Sensual Games (Novak Springs #3) by Dawn Brower Page B

was later on in the week, and she had the day off. The team didn’t play that day, but they did the following Sunday. She had no excuse to miss out on the family dinner.
    She couldn’t worry about what might happen when they all got together again. For now she wanted to concentrate on the game. Emma had to be alert and ready for anything. Henry depended on her if something happened out on the field to one of the players. She walked down the hallway and into one of the back rooms of the stadium, her employee badge sliding across her stomach with each movement she made.
    “Hey, Emma, how’s it going today?”
    Emma nodded at the security guard doing his perimeter check. “Good. Any problems?”
    “Nope. We’re all clear back here.” He smiled. “How do you think they’ll do?”
    “We’ll win, of course,” Emma boasted.
    “If you need anything let me know.”
    “Will do. I need to find Dr. Ellwood. Have you seen him?”
    “Yeah, I saw him walk into the locker room with Paxton Kerry a few moments ago.”
    “Thanks,” Emma replied.
    She couldn’t help wondering what was going on with the team’s quarterback. Emma was probably worrying for nothing. Still, something about it bothered her. She wouldn’t go into the locker room. It didn’t feel right to her, so she never invaded the players’ space. If they needed her, they knew where to find her. She’d head out to the field and take some supplies with her. Better to be prepared for the game anyway. She went into the supply room and filled a duffle bag with everything she might need on the field. After she zipped it closed she pulled the long strap over her shoulder and closed the door as she exited. Not paying any attention to where she was heading, she walked right into someone outside the room. She could feel herself falling, her arms flailing for something to grab onto. When she didn’t hit the ground, she realized why. She’d squeezed her eyelids shut tight preparing for pain, only to be encased in warmth. Her eyelashes fluttered open, and she found herself looking into Colt’s blue eyes. His arms were wrapped around her waist holding her tight against him.
    “I’m so sorry. I should have been watching where I was going,” she apologized.
    She gulped back a lump in her throat. He looked so good, and she had to use every ounce of restraint she had in her to not wrap her own arms around him. She wanted to reach up and kiss him. To feel his lips sliding over hers, letting their passion roam free. Emma couldn’t give in to that desire. Colt had moved on. She didn’t blame him for finding someone new, but she couldn’t help wishing he’d waited. If he’d stayed single they might have gotten back together. How was she to know she’d suddenly wake up and want him again? Then a flash of him going after Missy crossed her mind, and she found herself angry all over again. Even if she wanted him, it never would have worked between them. Too many bad memories and not enough generosity within herself to forgive him—Emma needed to find the distance and strength to let him go for good.
    “You can let me go now,” she said.
    “You have been avoiding me for a while now. We need to talk.”
    “No, I think we’ve said all we need to.” Emma shook her head and started to pull herself out of his arms. “Please let me go.”
    “Emma, I know you were hurt when you saw Missy—”
    Emma held up her hand, stopping him from saying more. “Stop, just stop. Don’t even start to say what was about to pass through your lips. Nothing would make that right.”
    “You don’t understand…”
    “And I don’t want to.”
    Colt’s lips creased into a thin white line. He ran his hands through his long mahogany tresses and pushed them into his scalp. Emma knew he was frustrated. She couldn’t let herself care. If she had almost no room within her to forgive Colt—Missy would burn in hell before she’d give her a free pass for what she’d done. Emma could not,