponsored the event for.
“Nah, you know I don’t do that.” Reiner shook his head, throwing his clothes on.
“Aw, come on. This year it’s a pediatric foundation they are donating the money to,” a new voice said as he came into the room.
“Cashman!” They all said in unison.
Kevin Cash, one of his good friends, was one of the top running backs of all time. Kevin was young, African American, and lived life to the fullest.
“Kev’s right. It’s for the children. Come help the babies. You know if you auction yourself off, you’d go for top dollar,” Ben said.
“You know how the women love them some Reiner Strickland,” Kevin snorted, pulling his jeans on.
“I don’t know. With moves like you got, they may forget all about me.” Reiner laughed.
“Ya’ll white boys need to get some rhythm,” Kevin taunted, spinning in place. It was the same joke that Kevin had made for years about him and Ben.
“I’m good. Auctioning myself off, I don’t know,” Reiner muttered, drawing his shirt over his head. The women sometimes turned into straight savages. He didn’t know what they thought they were getting when they paid their money for a date with them.
“It would be fun. Think of it as good publicity,” Kevin said. “It’s for an awesome cause.”
“Ya’ll doing it?” Reiner asked.
Kevin and Ben were two of his closest friends. If they were doing it, then he would do it. They had played on the same team for years. Together, they were known as the Three Musketeers. The three of them on the field together was an unstoppable force.
“This will be my first year,” Kevin replied, turning with a shit-eating grin on his face. “I’ll bless the ladies with the Cashman’s presence at the auction.”
Ben and Reiner rolled their eyes at their friend. Whenever Kevin started talking about himself in third person, they were all in trouble.
“I’m doing it, too,” Ben laughed.
“Then I guess I’ll do it.” Reiner smiled at his friends celebrating.
“This will be fucking epic. The Three Musketeers headlining the auction.” Kevin danced in place. The running back was known for his creative dances whenever he scored a touchdown.
A few other team members came into the locker room, laughing at Kevin’s antics.
Reiner shook his head at his friend. He picked up his duffle bag and tossed it over his shoulder.
“Let’s go grab a bite to eat,” Ben said, coming to stand over by him.
“I’m in. I’m famished,” Kevin announced, grabbing his bag.
“Well, hell. Let’s go get something to eat,” Reiner announced, laughing as he and the guys made their way from the locker room.
“I’ll let Lindsey know you’re in for the auction. The front office is going to be ecstatic,” Ben proclaimed.
“I just pray I don’t regret it,” Reiner muttered. He had heard of some horror stories from women losing their shit, thinking that the money they paid would come with sexual favors. Not that he couldn’t have any woman he wanted, he just didn’t like the feeling of being used as a sex symbol.
“You’ll be fine. Just get a backup bidder,” Kevin suggested when they exited the building and headed toward their cars.
“Backup bidder?” Reiner glanced at Kevin.
“Yup. Have someone there who can bid on your behalf should the person bidding on you appear to be a little crazy,” Kevin explained.
“Hmm…” Reiner pondered that and found it to be the perfect solution.
“You can afford it, Mr. Top Paid Quarterback,” Ben said, slapping him on the back. “Find someone to bid on you, and you pay the bill, thus still donating to charity and saving you from a potential stalker.”
“You have backup bidder’s?” Reiner looked to both of them.
“Hell yeah,” they replied in unison.