Three and Out

  He shrugged his shoulders, “It’s a great state.”

  “Ridiculous.” She put it on, and then held her hands out in the car, “How do I look?”

  He examined her and then said, “Like a hobo.”

  “Okay, not quite what I was going for, but I’ll take it. Now, what are we going to do with you? You can’t wear that ridiculous mustache, it’s so fake.”

  “I have a hat and glasses and another sweatshirt.” He pulled one out, and on the front it read “USA.”

  “You’re so American,” she teased.

  “I know.” He faked fluffing his non-existent hair, since his hair was buzzed.

  Ashlin laughed as they both went incognito and made sure they looked inconspicuous as possible, but after she looked at both of them, she realized they just looked like frumps in glasses.

  “What size is that sweatshirt?” she asked Jesse, as they walked toward the entrance. “It’s like three sizes too big for you.”

  “It’s Meatloaf’s sweatshirt. He let me borrow it.”

  “Meatloaf? Is that a dog?”

  Jesse threw his head back and laughed. “No, Meatloaf is one of my linemen. He is a bit…fluffy.”

  “Ohhhh,” Ashlin said in understanding. “Well, then he’s the American one.”

  “Yeah, I’m pretty sure he got this sweatshirt specially made by Omar Tents, but I love the man; he keeps my ass safe on the field.”

  “And we’re all happy for that,” Ashlin replied, as she patted him on the cheek.

  Jesse paid for their tickets, grabbed a map of the zoo, and then led her to the entrance. So far, no one was staring, but they were also at the zoo in the fall/winter time so there weren’t many people there.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll get you some hot chocolate to warm you up later,” Jesse leaned over and said as they started making their way past all the zoo merchandise.

  Ashlin decided she didn’t need hot chocolate to warm her up, she just needed Jesse whispering in her ear, because, good God, she thought her lady parts were going to melt. She saw what he was doing, he was slowly trying to work his way under the wall she put up around her heart by texting her, taking her out, and saying things no other man had ever said to her, and holy hell was it working. He was chipping away at her wall, and she couldn’t help but let him in…inch by inch.

  She’d had boyfriends in the past, but they were nothing like Jesse. Yes, they were handsome, strong, and your typical male, but with Jesse it was different; he actually cared about who she was as a person, and not just what she had to offer when it came to her body. She understood that she sold sex for a living, so she was stereotyping herself, but the fact that Jesse was able to look past that and find who she really was as a person was impressive.

  “So, someone told me that elephants are your favorite.” He looked down at his watch, his obnoxiously expensive watch, and said, “We should head on over there now, because I have a little surprise set up for you.”

  “What are you up to, QB?” she asked, as he grabbed her hand and guided her toward the Elephant Encounter. The fact that her hand fit perfectly into his didn’t slip by her. Instead of responding to her question, he just looked back at her, winked, and kept walking, making her panties melt right off. He was sex on a stick, and he didn’t even realize it. He was probably the least self-centered person she knew, who had every reason to be a self-centered ass, given the fact that he was rolling in millions of dollars, was the starting quarterback for the Stallions, and had the body of a Greek god.

  “Excoose me,” a little voice came. Jesse stopped in his tracks and looked down to see a little boy with deep brown hair, brown eyes, and a ring of dried ice cream around his mouth holding onto a Stallions stuffed animal mascot and wearing a Spiderman shirt.

  “Hey, man,” Jesse squatted down, still holding Ashlin’s hand. “What’s going on?”

  “Are you Jesse Rutledge?” the little boy asked, as he tugged on Jesse’s sleeve.

  Jesse leaned in and said, “Can you keep a secret?” The little boy nodded his head rapidly. “Good, I am Jesse Rutledge, but do you see this pretty girl next to me?” The boy looked up at Ashlin and then back at Jesse, nodding once again. “Well, I promised her a trip to the zoo, and I want to make sure she gets that trip.”

  “Sorry about that,” the mom said, as she tried to take her son away. “He’s such a huge fan, he could spot you anywhere.”

