Falling for the Backup Read online

  Even though she missed having Sadie beside her, she was enjoying the quietness of the park. After stretching, Aynslee pushed PLAY on her iPod and began to jog down the path.

  Centennial Park was one of the best things about Nashville. It was beautiful, with lush trees and acres of green grass. A large pond full of geese brought a certain magical quality to the park. It was her oasis, and she loved her time here. As she dug in deep, taking quicker strides, her mind wandered, as always, to a certain goalie.

  What was she going to do?

  Letting out a long sigh between her gasps for breath, she pushed hard, rounding her favorite pond as she bobbed her head to Swedish House Mafia. She usually made three trips around the pond, but as she was coming around for a second time, she stopped dead in her tracks. Leaning against the rail, drinking from his water bottle, was Jordan. She was so surprised, it was a miracle she didn’t stumble forward as her eyes drank him in. He was sweating, a lot, his purple T-shirt dripping as he took in deep breaths. God, he was hot. There was something about a man drenched in sweat that made her think of naughty sex. And Jordan drenched in sweat—there was seriously nothing hotter.

  Aynslee’s heart leaped when he glanced over at her. She knew she wasn’t looking her best, but she didn’t give a damn. She had been thinking of this man for a week, and for some reason they had been brought together again.

  This time she wasn’t going to allow him to run away.

  “This is getting weird,” he laughed, as his eyes ran up and down her body.

  Aynslee smiled as she closed the distance between them. When she stopped in front of him, he said, “So you weren’t at practice; that means you’re not a stalker, right?”

  He’d noticed she wasn’t there!

  “Nope, not a stalker.”

  “I know, I was just teasing you,” he said, in a raspy way that made it hard for her to even think. She stared down as she took in a deep breath. She needed some answers—now.

  “Why did you rush out on me at Starbucks?” she asked, lifting her eyes to his face.

  He focused on the distance while Aynslee waited for his answer. Looking back down at her, he said, “I’m sorry I did that. I have a lot on my mind, and sometimes I get nervous when I don’t know what to say or do, and … yeah, sorry. Like I said, I’m not the person I was before my injury; a lot of things have changed. My life is a complete mess right now.”

  She nodded as she kept her gaze locked on his. Her heart was pounding, and she was convinced that Jordan could hear it. Aynslee knew there was really only one thing to do. She took a step and closed the space between them. She came only to mid chest on Jordan, and for once she cursed her shortness. Looking up, she crooked her finger at him, motioning for him to come closer. Thankfully, he didn’t keep her waiting or even hesitate—he simply bent down until his face was only inches from hers.

  “I get that it’s nerve-racking when you first meet someone. I’m nervous too, but the thing is, I don’t know the person you were before. All I care about is getting to know the person you are now. I am attracted to you, a lot,” she said with a smile. “And I’m not saying I’m the person to clean up your life, but I’d sure like to try. Just stop walking away from me.”

  Closing her eyes, Aynslee took in a deep breath and went up on her tippy toes. She then placed her lips on his.

  Chapter 5

  Jordan should have pulled away. But there was no way he could. He’d been waiting for this moment for too long.

  Aynslee’s lips were soft and inviting, and without thinking of the consequences, he slid his hand behind her neck, pulling her closer before deepening the kiss. With each move of her lips, he lost more control. When her hand came to rest on his arm, he took in a sharp breath, and she melted against him. It was another chance to pull away, but he couldn’t. Instead, Jordan’s other arm snaked around her waist, pressing her body against his. Then he covered her mouth with his, moving his tongue against hers. His need for her was tremendous, and when her hand moved up his back, holding him, he pulled away before he completely lost it and fucked her against the fence that surrounded the pond. He looked deep into her eyes, their breath mingling. Aynslee’s eyes were bright, and when a satisfied smile crossed her lips, Jordan knew his feelings for her extended way past lust. He didn’t know what to say, but he did know there was no way he was walking away from this woman. His life might be a mess, but after a kiss like that and the way his body responded to hers, there was no turning away.

  “Wow,” she muttered, her breath tickling his lips.

  He nodded, a smile pulling at his mouth. He wasn’t done. He didn’t think he ever would be. Dropping his head, he brushed her lips again, just for a taste, but the taste turned into more, and soon he was holding her close, kissing the hell out of her. He didn’t know what it was about this woman, but he felt as if he could kiss her forever.

  Pulling away again, gasping for breath, Jordan leaned his forehead against hers.

  “We have to stop, or people are going to get a show,” he said softly. He kept his eyes closed, because her hands were running up and down his back, but he didn’t move. He couldn’t. He was putty in her hands.

  Aynslee moved her hands up to his face, running her fingers through the stubble on his chin. She bit down on her lip, then said, “I don’t want to stop.”

  Oh, God, he was sure his cock was about to poke a hole through his shorts. He was so hard that it hurt, and if she wasn’t careful, he really was going to bend her over that fence and to hell with the consequences.

  Jordan could see the hesitation in her eyes as she said, “I live only a few minutes from here, unless you want to walk away from me again.”

  Jordan didn’t even think twice. “Not a chance. I’m done walking.”

  “Good,” she said, stepping out of his embrace.

  “Hey, where are you going?” he asked, reaching for her hand.

  “Let me give you my number and my address,” she said. Aynslee pulled her phone from her shorts pocket, as Jordan did the same. He rushed to put the information into his phone, but it was hard when his hands were shaking and his cock was begging for release.

  “So I’ll see you at my house?”

  “I’ll beat you there,” he said, hoping she would understand how much he wanted her.

  She started to back away from him. “I doubt that.”

  Aynslee collided with a runner and began to apologize. Jordan chuckled—until she looked back over at him. Her eyes were dark with desire, and he wanted nothing more than to close the distance between them and continue where they’d left off, but it would be only minutes until he had her naked and in bed. Chewing on her bottom lip, she said, “Ready, set—”

  “Go,” he said, before turning and jogging off toward his truck. He wasn’t sure if he was doing the right thing, but for once he wasn’t thinking about what was right and wrong. Jordan got into his truck, then pressed NAVIGATE on his phone before pulling out into traffic and heading west on West End. When he saw a Walgreens, he parked and rushed inside for condoms, then got back on the road to Aynslee’s house. His nerves were out of control, and he wasn’t lying when he said he was done walking away.

  Jordan pulled in to the driveway of a small white Victorian-style house and parked behind a black SUV. It was a nice house, quaint, with green shutters and a wraparound porch. Potted plants covered the stairs, and she’d placed little ornaments throughout the yard. He shut off the truck and got out, tucking the small box of condoms into his shorts before walking up to the front door. It was a quiet neighborhood; he didn’t see anyone around. As he climbed the steps, he saw Aynslee holding the door open, waiting for him.

  “I was starting to think you chickened out on me,” she teased as he drank her in. She had way too much clothing on, and he was just the guy to peel each piece off her. But first he needed to know something.

  “You’re sure?”

  She looked confused as she asked, “That you were going to chicken out on me?