On His Turf Read Free

you tell us about today’s shut out?”
    “Just doing my job,” he flashes her one of his trademark grins and I watch as her pupils dilate slightly. His smile reveals a set of perfect teeth and dimples in both of his cheeks - and not the cutesy Mario Lopez kind of dimples but the manly kind that cut right down to his chin. Up close I also notice that he has a faint white scar on his upper lip but somehow it only manages to make him look sexier.
    “You’re like a soccer rock star these days. Does all the attention bother you?” she probes.
    “Not in the least. I’d rather have too much attention than none at all.”
    “Born and raised in Austin you went to Florida State on scholarship then spent seven years with Real Salt Lake before returning to Austin. How does it feel to be playing back at home?
    “I’m a Texas boy at heart and I’m so grateful to be back here with the fans that have supported me and believed in me over the years. Like the saying goes, ‘Never ask a man if he’s from Texas. If he is, he’ll tell you on his own. If he ain’t, no need to embarrass him,’“ he finishes then winks.
    “Austin United has seen a lot of changes in the past year. How do you feel about the team that Coach O’Brien has put together?”
    “It’s a close knit group with a great bunch of guys. I couldn’t have found a better club.”
    “You recently celebrated your thirtieth birthday, congratulations. How long do you plan on staying in the game for?”
    “For as long as the game will have me. I love playing,” his eyes flash as he says the last part and I don’t miss the passion that’s reflected in his eyes.
    “If you weren’t a footballer what would you be?”
    “That’s a tough question. I’ve always played soccer. It’s what I think about when I wake up in the morning and it’s what I think about when I lie down to sleep at night.”
    “Speaking of lying down to sleep; is there a special someone in your life right now?”
    “No,” his mouth twitches. “I don’t really do girlfriends.”
    “That’s an impressive tattoo. Can you tell me what it means?” Leigh switches the topic to the ink on his chest and I notice immediately how his body tenses. His eyes shift to the wall behind her head as he speaks.
    “I think that’s enough questions for now.” The way he cuts her off so abruptly it’s obvious that her question has touched a nerve.
    “Oh, okay,” Leigh stammers, sounding a little flustered. She switches off the recorder and tosses it back into her bag before taking a step back. He seems to catch his blunder and recovers by flashing another panty-dropping grin.
    “It was a pleasure meeting you, doll,” he says in a low voice and I notice that Leigh’s hand trembles a little as she grips his.
    “You too,” she answers breathlessly. His eyes cut to me and my cheeks heat in response because I’m still trying my hardest to wipe the image of him naked from my mind.
    “You,” he says and the words come out almost like a growl.
    “Me?” I squeak.
    “You were booing me.”
    I study his face which is carefully blank. If I’d known he was going to call me out on it I never would’ve come into the dressing room with Leigh. “It wasn’t you specifically…it was more soccer in general,” I explain and a beat passes before he throws his head back and laughs.
    “You have a problem with soccer?” he asks, wiping his eyes.
    “It’s just not my thing,” I say on a shrug.
    “Then what is your thing, beautiful? Other than lacy white bras,” he asks as his eyes travel down the front of my button shirt. I’m momentarily stunned that he’s referred to me as beautiful and I kick myself for being so weak. I know exactly how guys like him operate yet I can’t help the small tremor of pleasure that passes through my body at his words.
    “Investigative Journalism. That’s my thing,” I answer.
    “So you’re a reporter?”
    “Hardly. I’m an Assistant at the Observer which means