3. The Obstacle

Chapter Three

THE OBSTACLE

~~Muri~~

T hat kiss.

That kiss.

OMG, that kiss .

The kiss that goes down in infamy as the hottest, toe-curling, body-slamming kiss I've ever had. Here's the problem. I want more of that man. My brother's warning won't stop me, but my worries about my job will.

When I was hired, Addison never mentioned a policy regarding staff dating players. In fact, after going over the employee handbook, what's mentioned is vague. My own brother is dating an employee of the team. Why can't I?

I'm jumping the gun, and I know it. Maybe Nolan isn't interested anyway. But I am.

On the other hand, we're both rookies in our respective jobs and trying to make the team, so to speak. I'm getting ahead of myself. It's just one kiss.

One kiss.

But damn, that one kiss.

I glance up from my cubicle desk as Ross wanders in.

"I have the video ready for you to go over. We can splice it up however you want."

Ross and I spent the next couple hours condensing the video down to ten minutes. The result is hilarious and entertaining without compromising our players. The former social media team didn't seem to grasp that the guys were humans with family and friends, not assets ripe for exploitation. I'm hell-bent on proving I can provide entertaining content without stepping over that invisible line.

At five p.m., I'm ready to call it a day. I lean back in my chair and rub the kink out of my neck caused by hours of staring at a computer monitor. I glance up when I hear a knock on my door. There stands Nolan in all his male glory, and I repress a gasp of appreciation. He's wearing shorts and a white T-shirt, showcasing his hard-muscled thighs and chest.

"Hey," he says with one of his panty-melting grins. I know my panties are melting.

"Hey," I say back as a happy-to-see-you smile lifts the corners of my mouth.

"Dinner? My treat." He wears the expression of a puppy hoping someone will throw his ball. I suppress a giggle at the thought of this big, muscled guy as an uninhibited puppy. He's not going to be a Golden Retriever, that's for sure.

"What's so amusing?" He studies me carefully, and I duck my head to hide my smirk. I hadn't meant to broadcast my thoughts so clearly.

"Just wondering what kind of dog you'd be."

His brows rise and disappear under his shaggy blond hair. "Dog? You're picturing me as a dog?"

"Yeah, you know, maybe one of those Shih Tzus with the long hair."

Nolan's eyes reflect his disbelief. "You're kidding, right?"

"You'd be cute with a pink bow in your hair."

Nolan surprises me by throwing back his head and howling with laughter. The guy has a good sense of humor. I have to give him credit for being a good sport, and I find myself joining in with him. Finally, he sobers enough to speak. "So dinner?"

"Are you asking me on a date?"

"Nope, that'd be asking for trouble with the team captain. I prefer to think of it as a meeting of the minds between partners in crime. We're interviewing Briggs next. That'll take some planning."

"You're on. I was just finishing up." I wish I had time to freshen up my makeup, but he's standing in the doorway waiting, and I don't think now would be a good time to primp. He'll have to take me as I am.

Together we walk to the elevator and outside. It's a lovely summer day in Portland. Not too hot or too cold. A nice breeze is blowing off the Columbia River keeping the temps in the upper seventies. We walk along the sidewalk and comment on items in windows. Nolan reaches for my hand. I should shake it off, but I don't. I want to hold hands with him. I also want him to kiss me again.

"Do you like Thai?" he asks as we pause near a hole-in-the-wall restaurant with only a half dozen tables. There's one empty spot for two. I consider it destiny, assuming destiny cares where we eat.

"Love it."

"Let's try this. These little places are often hidden gems." He squeezes my hand, and we stroll inside. My hand feels so good in his strong, yet oddly gentle, grip. I'm falling for this guy, and it's so unlike me to fall this hard this fast.

I have friends who are happily married and claim they knew the second they laid eyes on their soulmate. I'm not a believer in love at first sight or soulmates, yet there's something about Nolan, something special and exciting and intriguing. Okay, plus to be honest, he's hot, and I'm hot for him. He must feel the same way, or he wouldn't invite me to dinner.

We sit down and share multiple dishes and talk like old friends. Even though Nolan is drop-dead gorgeous and knows it, he's so easy to be around that I don't feel as if I have to impress him.

After dinner, we continue our stroll down the city streets, talking and laughing, until he pulls me into a recessed doorway of an apartment building. My gasp of surprise is cut off by his mouth on mine. We kiss as if our life depends on it. Like we can't get enough of each other. Like we want to crawl into each other's skin. The blaring of a car horn interrupts us this time, and reluctantly, we part.

Holding both my hands, Nolan gazes down at me, uncharacteristically serious. "I really like you, Muri."

"I like you, too." My voice wavers a little because I'm not kidding. I don't just like this guy, I'm head over heels for him.

"I want to date you. Exclusively. Is that too much too soon?"

"Probably, but let's throw caution to the wind and go for it."

"I like the way you think."

"There's one small obstacle."

"Small? I'd hardly call a six foot three, two-hundred-and-fifteen pound center small."

I laughed. "I want his blessing. I don't need it, but I'd like it."

"I might need it," he admits.

"I think it'd be easier for you in the locker room if he's onboard."

We exchange glances and read each other's minds.

"Let's do it." He grabs my hand, and we hustle down the street, drunk on each other, and ready to take this next step. The whirlwind I'm on isn't stopping but spinning harder, and I'm hanging on tight.