Hail Mary: An Enemies-to-Lovers Roommate Sports Romance(88)

“It’s been torture, having you working under me all this time with an ass as sweet as yours,” he said, as if that was a compliment.

No, I pleaded with the universe. No, please, no, don’t let this happen.

He hadn’t crossed a single line since that night where I’d thought I’d read too much into his compliment.

Now, he was about to cross them all.

“Before you sign the paperwork and become an employee, let’s take this momentary break in contract to have some fun,” he proposed, intensifying his grip. “What do you say?”

Warning bells rang so loud in my ears I could barely hear my own voice when I replied. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Oh, come on,” he chided, and when he pulled me into him, his erection pressed into my belly.

I nearly gagged.

“I see the way you look at me. You’ve had a crush on me ever since you walked through that door as a fresh teen to get your first tattoo. It was adorable then, but you’ve really grown up…” He sucked in a breath like it was hurting him to restrain himself. “I promise, I can handle everything you bring to the table.”

His hands swooped down to grip my ass firmly and rub me against him, and I’d had enough.

I grabbed his shoulders, locking my eyes on his like I was giving in, my mouth on track for his…

And then hiked my knee up hard and fast right into his balls.

Nero doubled over, coughing and cursing as I backed away and out of reach.

“I’m sorry,” I said, ignoring how pissed off it made me that I was apologizing for hurting him when he was being a gross pig. But as sick as it was, I still wanted that job.

He’s just drunk, I convinced myself.

“It’s just… You have a wife. I have a boyfriend,” I added. Was Leo my boyfriend? He sure as hell was more than my friend at this point. “And… and I respect you. I don’t want anything like this to come between us.”

Nero had been bent over and red-faced the entire time I spoke, but he slowly stood upright again, spitting as if I’d hit him in the mouth and drew blood.

He stared at me with the most horrific expression I’d ever seen in my life.

His eyes were wild, but also dead — how they could be both at the same time, I had no clue. The veins in his neck pulsed and bulged, and for a moment, I thought he might attack me. I balled my hands into fists, preparing to fight.

But he just stared at me for a long moment, and then, he let out a slow breath, running his hands through his hair and turning away from me like he’d just remembered who he was.

“It’s all good,” he said with his back to me, and he started fiddling with some papers on the desk.

“Okay,” I whispered, clearing my throat. “So… we’re good here? Do you want me to just come back tomorrow when the shop is open to talk about next steps?”

“Yeah,” he said, the response short. He grabbed the iPad he’d been working on and sat in his chair again, eyes on the screen and not on me.

I swallowed, backing away from him like he was a snake. I made it to the edge of the office before I turned, and as soon as I did, he struck.

“Actually,” he said, making me pause. “Maybe this is a bad idea.”

Ice slid through my veins as I spun to face him again. “No. Nero, don’t—”

“Yeah, I just don’t think you’re a good fit, now that I really think about it,” he said, not even looking at me as he threw the words like ninja stars. “Your style, if you can even call it a style at all, is more amateur than what we’re looking for. I don’t want to risk the reputation of the shop.”

“You just said I had clients already wanting to rebook,” I defended, trying to stay calm as tears welled in my eyes. “You said—”

“I was trying to be nice. No one has called to rebook, Mary.” He paused his drawing to make sure he looked at me when he said that last part. “I thought maybe you had a little potential, but I think I was making a decision with my dick rather than my head. You know how that is.”

He looked back down as I grappled to remain standing upright.

“Can’t help it, it’s a bad habit for me. Easily distracted by a pretty face and a nice set of tits.”

Each word sliced another ribbon off my skin.

“Honestly, kid — I’m not sure this is the career for you. I just haven’t had the heart to say it.”

Kid.

He was saying anything he could to kill me now.

I tongued my cheek, shaking my head and trying to find the will to speak. “Please, Nero. Don’t do this,” I croaked when I finally found it.

He sniffed, shrugging. “Sorry, I just think this is best.” He paused to look at me one last time. “Oh, and if you were thinking about any other shops in the area, I’d be careful about what you say about your time here.”

It was a threat and a promise both, the assurance that if I ran my mouth, I’d never work in Boston. He’d see to it.

Nero didn’t look at me again. Not as I stood there in disbelief, not as I numbly dragged myself out of the office, and not as I put my coat and scarf back on and slipped into the cold.

In the span of twenty minutes, I’d been promoted, assaulted, fired, and denounced by a man I’d looked to as inspiration for years.