Slam Dunk: Black & White Collection (2 page)

“Nothing wrong with having pride and standing up for yourself. Better that than being a doormat.”

“Unfortunately, it was a bit more than that. We ended up in a huge battle at the end of the year—a fight that was overheard by several students. Joel, my ex, had seniority and the principal rather strongly suggested that I find a job in another school. Said he’d give me a good recommendation if I went voluntarily.”

“Shit. That sucks.”

She closed her eyes and sighed. “Yeah. I know. Gotta admit the lyrics of this song are pretty ironic. Seem to fit my life lately.”

Trey listened to Bono sing about being stuck in a moment he couldn’t get out of. He leaned down and pressed his forehead to hers. “Maybe. Maybe not. I have to say this is one moment I wouldn’t mind being stuck in for a while.”

She opened her eyes and looked at him. “I have a confession to make.”

“Okay.”

“I’ve always been attracted to you.” Her words blew him away. Hot damn.

“Oh yeah?” he replied.

She smirked and rolled her eyes at his cocky tone. “The thing is,” she started and he knew from her tone he wasn’t going to like what was coming next, “I’ve made a promise to myself and I aim to keep it.”

“What kind of promise?”

“I’m not going to date a colleague again. Ever. From this point on, my dating pool does not include fellow teachers.” She spoke the words with such assurance, he didn’t doubt her determination to abide by them for a minute.

Trey had always dated casually, never considered settling down. As he looked into Ellie Hunter’s dark eyes, he saw a woman who made him think future…and forever.

Fuck.

As the song ended, Ellie forced herself to let go of Trey and walk back to the table as Cheryl claimed him for the next dance.

Ellie was on day one of Operation New Life and she was already screwing up. Her vow to avoid workplace relationships had been solid as a rock until she’d walked into the bar and spotted Trey Donovan at the table. She’d been so focused on escaping her ex, Joel, and Harper’s Ridge, she’d failed to consider what she was running toward.

While she’d never spent a great deal of time with Trey, that didn’t mean she hadn’t wiled away some serious hours fantasizing about him. For one thing, he was built like a two-ton truck. He was well over six feet tall with muscular arms, dark skin and chocolate brown eyes she could lose herself in.

Physical attraction aside, she also respected his abilities as a coach. She’d seen far too many screamers in her time. Coaches who thought the only way to get results from their players was to berate, belittle and deafen the kids with loud insults and commands. Trey was a passionate coach, but he never talked down to his girls, never yelled at them for mistakes made on the court.

However, Trey had a reputation as a ladies’ man and there was no way in hell she was going down that road again. She’d been warned about Joel’s love ’em and leave ’em dating record, but she’d honestly believed their relationship was different. When they moved in together, she’d pictured marriage, children and happily ever after.

Joel had put a definite period to those plans when she’d gotten a migraine and come home early from summer basketball camp one afternoon to find him in bed with her department chair, Dawn. She’d spent the past school year living in hell, moving out of their shared apartment and setting up housekeeping in a smaller place in a less-than-desirable part of town. To add insult to injury, Joel continued dating Dawn and she had been forced to watch the two of them looking chummy and happy together at school each day.

Grace smiled at her when she sat. “I’m glad you came out with us.”

Ellie returned her grin. “So am I. This is a great tradition.”

Jamie put his arm around Grace’s chair. “Consider yourself on the permanent happy hour guest list. Nice to see a woman who can give Trey a run for his money on the dance floor.”

Ellie shrugged nonchalantly. “He’s not that hard to keep up with.”

Her response prompted Grace’s laughter. “Don’t let him hear you say that.” Grace grabbed Jamie’s hand and held it. “Didn’t you hear his song choice? He likes to think he’s Usher.”

Ellie looked over her shoulder, watching Trey try to bump and grind with Cheryl. They were both laughing more than dancing. Ellie was envious of the close friendship this group shared. After spending the past school year alone and miserable, she wondered if her private hell would have been so unbearable if she’d had friends like this group in her life. “Oh jeez. More like Carlton from Fresh Prince of Bel Air,” she joked.

Jamie, Lucas and Grace laughed loudly.

“Oh man, you totally fit in with us,” Grace said between chuckles. “So, tell us all about yourself. Are you dating anyone?”

