Beauty and the Blitz Read Online Free Page A

it.”
    “Never said I wanted it. No point in being polite.”
    Piper peeked and stiffened as I pulled off my pants. She covered her eyes again. Why the hell did that excite me?
    “Chivalry isn’t dead—it never existed,” I said. “About the best you’ll get is me covering up with a towel so as not to offend your delicate sensibilities—even though you’re trespassing again .”
    “I’m trying to be reasonable.”
    “Admit it. You can’t stay away from me.”
    “I’m contractually obligated to attend to you,” she said. “Believe me. I’d rather be anywhere else.”
    “Exit’s right behind you. You might not recognize it without the screeching doorbell.”
    “Have you always been this big of an ass?”
    “I don’t skip leg days, beautiful.” I knotted the towel. Loosely. She didn’t take the bait or try to peek at how low it draped.
    Piper sighed. “Have you always been so combative ?”
    “Yes.”
    “Why?”
    “This world is hit or be hit. If you’re lucky, you can avoid most of the pain.”
    “And if you don’t want to hit anyone?”
    “Then you’ll end up on your ass…or, if we’re lucky, your knees.”
    “Never.”
    “I’d love to see you break that promise.”
    “I’m a woman of my word.”
    “How unfortunate.”
    I stepped away before the beast under the towel got any crass ideas. Piper was peanut-brittle delicate, and I wasn’t about to crack her.
    Not physically at least.
    My locker was sparse. No needless pictures. No trinkets. Just the essentials—clothes, toiletries, and a pair of headphones. I grabbed my shampoo. Piper still didn’t look directly at me. How demure for a woman who practically eye-fucked me on my front porch.
    “You weren’t so bashful the other night,” I said. “You can like what you see.”
    “How kind of you.”
    “You’re not the first one to come and stare at the beast.” I smirked. “Usually they come after staring too.”
    “I can only imagine.”
    She really couldn’t. I wasn’t a player. The women who let me into their beds didn’t stick around. Couldn’t blame them. I didn’t have a…light touch. They liked it, of course. But most women wanted more than just an animal fuck. Talking. Commitment. Love.
    I wasn’t capable of that bullshit. I offered my cock, they took their fill, and I was gone. It worked for me. I liked my space. The quiet.
    I liked the way Piper squirmed around me more.
    “Don’t fire my father.”
    “Why shouldn’t I?”
    “Because he only met with the Monarchs’ GM. We were sorting out the details of the trade in case you changed your mind.” Piper had uncovered her eyes at least, though she stared at the ceiling once she saw the more expressive posters hanging in some of the guy’s lockers. “We weren’t bargaining. We weren’t working against you. If you agree to the trade, it has to happen fast. That’s all.”
    “I won’t get traded.”
    “If that’s what you want, fine. You can be as stubborn as you like, but don’t fire him.”
    “He disobeyed my wishes.”
    “He’s the last agent in our agency who will work with you.” Piper shrugged. “I might not know how many men are on the team or the difference between a fumble and interception—”
    “Oh, Christ.”
    “—But I know your reputation, Cole. And it’s not good. No one wants to work with you, on the field or off. If you refuse the trade, the Monarchs will cut you by the end of the season—and that sends a message about your character to the league. The teams remotely interested in you now won’t take a chance then, not when they’ll have to deal with President Bennett targeting every move you make.”
    “And this has nothing to do with your commission, right?”
    Piper huffed. “You just got kicked out of practice, Cole. You better start focusing on your career before it’s over . This isn’t your last opportunity, but time is running out. Even you have a weakness.”
    I encroached on her, surprised by her delicate and