Catching Summer (Second Chances, #6)(7)

I took his hand and shook it. The thought of seeing Evan’s naked flesh burned in my mind. How was I going to be able to do this for two weeks? “I am. Thank you for letting me work with the team.”

“It’s my pleasure. I’ve been to your restaurant, but for the life of me I don’t know if it was you or your sister I talked to.”

“It was most likely my sister. I usually stick to the behind-the-scenes stuff.” Lara was always the sociable one.

He let my hand go and sat back down at his desk. “I understand that. I’m sure Kate will take care of you while you’re here. Gary’s already waiting for you down the hall.”

Kate smiled and backed up toward the door. “Thanks, Joel. We’ll be out in a couple of hours. Make sure the guys don’t get hurt while we’re in class.”

He chuckled. “I’ll try. But you know how excited they’re going to be with a new ray of sunshine here.”

Kate snorted. “Tell me about it. I’ve already warned them, and so has Evan.”

I dreaded going back out into the locker room. I didn’t want to have to walk past the guys again with my face as red as a lobster. Luckily, they were all gone. “?‘A new ray of sunshine’?” I asked. “I’m assuming he was talking about me.”

She laughed. “Yep. No pun intended, Summer. When I first started with the team, a few of them faked injuries so they could get one-on-one time with me. They learned pretty quick that I didn’t play games. I’m sure they’ll test the waters again now that you’re here.”

“But your brother warned them, too? Why would he do that?”

Her face broke out into a smile. “I don’t know. He’s just a protective type of guy. Why do you ask?”

“No reason,” I said quickly. “I was just curious.” It was more than that, but I wasn’t about to admit it to myself.





Chapter 4


Summer


I didn’t know what to expect when we entered the boardroom, but I hadn’t anticipating seeing Evan and Derek in there. Our instructor was getting a video ready on the projector while Derek pretended to hump the mannequin behind his back. The look on his face was priceless. I did all I could to keep from laughing. Evan sighed and lowered his head, his shoulders shaking with laughter. Kate bumped me with her elbow and leaned over toward my ear. “I promise the guys aren’t all like Derek. He’s a little out there.”

As soon as Gary turned around, Derek sat in a chair with an amused smile on his face, looking completely innocent. “I can see that. It must be entertaining to have him around.”

“It is, actually. He’s always keeping the guys’ spirits up, especially if we lose a game. I can always count on him and Evan to motivate the team.” It was good to have that kind of teamwork. Lara and Grayson were my team.

“So what are they doing in here right now?” I asked.

“I don’t know, but I’m going to find out.” I followed her to the front of the boardroom and tried my best not to look at Evan when she approached him. “What the hell are you doing in here? This class is for Summer and me.”

“Not anymore,” he replied. “Dumbass, here,” he said, pointing to Derek, “thought it would be a good idea for you girls to practice on a real person our size. Coach agreed, but I wasn’t about to let him come in here and molest our friend.”

Kate smacked Derek on the head and snapped, “Yeah, considering Brianna will beat your ass if you do that. I swear, I don’t know how she puts up with you.”

Derek snickered and rubbed the spot she hit. “She knows I’m not going to do anything stupid, which is why I’m partnering up with you, pretty mama. Your brother will be with Little Miss Sunshine over there.”

Kate glanced back at me and then at her brother. I was too nervous to even look at him, much less practice CPR on him. Were they really going to make me practice on him? “Gary,” Kate called. He looked over his shoulder, trying hard not to laugh. “If Derek winds up dead, don’t fail me, okay? Because if I have to put my mouth on him, Cooper will be sure to kill him.”

He laughed. “You have my word.”

While they joked around, Evan came up behind me and bumped my shoulder. “You don’t have to practice on me, Summer. I saw the look on your face. I actually thought it would be a good idea to learn CPR myself. You never know when you’ll need to use it.”

“It’s a good skill to have,” I said, peering up into his gray eyes. For a second, I just stared into them, lost in the moment. When his lips tilted up in a teasing smile, I averted my gaze. “And I don’t mind practicing on you. However, I will admit it makes me nervous.”

“Being around me makes you nervous?” he asked. That smirk of his was going to drive me insane.

“Don’t flatter yourself,” I retorted. “It’s only because I haven’t done this in a while. I’d hate to hurt you.”

“Burn,” Derek hollered. “I guess she put you in your place.”

Evan grinned and looked down at my lips. “That she has.”

Clapping his hands to get our attention, Gary pointed down at the floor. “All right, boys, it’s showtime.”

I couldn’t hide my smile even if I’d wanted to as Evan lay down on the floor. “Don’t break my ribs. I have a game this weekend.”