  Jesse smiled up at the mom and said, “I think it’s amazing he spotted me. You’ve got a good eye, pal,” Jesse said, while patting the kid on the shoulder. “I tell you what, we’re playing the Thunder this weekend at our stadium, and I have a box looking over the fifty yard line. If it’s alright with this little lady,” he said, while tugging on Ashlin’s hand, “I would love for you to join her on Sunday and then meet up with me after the game. I’d be happy to give you a tour of the locker room.” The mom started bursting out in tears as the little boy jumped up and down in excitement. Ashlin was confused as to why she was brought into it.

  “Can I? Can I go to the game with you?” the little boy asked Ashlin, eyes so bright.

  “Of course,” Ashlin said, as the little boy jumped into Jesse’s arms as Jesse tried to quiet him.

  “Remember, buddy, this is our little secret, alright?” the boy nodded, and then Jesse stood up. He grabbed the mom’s contact information to give to his manager, tussled the little boy’s hair, and told him he would see them on Sunday.

  The mom was still crying as she walked away with the little boy, hand in hand. The mom dragged him away, but his body was still turned toward Jesse, waving his hand and smiling the biggest smile Ashlin had ever seen.

  Yup, she was pretty sure she’d just fallen in love with the man next to her. Just like that, he busted through her wall and stole her heart. Jesse could have been a massive dick and walked away, but instead, he invited the little boy to his private suite with a tour of the locker room afterwards. Who did that?

  “That was beyond words,” Ashlin said, as she looked up at Jesse.

  He just shrugged his shoulders and started walking toward the Elephant Encounter.

  “Do you realize you just made that little boy’s life?” Ashlin stopped him, trying to help him understand that the small act of kindness he was doing was actually a huge thing.

  “Nothing to really discuss,” Jesse said shyly.

  “Handsome and humble, are you trying to make it impossible for me to be attracted to any other man ever again?”

  Jesse smiled and said, “Yeah, is it working?”

  “With flying colors.”

  “Good.”

  He pulled her into his side and kissed the top of her head. The gesture was so simple, but it made her toes curl. His strong grip, the soft laundry smell coming off of him, and the way he held onto her made her weak in the knees for the man. She didn’t stand a chance against him. He was lethal.

  “Hold on,” Ashlin thought back to what Jesse said. “What’s this all about me being in your suite on Sunday?”

  Jesse looked at his watch and said, “We really have to get to the back of the elephant stalls.”

  “Not before you answer my question,” she said playfully.

  Jesse rubbed the back of his neck with his hand and said, “Well, I was hoping that maybe by the end of our little date here, you would want to possibly come watch me play on Sunday…as my girlfriend.”

  Hopeful man.

  Ashlin let out a little laugh. “You really think it’s going to be that easy? I told you I don’t do relationships.”

  “I know, but…”

  Ashlin put her hand over Jesse’s mouth to stop him from talking, and said, “But if you happen to buy me a stuffed animal at the end of the day, your little plan might come true.”

  Pure and utter joy lit up Jesse’s face as he understood what she was saying to him.

  “I will buy you the biggest damn stuffed animal you want,” Jesse replied, as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pressed
a kiss to her temple, and led her to the elephants.

  Scared would be a way to describe how she was feeling, but completely terrified was probably better. Jesse didn’t know about her dad, about her family life, her trailer trash upbringing…and she wasn’t ready to give her heart away, trust someone else with it, but she knew she didn’t have a choice. Jesse crawled his way into her life and there was no turning back. She was jumping over the cliff, head first without a parachute; she just hoped Jesse was at the bottom, ready to catch her.

  **Piper**

  Two nights in separate beds, zero touching, zilch kissing, and a man made of pure steel walking around shirtless had led Piper to become a quivering mess. Any time Mason was in the room, shirtless and unaware of the effect he had on her, she had to retreat the premises and gather her wits. They spent their days unpacking Mason’s things, going to physical therapy, which Piper never stayed at, and then watching a movie at night, never touching. It was absolute torture.

