Twisted Collide: The new sports romance in the Redville Saints series

Since the day of my tuxedo fitting, I’ve put as much distance between Josephine and me as possible. The girl is getting under my skin, and it’s dangerous.

She’s everywhere.

A damn temptation begging for me to sin.

She’s too damn close.

The vision in front of me is what I’ve been hoping to avoid, but by some sick twist of fate, I can’t.

I don’t allow myself to touch the dangling fruit, despite the way it torments me, and in turn, I’m a grumpy motherfucker.

Oh, who am I kidding? I was always an asshole and have been since my parents died, but this is next level. I’ve had to build walls.

She walks past me to enter the house, and the vision should be illegal from this angle.

Did she change? There is no way she was wearing this the whole day. I would have lost my shit. I wouldn’t have missed this outfit.

I trail my gaze up her body, from her tanned and toned legs past her skirt.

Fuck, an inch of her torso shows beneath her cropped shirt.

Why does she have to be his damn daughter?

I don’t want a relationship, but I’d love to lose myself in her one more time.

Her trimmed waist begs me to reach out and touch her.

This is my own personal hell.

This is bad.

“After you,” I grit out as Sherry gestures to the table.

“Thank you, Dane.” She smirks. It’s mocking, coy. It makes me think that despite all my best efforts, she knows how much I want her and wants to toy with me.

Little minx.

A cough escapes my mouth, and I pull my gaze from her. It lands on her dad, who’s staring at me in an odd manner.

Does he see it too?

I hope not.

Josephine takes the chair on the left, leaving me sitting on the right, closer to Coach.

The sound of me pulling the chair back echoes around, making my descent seem much longer than it actually is.

“I’m so happy you’re both here,” Sherry says as she reaches across the table to grab the bottle of wine. “Wine?”

As if this hasn’t been the norm lately. I’ve felt like it’s back to normal, with the exception of Josephine’s presence.

Josephine says nothing, so I do. “Yes, I’d love some.”

Sherry walks over to where I’m sitting and pours me a glass. “Josie?”

“Sure. Thank you.”

There’s no missing the tightness of her voice. She doesn’t want to be here, and it obviously has nothing to do with me.

Once Sherry pours herself and Coach a drink, Coach raises his glass. “To a job well done,” he says to his daughter.

I look over at her, and her eyebrow is raised. “Job well done?”

“Molly will be back soon, so I think it’s safe to move you back. Dane, she’ll still help you of course. Congrats, you’re officially back interning for the whole team.”

Her face is serious, and she nibbles on her bottom lip.

My jaw feels tight.

Is she happy or sad about the news? Her reaction seems odd.

Not my problem. I grab the now filled glass and lift it. It’s exactly what I need, like a refreshing pool on a hot day.

“Dane,” Coach’s voice rings through the dining room, and I turn my head back toward his direction. “Do you have anything to add?”

No.

What can I possibly say? Thanks for helping out. I almost threw you down on the floor three times a day to eat your perfect pussy, but I figured your dad would kill me if I did that, so I decided not to.

“It was great having you step in for Molly. You were very helpful, and I really appreciate it,” I grit out.

Coach smiles, and I know he bought it. I glance at Josephine, and the little hellfire is having none of it. She’s currently trying to stop herself from rolling her eyes.

“You sure?” she says, shocking the shit out of me.

“Of course,” I answer.

“Well, it’s not like you ever smile, so how would I know?” She lifts a mocking brow.

“I’m not that bad. I smile.”

She shakes her head. “Lies. And we both know it.”

“Josie,” her dad reprimands her, and she shrugs.

“What? It’s true. The man never smiles. Hell, I’d never smile either if I had to work with him all day.” She inclines her chin toward her dad.

There’s an awkward silence before Coach’s chair scrapes against the floor. He stands up and leaves the room. Sherry gets up too, following on his heels.

“Ugh,” Josephine groans, eyes closing in frustration. Or maybe something else?

“What was that about?” I snap, not understanding why she would insult him at his own table. “He’s a good man,” I tell her.

“I wouldn’t know.” There’s sadness in those words, and now I really have questions.

I might’ve said it was none of my business, but now that I’ve witnessed this, I change my mind.

I’m about to ask her to clarify, but then Sherry strides back into the room. This time, holding plates. She doesn’t look at either of us.

“Time for dinner.” She places the two dishes in front of Josephine and myself before leaving, most likely to get her and Robert’s dinner.

“While this looks delicious, it’s not really what I’m in the mood for.”

I don’t respond. Nothing good will come from talking to her. Not when she most likely is going to say something to drive me crazy.

“Don’t you want to know what I want?” she asks.

I continue to pretend she’s not speaking.

“Oh, so you’re ignoring me? That’s not very nice, Mr. Grumpy. Don’t you want to know what your little hellfire has to say?” Her voice drips with innuendo, and I’m hyperaware that I shouldn’t engage.

What is she doing?

I shouldn’t look at her or speak to her, but like a moth to a flame, I can’t help it.

I pivot in my seat and meet her stare.

Her mouth opens, and her tongue slowly peeks out from behind her red lips before she runs it seductively over her plump skin.

Something is really off here. I know we have chemistry, and I have no doubt she does want another round, but the way she’s acting right now . . . there’s more to it.

“I want you.”

Fuck.

My dick hardens in my pants, and I grit my teeth. Not the time. Not the fucking time.

“That won’t happen, Hellfire. And if I were you, I’d keep your voice down.”

“But wouldn’t it be fun if it did?”

God would it ever.

What I would do for just one more taste. Why are the forbidden ones that much sweeter?

After the longest dinner of my life, it’s finally over. I managed to keep my eyes off Josephine throughout the rest of the meal by some miracle.

“Come on, Dane, let’s go outside by the pool and have a glass of whiskey,” Coach says, entering the room now that Josephine is nowhere to be seen.

“I should probably be going home,” I say, glancing down at my phone.

“Don’t be ridiculous. One drink. We need to talk shop.”

We have more to talk about than shop, but I’m not about to say that out loud.

“Lead the way,” I say.

He turns back around. “Meet me by the pool. I’ll grab fresh glasses.”

Since I’ve been here more times than I can count, I head toward the glass doors leading to the patio.

When I step outside, I see I’m not alone. A few steps ahead of me, Josephine is walking toward the guesthouse.

So that’s where she’s staying.

I assumed she was staying in the main house, but I guess, given her age and relationship with her dad, this makes more sense.

She keeps walking, and I take a seat at the table.

If she noticed me trailing her, she didn’t acknowledge it.

The cool night air feels good right now. I inhale deeply, allowing my shoulders to uncoil. It’s not that I’m always uptight, but it’s hard to let my guard down.

Here, under a canopy of stars, it’s easy to forget my troubles for a minute, even if one of them has just walked out of sight.