Ellie’s matchmaker alarm went off and she repressed a groan when Grace glanced in Trey’s direction. “No. I just got out of a relationship, so I’m not really interested in dating right now.”

Grace was undeterred. “Oh. How long has it been since your break-up?”

“Grace,” Jamie said softly. “Let it go.”

Lucas laughed at Jamie’s warning to his girlfriend. “You know I’m starting to get my feelings hurt. You’re always looking for a woman for Trey. How come you never try to hook me up with anyone, Gracie?”

“How do you know I’m scouting out eligible bachelorettes for Trey?”

Lucas perked up. “Were you asking for me?”

“Hell no,” Grace responded.

“Yeah. I figured as much. Why not?”

Grace picked up a hot wing from the basket in the middle of the table and dipped it in ranch dressing. “Because you are a hopeless player. Trey can be redeemed.”

“Redeemed?” Lucas asked. “Is that what you women call shackled these days?”

Grace looked at Ellie, gesturing with her hand. “See what I mean?”

Ellie nodded. “Hopeless case.”

The music changed once again and this time Jamie and Lucas stood, heading to the dance floor. All three men high-fived and started twirling Cheryl to some country song Ellie wasn’t familiar with. “It’s like you guys have a playlist.”

Grace agreed. “The Cougar Club has been together too long. That’s one of the reasons why I invited you to join us. We need some new blood.”

“Cougar Club?”

Grace shook her head. “That’s the nickname Cheryl gave us. The forty-something women with the thirty-something men. Another reason I invited you. With a younger woman in our midst, maybe the damn name will die a painful death.”

Ellie topped up both of their beers. “I don’t know. I kind of like that name.”

“Oh jeez. I thought you’d be on my side. So about Trey—” Grace started.

Ellie interrupted her with a laugh. “You’re relentless.”

Grace didn’t bother to apologize for her persistence. “Trey’s very special to me. I want to see him find a nice woman.”

“Believe me, I’m not that woman. Besides, I’ve heard Trey’s as big a player as Lucas. What makes you think he even wants to settle down?”

Grace leaned back in her chair. “He turned thirty this past school year. We all went out to celebrate. It was late in the evening and he and I were sitting alone at the table while everyone danced—just like you and I are now. He’d had quite a bit to drink—”

“Shocking.”

Grace chuckled. “He said he was jealous of my relationship with Jamie. Said he was tired of the dating scene and all the games and—”

“He was drunk,” Ellie interjected.

“He was wasted,” Grace clarified. “Which is why I believed what he was saying. He tries to play it too cool most of the time. That night he let down his guard and genuinely spoke what was in his heart.”

“I’m not the woman for him, Grace. I’m sorry, but I’m just not.”

Grace nodded. “I understand. Really. You can’t blame a girl for trying.”

Ellie was relieved by Grace’s easy acceptance and wished she could believe her own denials as effortlessly. Then she wondered about Grace’s relationship with Trey. It was clear they were good friends, but Ellie sensed there was something a bit deeper. She dismissed the wayward thought.

The rest of the gang came back to the table and reclaimed their seats.

With Trey sitting so close, Ellie felt her resolve wavering again. He was simply too hot for words. Damn him.

“Hey, Hunter,” Trey said, leaning closer. “I’ve been thinking.”

She pretended to be shocked. “Seriously? I didn’t know you PE guys were capable of that.”

Cheryl giggled. “Holy crap, Ellie. Where have you been? We could have used your help keeping these boys in line the past few years.”

“Very funny.” Trey balled up a napkin and threw it as Cheryl, who dodged it.

“What were you thinking about?” Ellie asked.

“You were wrong when you said there weren’t any positions coaching basketball at Preston.”

Ellie’s heart stuttered for a moment. The absolute worst thing about losing her job had been leaving her team. Coaching basketball had been the best part of her life and when she’d walked away from Harper’s Ridge, she left a large part of her soul behind. “What do you mean?”

“My assistant coach turned in her resignation this week.”

Trey’s words left her speechless as her mind whirled over what he was saying. There was a position open…as Trey’s assistant. She tried to recall if she’d ever felt more torn in her life. The opportunity to coach—even in an assistant capacity—was too good to pass up. However, she was pretty sure signing on for long hours spent by Trey’s side was a very stupid idea. There was no way she could resist the daily temptation, no matter how freaking resolute she thought she was.