  After one of the biggest orgasms she had in a while, thanks to Mason’s talented tongue, she found herself yearning for more of him, and the bastard knew what he was doing to her, because when he saw her in the morning, frustrated and sexually charged, he would just smile and laugh to himself.

  She was playing by his rules, and she was being a good girl about it, but she didn’t know how much more she could take. Every time she tried to talk to him about their past history, he would change the subject; she was about to explode.

  “You ready?” Mason asked, as he crutched into the living room.

  Of course she was ready, she had been ready since six this morning, avoiding the man who was staring at her. She avoided Mason in the morning, doing yoga in her room and taking long showers. Avoidance helped with the yearning, at least just a little.

  “Yup.” She hopped off the bar counter and grabbed her purse, avoiding all eye contact.

  Mason grabbed her hand and stopped her. “Hey, what’s going on? You’ve been avoiding me.”

  Piper finally looked into those deep brown eyes of his and wanted to crumble to the floor and cry. She wanted him so badly, and there was nothing she could do about it.

  “I’m fine, just taking care of things.”

  “Liar,” Mason said flatly. “You’re avoiding me. The question is, why?”

  “We’re going to be late,” she said, while looking down at her shoes.

  Mason lifted her chin, and said, “So, you’re finally starting to realize how I felt when you were with Jax, not able to touch you, be with you, or feel you.”

  “What?” Piper felt like she’d been hit by a truck, she was so stunned. “Were you punishing me?”

  A smirk spread across Mason’s face, making her want to punch him square in the jaw, and then, unfortunately, kiss him back to health. Damn lady hormones.

  “I wouldn’t say punishing you…just teaching you a lesson.”

  “I can’t fucking believe you!” Piper threw her hands up. “I thought we weren’t going to play games; I thought we were going to at least try to have a normal relationship.”

  “We are Piper, but I had to have you see what it feels like to want something so badly, but not have it. I wanted to see if you had the same feelings for me that I do for you.”

  “Of course I do, you idiot! Jesus, I’ve been dying inside not being able to touch you, feel you, or be with you. It’s not easy walking around in the same house, knowing that my heart is calling out to you, but there is nothing I can do about it…” Piper stopped in the middle of her sentence as realization dawned on her. “Oh, my God.” Her eyes snapped up to Mason, who was, all of a sudden, examining his shoes. “Mason, look at me.” He met her eyes, and that was when she didn’t care anymore; she grabbed his face and pressed her lips against his for the first time since the dreaded day they’d separated.

  He didn’t step back or push her away. Instead, he wrapped one arm around her waist and brought her in tighter. His lips matched hers, and his tongue crept into hers as she fell into his embrace and molded her body against his. It had been so long, so long since she felt him the way she did now, to have him touch her the way his hand was gently stroking her back, and the way his lips felt against hers as his scruff brushed against her chin. This was what she wanted; this is what she’d been waiting for. She understood him now, what he went through, what she put him through.

  She pulled away and cupped his cheeks. “I am so fucking sorry, Mason. I can’t tell you how sorry I am.”

  Her heart ached at finally realizing the pain and torture she’d put Mason through when she was with Jax. Piper had only experienced the feeling for a couple of days; she couldn’t imagine how tough it had been on Mason. He was so much stronger than she was.

  “I know, babe. I’m sorry too; I shouldn’t have tried to teach you a lesson when we’re trying to be honest with each other. It’s just…I wanted to make sure that, moving forward, you truly wanted to be with me, that you feel what I feel. I didn’t want to waste my time if you didn’t have the same feelings that I did.”

  “I do, Mason. I’ve been dying the last couple of days, just begging for your touch. I’m glad you ‘taught’ me a lesson, even though I’m a little mad at you,” she pinched his side, which was all skin, since the man didn’t have one ounce of fat on him.

  “Hey, watch it,” he said, as he started rocking a little off balance. Piper grabbed his shirt and steadied him, making him smile. “Who knew a spicy redhead would be able to grab me by my balls?”

