Jordan had planned on getting a coffee and relaxing in his favorite chair just to pass time and to get ready for the meeting he had late that afternoon with the IceCats. He hoped to God they liked him and wanted him; he was tired of not playing, and with each passing day he was becoming increasingly bitter. He was never like this, and he knew something was really off. He couldn’t blame it on the fact that he wasn’t playing, though, because that had been going on for months. Recently there was a new loneliness, and there was only one reason that would make him feel like that. Or one person.

Aynslee Shaw.

God, he’d f**ked up. He should have tried to get her into bed, at least get laid, but he knew that it wouldn’t end like that. She was the kind of girl he could fall for and even marry. Jordan didn’t understand the instant attraction or the need he felt for her, but for the last five days all he’d done was think of her. Even when he was on the bench last night, acting as if he was watching the game, he scanned the stands for a fiery redhead, knowing he wouldn’t find her. Jordan never regretted anything, but he regretted just walking away.

But he’d had no choice.

She wasn’t someone he could leave behind, and with the uncertainty of everything in his life now, there was no way he could get into a relationship with her—even if she made his heart want to come out of his chest and beg her to love him. Nope, he had to keep that shit locked up. Things were too complicated. In a perfect world, things would be simple and he could pursue her, but his world wasn’t perfect. Not even close.

Letting out another huff, Jordan started to think the guy at the front of the line was ordering for his whole office. What was taking so long? Jordan pulled his phone out of his pocket. As he looked down, he noticed that the woman in front of him had red hair, and it made him smile. He imagined what Aynslee was doing. She was probably at school, teaching young minds. He wondered if she thought about him—why that mattered made no sense to him, but he was still curious if she did. He also wondered what it would have been like to peel that pink dress off her and bury his face between her fantastic br**sts. Just thinking of her tits had him rocking back on his heels as his dick twitched to life. Man, why couldn’t life be a little steadier for him right now? If that were the case, he’d have her flat on her back in no time.

The line finally moved, and Jordan let out a thankful sigh as the redhead reached the counter.

“Can I have a tall vanilla Frappuccino?”

Whoa, he knew that voice.

“Yup, name?”

“Aynslee,” she replied.

He couldn’t believe it. His heart started to pound, and without thinking he said, “Hopefully I don’t spill this cup on you too.”

She looked over her shoulder, and confusion was replaced with a wide grin. As she turned to face him, he noticed that she must be heading to work: Dress slacks and a purple blouse gave a nice view of her cle**age. He was pretty sure that if his third-grade teacher had worn something like that, he would have started to like girls at a much younger age. “The last time that happened, I had a wonderful trip home, Mr. Ryan.” Among other things.

He chuckled before he looked up at the barista and ordered a mocha Frappuccino. Paying for both their drinks, he said, “This one is on me, just in case I spill it again.”

She smiled at him as they moved to the other end of the counter to wait for their drinks. “This is a welcome surprise,” she said, her eyes searching his.

She looked so good that he wanted nothing more than to get her tangled up in his sheets. Her hair was curled around her face, her makeup bright, matching the purple of her shirt. Her lips were glossed and her smile was unstoppable. He couldn’t believe how good he felt being around her.

Nodding his head, he said, “I was thinking the same thing.”

She looked away, her cheeks full of color as she asked, “How have you been?”

“Good,” he said with a nod as he reached for their drinks. “Are you staying here?”

“Are you?”

He nodded.

“Then I am too.”

They shared a smile as he led her to the back, by his favorite chair. He loved this Starbucks; it was only a mile from the airport the Assassins used. Sitting down across from her, he took a sip of his coffee before asking, “Are you skipping school?”

She laughed and shook her head. “No, we are on break. Today is an in-service day.”

“Cool. I always loved in-service days.”

“Me too, when I was kid. Now I hate them!”

As Jordan took a quick drink, he saw that she was watching him, a small smile playing on her lips.

“I bet,” he said, looking down at his cup. Nothing was said for a moment, and then he asked, “Did you trash the dress I ruined?”

She shook her head before pushing her red locks off her shoulders.

“I couldn’t do it.”

“No?”

She held his gaze. “No, it’s in my closet, and every time I look at it, I smile at the memory of how I got those brown spots.”

He averted his eyes, feeling a blush creeping onto his cheeks. She was flirting with him, and he liked it. He wanted to flirt back, to lean across the table and tell her how beautiful she was, but he refrained.

“I should probably buy you another dress.” So I could then take it off.

“It’s okay, you bought me coffee.”

He nodded, biting down on his lip as she looked at him. He loved the way she did that, held him hostage with her green eyes.