“I’m not sure—”

Trey leaned closer, his next words spoken so low she was certain no one at the table could hear them except her.

“I understand why you don’t want to date a colleague. I won’t press the issue. I promise.”

She pulled away and felt a bit like a fool. She’d revealed far too much on the dance floor. She’d felt his erection and it had triggered her own physical needs. Maybe she’d somehow misread the attraction she thought they’d shared. Her face flushed with embarrassment. She’d been here less than an hour and she’d already made a fool of herself. “Oh. Sure.”

Trey rolled his eyes. “Jesus, Ellie. Don’t go down that road. I want you so bad it hurts. I’m just saying I respect your decision. And you’re an awesome coach. I’d like to have you on my side for once.”

She laughed and glanced around the table. Trey’s friends were fighting like mad to overhear their conversation.

“Should we get another table so you two can have some privacy?” Lucas joked.

Trey smirked at him. “Maybe just you could move to another table.”

Lucas laughed. “Big words from a guy sitting here in a purple shirt. You ever see a show called Barney?”

Everyone laughed and Ellie tried to remember the last time she’d had so much fun with a group of colleagues. Her loneliness began to fade.

She looked at Trey. “I’ll think about it.”

He nodded. “As show of good faith, I’ll even try to set you up with one of my non-teacher friends. There’s a local band playing at Bristols in a couple of weeks. Why don’t you invite a few of your girlfriends and come party with me and my boys?”

“That sounds like fun. Thanks, Donovan.”

“No problem, Hunter. I have a feeling this is going to be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

Ellie laughed, hoping that prophecy came true.

Then the foolish part of her hoped for more.

Chapter Two

Pregame

Ellie nodded mindlessly, pretending to listen to Derek, one of Trey’s friends, as she looked around Bristols. She and a few of her girlfriends had arrived a couple of hours earlier. Trey had saved them seats at a large table and the two groups had merged flawlessly. A little too flawlessly.

Ellie caught sight of Trey on the dance floor with her friend Lisa, and she tried to fight back the twinge of jealousy she felt when Lisa rubbed her body closer to his. Her other friends, Jennifer and Wendy, were sitting at the table talking to a couple more of Trey’s friends, which left Ellie entertaining Derek the Dull.

She’d started the night filled with optimism and brimming with confidence about her decision to move to Preston. She’d been offered the assistant coaching job and she’d accepted it this morning. In addition, the first week of classes had gone smoothly and she genuinely liked her students this year.

Lisa ran her hand down Trey’s side, not stopping until she reached his ass. She left her hand there and moved forward, grinding against Trey. Ellie sucked in a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. The purpose of this night was to try to find some eligible men to date. Trey didn’t qualify for Ellie’s list. She looked to her right and discovered Derek was still blathering. She’d lost track of the conversation about twenty minutes ago. Figures he’d be available for her to date. At least she’d never have to worry about awkward silences with the man. God knew he could fill every second of every minute they were together with mindless chatter.

Trey and Lisa came back to the table. Trey plopped down on the seat beside her and gestured for the waitress, who fought to make her way over to their table. The bar was packed.

“We’re doing a celebratory shot,” Trey declared.

“What are we celebrating?” Ellie’s brain had switched to numb mode ages ago in an attempt to deal with Derek’s conversation and the fact Trey stood a very good chance at hooking up with Lisa tonight. She knew that look on her girlfriend’s face far too well.

“Oooo, shots,” Lisa said, clapping her hands. “I’m in.”

Trey leaned closer to Ellie and she subtly tried to sniff his sexy cologne. She’d noticed it at happy hour a couple of weeks ago and since then, it had become her favorite scent. “We’re celebrating your new coaching job, Hunter.”

She nodded, trying to decide if that was worth celebrating anymore. What if Trey and Lisa started to date? What if Lisa came to all the games and Ellie was forced to watch them hold hands and kiss and—

“Ellie,” Trey said. “Are you okay?”

She pushed the thought away. “I’m fine. Just hot.”

Trey handed her a shot of Patrón with a wicked gleam in his eye. “This will cool you off.”