  “You have that all wrong, because there’s a wide receiver with deep brown eyes that has a death grip on my lady balls right now.”

  Mason threw his head back and laughed. “Piper, if you have lady balls, we might need to have a little conversation.”

  “Let’s go, we’re going to be late,” Piper guided him toward the door. “Oh, and just so you know, I’ll be sleeping in that giant bed of yours tonight; I don’t care what you say. We may not have sex, but hell if I’m not going to have your body wrapped around mine.”

  “We’ll see about that,” Mason teased.

  “If you want to eat, then you’ll make it happen.”

  “Threatening me with food? Cheap shot, babe, cheap shot.”

  They drove to the stadium where Piper dropped Mason off for physical therapy. She never went into the stadium for many reasons, one being the obvious…she didn’t want to run into Jax. Mason got out and then bent down into the window on the driver’s side and said, “Pick me up in a couple of hours?”

  “Of course.”

  “Hold on.” Mason stopped her from rolling up her window.

  She pressed the down button and said, “Can I help you?”

  Bending over, he grabbed her chin and kissed her softly on the lips. “Thanks for taking care of me.”

  “Thank you for letting me.”

  “What are you going to do while I’m here? Buy some lingerie? Maybe take some naked pictures for me?”

  “Really, Mason? You know, when you’re not around, women don’t sit around fingering themselves and thinking about you, right?”

  “A man can only dream.”

  “Despicable. No, I’m not going to go buy lingerie. I was actually thinking about going to see Hannah.”

  Mason’s face grew serious. “Are you ready for that?”

  “I have to; I owe her an explanation.”

  Mason nodded his head and said, “Call me when you’re done.”

  “I will.”

  “Tomorrow, will you go to the get-together with me at Jesse’s house? He’s having me, Ryker, and Jake over for a little gathering before the game on Sunday.”

  “Am I invited?” Piper asked, concerned.

  “Of course.”

  “Sure, then. Sounds like fun.”

  Mason gave her one last kiss before winking at her and crutching his way into the stadium. She wanted to pull him back in the car and have her wicked way with him, but knew that wasn’t an option. Instead, she put her car in drive and
headed to Dick’s Last Chance, where she knew Hannah would be getting ready for the five o’clock crowd. She was in for a rough one, but she wanted to see her friend; she needed to see her friend.

  Piper parked in front of the bar she used to work at, since it wasn’t quite happy hour yet, and locked up her car. Nerves ran through her body as she entered the building. From the outside, the place looked like a total dive bar, but on the inside, it was modern and sophisticated…a real treasure in the heart of Denver.

  She instantly spotted Hannah working frantically behind the bar, setting up bowls of nuts and getting ready for the rush. Maybe it wasn’t the best time to visit and say, “Hey, I’m not dead,” but Piper knew she couldn’t wait any longer.

  Taking a deep breath, Piper said, “Hey, Hannah.”

  Hannah’s head shot up just as she dropped a bowl of nuts over the counter, spilling them everywhere.

  “Where the hell have you been?”

  At that moment, Piper knew she was in trouble; Hannah never swore. She took a big step forward and prayed that Hannah would forgive her for leaving.

  **Jesse**

  “I still can’t believe I got to feed and pet an elephant! This day has been amazing,” Ashlin exclaimed with elation. “Who knew they were so dry? We should really go into the elephant lotion business; we would make a killing.” Ashlin took a bite out of the cotton candy Jesse got her and smiled, melting Jesse’s heart.

  This day had just solidified how infatuated he was with Ashlin. She was a breath of fresh air, just what he needed in his life.

  “Not sure we would make a killing, since elephants aren’t really a target consumer these days, but if I they did have wallets, I bet they would be fat.”

  Ashlin quirked her mouth at Jesse. “You’re so corny.”

  “Got you to smile,” he pressed the side of her mouth with his finger, which she tried to bite. “Hey, easy there, killer,” he laughed as he shook his finger.

  “Seriously, though, thank you for a great day. I’m glad you didn’t have practice today. Seems like Coach Ryan is going easy on you guys.”