Page 33 of The Backup Plan

“Spoken like only my best friend can speak.”

I chuckle and look away from the window so I can focus. “It’s all exciting. The facility is unreal. The resources are unparalleled. The access is . . . this is everything I worked so hard for. Everything Jared wouldn’t—”

“We’re not going there,” she says. “New place. New you.”

“Yes. You’re right.” I straighten my spine like that will help shake away my past. “New place. New me. New challenge.”

“Ah,” she murmurs. “Can we hope that challenge also comes with a sexy-as-hell six-foot-five man with broad shoulders?”

“Exactly. Yes. All the men here are walking sex symbols. You’ve watched football games before and seen the multitude of shapes and sizes, haven’t you?” I joke.

“Yes, but I typically focus on those very tight pants and what they show under them.”

“Of course you do.” I laugh. “But this—he’s—” Definitely sexy. Oh my God, Emery. You did not just think that.

You did.

You definitely did.

“He?” she asks, catching my slip.

“One of my players to rehab is all I meant.” Nice recovery, Em.

“What about him?”

“Nothing. I was just watching him practice and got the conversation crossed with my thoughts.”

“Sure you did,” she says. I can imagine her eyebrows narrowing in question.

“I did. I promise. Day one and they already gave me a challenge the size of Texas when it comes to him. They’re either testing me or believe in me, and I’m not quite sure which it is yet.”

“And he is?” Her voice sharpens with interest.

“You know I can’t say who. Confidentiality and all that.”

“Blah. Blah. It’s not like I’m going to tell opposing teams and get paid for my insight.”

“Stranger things have happened. Not you, but—you know what I mean.”

“I do.” She chews the words but then asks what her creative imagination needs. “Tell me the type at least. Brooding? Oversized and loveable? Hulking and an asshole—”

“How about stubborn but brilliant? Oh, and deeply allergic to the truth when it comes to his own body.”

“Deeply allergic to the truth? Sounds like someone else I know.” She laughs in a way that only a best friend can after truth-bombing you.

“Very funny.”

“I’ll take the jabs where I can to remind you that you’re not going back to being that person.”

“I’m one hundred percent on board with this.”

“Good. Now back to Football Stud. Should I guess here? Clearly, he’s elite and used to being untouchable if he’s in the NFL and having trouble with whatever injury he’s having trouble with.”

“Something like that.” His shoulder clicked beneath my fingers when he rotated it. Not a good sign on a repaired shoulder, but not unexpected.

“You think you can help him?”

“I know I can.” Those four words are so quiet, so even, and I’m proud of them. There’s no false bravado in them. Just cold, hard training and experience that backs up that confidence. “But only if I can get him to trust me.”