“No, no, no, I know, Spencer. I know you’re a fucking saint. And I mean no disrespect with that. I’m aware that since your wife passed—” He ducked his head, as though in honor of Angela. “—you’ve been handling shit the rest of these fuckheads can’t even imagine. Hell, I can’t even imagine it. I’ve had my Sally for over forty years now, and I can’t think about what I’d do if I didn’t have her at home every night. So you’ve got my respect.”
I coughed a little to hide emotion. “Thank you, Coach.”
“Yeah, well . . .” He cleared his throat, too. “That’s kind of the point I’m making. See, Noah, I need someone I can trust, and you’re the first guy who came to mind. The long and the short of it is that we’re getting a new team nutritionist.”
I was still in the dark about why this involved me, but not wanting to be rude, I nodded. “Good news, sir.”
“Yeah, well, that remains to be seen. I believe in all that holistic thinking junk, that it’s the whole player out there giving his fucking all on the field, but I don’t think we need to get all woo-woo about our eating. In my day, you had a thick steak and veggies the night before a game, and a hearty eggs and bacon breakfast that morning. That was football eating. Nowadays, it’s all about grains and macros and carbs . . . I don’t have time for it, but the team’s owner Carl Nance says we need to try it, so I toe the line and say yes, sir.”
“Sure.” My thinking probably fell closer to Coach’s than to that of our owner, but then again, Emma was always preaching the value of clean eating to me. Maybe it was worth trying.
“So this nutritionist . . . her name is Juliet. Juliet Connors.” Coach fell silent and stared at me. “That name mean anything to you?”
My forehead drew together as I thought about it. “Should it? I mean—unless—is she related to Goff Connors? The commissioner?”
“Got it in one.” Coach pointed to his nose. “She’s his youngest daughter. All his family is mixed up in football, and this one decides to go to school for nutrition and then she wants a job in the league. And guess who ends up with her—yep, it’s us.”
“Well—” I struggled to come up with an answer that would be both positive and empathetic to Coach’s perceived plight. “If she’s been raised around football, then maybe she’s got—you know, kind of some different insight into what players need.”
“I guess anything’s possible.” Coach’s tone didn’t jive with his words. His doubt hung heavy between us. “But whether or not she’s any good isn’t up to you or me. The point is, this girl, Juliet—she’s going to be spending a lot of time around the team. She’s young, she’s pretty, and according to her father, she’s a little naïve. Grew up with protective parents—you know, she’s—how do you say it? Sheltered. And the commissioner called this morning to let me know that he’s holding me responsible for his baby girl’s welfare and happiness.”
“Wow.” I didn’t envy Coach’s position. I couldn’t imagine having to play babysitter for a vulnerable young woman who’d be doing her job amidst a bunch of red-blooded, wise-cracking football players who’d take great joy in seeing her blush and stammer when they made suggestive comments.
“Yeah, my thought exactly. But then I realized . . . hell, this isn’t the job for a busy man like me, who’s implementing a plan that’ll take this team to the big game. If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a coach, it’s the value of delegating.” Suddenly, Coach Briars wasn’t scowling anymore. He was grinning big. And I had a sinking feeling that I knew why.
“Of all the assholes on this team, Spencer, you’re the only one I could trust. So in a few minutes, Juliet Connors is going to come in here, and I’m going to introduce her to you. You’re going to be . . . her big brother. Her mentor, if you will. You’re going to make sure she can do her job, and you’re going to rein in those other assholes and make sure they treat her with respect. Are we clear?”
“Uh, Coach.” I squirmed in my chair. “You know, I’m a team player, and I’m happy to do anything you ask of me. But we’re at the start of the season now. I’m not sure it’s the optimal time to, um, take on this kind of project.”
“Didn’t ask you for your opinion or for an answer, did I? This isn’t a negotiable deal, Spencer. It won’t take much of your time outside of practice or games, anyway. You don’t have to drive Juliet home or show her around town. You just need to run interference for her with the team.” He lifted one shoulder. “I mean, if you wanted to take her to dinner now and then to make sure she’s not lonely, or go with her to our organization’s social events, that’s fine with me. But no funny business. Nothing that’s going to bring the wrath of her daddy down on me. On us, I mean.”
“Coach Briars.” The voice behind me was softer, tinged with amusement, and most definitely feminine. “I appreciate your efforts on my behalf, but I promise, I have no plans to run crying to Daddy if some football player makes an off-color remark around me—or even if he propositions me for a night of sex. I grew up around guys like the ones who play for you. I’m not some hothouse flower who will faint the first time someone tells me a dirty joke.”
I looked at Coach’s face before I turned around. He didn’t look shocked or worried—just resigned as he closed his eyes and shook his head.
Twisting in my seat, I looked back at the woman leaning against the side of the open door. She had long blonde hair, and I estimated that the top of her head probably didn’t reach much further than my midsection. The jeans and team T-shirt she wore showcased a petite, curvy form.
But it was her eyes that grabbed me. They were wide, round, and the deepest green I’d ever seen. And at the moment, they were flashing with a little bit of temper.
“Juliet Connors.” Coach rose to his feet, and I followed suit. “I haven’t seen you since you were in braces and braids. Come on in.”
Juliet pushed off the door and wandered into the office. “Coach Briars. That’s very sweet of you to remember me as a child, but let’s be sure to leave the good old days behind us. I’m not here as the daughter of your old family friend. I’m definitely not here as the commissioner’s little girl. I have a job to do—I was hired for it, and I intend to do it well.”
Old family friend?I hadn’t gotten that sense from what Coach had said. I swung around, opening my mouth to ask about it, but he just gave his head a slight shake.
“You can’t blame me for wanting to make sure you settle in well here, Juliet. I don’t know how much you heard just now—”
“Just the warning you gave your player here. He can squire me around town, but he’s not supposed to try any—what did you call it? Funny business?” She snorted. “Please. I don’t need another big brother, Coach, and if I didn’t want a guy to try something with me—he’d know it. Fast.”
“All right, I get it.” Coach held up both hands, placating. “I’m sorry, Juliet. I promise, I’ll remember to treat you like any other member of the team family from here on out.” He glanced at me. “By the way, this is Noah Spencer. He’s our best offensive tackle, the kind of player the other teams’ defense loves to hate. He’s also a good guy.” Nodding, Coach added, “You can go, Spencer. Thanks for your time.”
I turned, pausing in front of Juliet. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Connors. I hope, if you have any questions or need anything, you won’t hesitate to reach out. I was the new kid on the block not so long ago, so I remember what it’s like to need some pointers.”
Those eyes were an icy shade of green now. “Thank you, Mr. Spencer. I’ll keep that in mind. But I’m pretty good at figuring out my own answers.”
I shrugged. “Okay. Well . . . I’m sure I’ll see you around.”
As I left the office, I swallowed a chuckle, and all I could think was that Coach Briars was going to have his hands full with that one. I pitied the dude who dared to make a play for her. Juliet Connors might have been small, but I had a feeling that she didn’t let anyone walk all over her.
Not that it mattered to me. I’d play nice, like Coach had asked. If the new nutritionist needed a hand, I’d be a gentleman and show her around, but I wasn’t planning to go any further than that.
The last thing I needed in my life was another pushy female.
