Heather was frowning and he overheard her say, “Actually, I’m not sure it’s such a great idea if I go back where the rest of the team is.”
Lori brushed off her concern without asking for a reason. “Are you kidding? All those hot, sweaty guys make it a fabulous idea.”
As if Ryan would ever let Lori date one of the guys on his team in this lifetime. Fortunately, the players on the Hawks had always understood just how off-limits the Sullivan twins were. Unlike, he thought with a scowl in Jake’s direction, his own friend. Of course, given the way Sophie and Jake were always giving each other gooey looks the way they were right then, he supposed it had all worked out in the end.
Walking behind Heather, he couldn’t take his eyes off her gorgeous legs in her shorts, the sweet curve of her hips, the way her dark, shiny hair swung over her back in its usual braid. Frankly, the last thing he was worried about right now was his little sister. Because if Ryan—or any of his teammates—looked at Heather the wrong way, he was going to have to kill them.
* * *
Heather hadn’t been into the locker room before, even though she’d been invited more than once. If she’d taken the guy she dated occasionally up on his invitation, it would have made their casual relationship seem like more than it was.
Which was why she shouldn’t be freaking out right now. Just because she and—
“Heather?”
Brant Johnston, the first baseman for the Hawks, grinned when she walked in with Lori.
She felt herself flush, but it wasn’t because of Brant. It was the knowledge that Zach had moved beside her in a flash, every muscle in his body tensed as though he were about to spring.
She was just flustered enough that, before she could stop him, Brant pulled her against him for a hug. “You look gorgeous, as always.”
For a professional athlete, Brant was actually quite sweet. And there was no question that he was good-looking, with his golden hair, blue eyes, and athletic build. But she had never even been tempted to take things beyond dinner and sex. It had a been a few months since she’d last seen him, even though he’d called a couple of times to see if she wanted to get together. She just hadn’t been all that interested.
Quickly stepping out of his arms, she planted a smile on her face that she hoped looked genuine. “Great game.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she could see that Zach’s face looked like thunder. Lori, Sophie and Jake were watching the scene play out with something akin to glee on their faces.
“If I’d known you were coming today, I would have made sure you had a great seat.” He finally noticed her dog. “Hey, how’s it going, Antler?”
She thought she heard Zach growl just as his brother found them. Atlas wasn’t particularly comfortable with so many big men around, but she could tell Zach’s presence made him feel much more secure than usual.
“Ryan,” Zach said, putting a rather possessive hand on the small of her back, “this is Heather and her dog Atlas.”
She knew the special emphasis on her dog’s name and his hand on her were both for Brant’s benefit, but even while something warmed up inside of her at the crazy thought of actually belonging to Zach, she couldn’t stand being the bone that two men were tugging between them to see who would win.
Stepping out of Zach’s reach, she shook Ryan’s hand. “It’s so nice to meet you.”
She could feel Ryan working to size up the situation between her and Brant and Zach. Atlas had never much cared for Brant the couple of times he’d met him, but just as he’d been with Zach, he practically turned into a squirming puppy when Ryan scratched his head. Yes indeed, there was no doubt that Sullivan men had quite a potent effect on living, breathing things.
Somewhere in there Brant had moved closer to her. “It’s been too long, Heather. Why don’t we celebrate the game together tonight?”
A month ago, she might have gone. After all, she was a sensual woman and sex with a good-looking guy wasn’t a terrible way to end a Friday night.
But even though she didn’t have any other plans, and certainly wasn’t in a relationship with anyone else, the idea of casually seeing Brant didn’t seem like a very good one anymore. Actually, it seemed like a terrible idea.
She opened her mouth to say no thank you, when Zach reached out and slid a lock of hair that had escaped her braid behind her ear.
“You didn’t mention you knew Brant this morning when you were making breakfast for us.”
At his gentle touch, she simultaneously wanted him more than she’d ever wanted another man...and could have punched him for behaving like such a caveman with the false insinuations of why she’d been making breakfast at his house.
Purposefully turning her back on Zach, she told Brant, “It’s been a pretty big day already and it will be an even bigger one tomorrow.” She looked down at her dog, who looked like he’d run a marathon instead of gobbling up stray pieces of popcorn and playing with his best puppy friend all afternoon. “I’ve got to get home.”
She was turning to Zach’s family to say her goodbyes, when Brant surprised her by pulling her against him for another hug. An even longer one this time. “I’ll call you soon.”
She barely stopped herself from rolling her eyes as she stepped out of his arms and turned to tell Lori, Sophie, Ryan, and Jake, “It was so nice meeting all of you.”
“It was totally our pleasure.” Lori hugged Heather. “I hope we’ll see you again really soon.”
Heather didn’t know what to say to that. She was Zach’s dog trainer, not his girlfriend. What reason would she have to run into his family ever again unless they all got dogs?
She pulled up the slack on Atlas’s leash and headed for the door. When she realized Zach was right beside her every step, she said, “I know the way out.”
Of course, he didn’t back off, just stayed right beside her as she walked out of the park.
“How many times have you been with him?”
She picked up her pace. “That’s none of your business.”
“Why didn’t you go with him tonight?”
That wasn’t any of his business either, but she said, “I’m tired. My dog is tired. I’m ready to go home.”
She pushed out a side exit into an alley that led to the parking lot. The truth was, even the thought of kissing Brant again had her entire body recoiling. Not because he hadn’t been an okay lover, but because, suddenly, there was only one man she could imagine kissing.