The Mistletoe Trap (Heart in the Game #2) - Cindi Madsen Page 0,1

video chats.

“Then why do you insist on cockblocking me?”

“Sorry, Jules, hold on a sec.” Gavin tapped the mute button. “Because you’d end up being an asshole and hurting her, then I’d have to kick your ass, and that’d be bad for team morale. I’m not letting you anywhere near her, so forget it.”

Jason’s type was anything female, but he had a weakness for blondes. His interest in Julie and if she and Gavin were really just friends had spiked when the guys were over and she’d video messaged with another “emergency situation.” She’d been about to go out with her tool boyfriend and required feedback on her outfit, hair, and makeup—come to think of it, at some point he should probably clarify fashion wasn’t his strong suit. Dating advice, either, for that matter.

But she’d insisted she needed a guy’s opinion. Then she asked him to be brutally honest about whether or not she could pull off the glittery dress she had on.

Before Gavin could tell her that she looked nice—or that he had company—Jason jammed his face into the camera and replied, “Hell, sweetheart, I’ll take you wherever you want, especially while you’re wearing that sexy number. Ditch the boyfriend and come out with me instead.”

In order to escape the peanut gallery, Gavin had closed himself off in his bedroom. The makeup, jewelry, and scoop-neck dress had transformed her from the girl who often donned a lab coat and goggles at work and then spent her nights curled up on her couch with her cat into a much fancier version of herself. A protective surge had seized him, partially because he’d disliked her boyfriend and didn’t have faith the guy could properly protect her if a situation required it. But he’d shoved that away, assured her she looked great, and told her to have a good time at the opera.

Not his scene—or hers, as far as he knew—but she’d been trying “something new.”

The next morning, she’d called crying. Even though she’d thought the date had gone well, she’d been unceremoniously dumped.

The edge of the phone dug into Gavin’s palm as he recalled how helpless he’d felt, and how much he’d wanted to go have a talk with the asshole. A lucky asshole at that, because if he hadn’t been a couple of states away… He clenched and released his fist. He still wanted to have a “discussion” with the guy, but that had happened four months ago, and Jules claimed she was over it.

“Gavin? Are you still there?”

He quickly unmuted the call and lifted his phone to his ear again. “Yeah, I’m here.”

Jason leaned in, nearly headbutting him. “Hi, Julie!”

“He’s talking to Julie?” A few more of the guys crowded in to say hello, and Gavin put her on speaker so she could hear their enthusiastic greetings and respond, doing his best not to be jealous over his teammates taking up a portion of their limited time.

At least I’ll see her soon. Then maybe it won’t feel like we never get to fully catch up.

“Why don’t you fly her out for a game already, Frost?” Tyrone Marshall asked. “I still haven’t met her in person.”

“He’s trying to keep her to himself,” Jason said, and then he lifted his hand to the side of his mouth and stage-whispered, “Even though he claims they’re just friends.”

“We are just friends,” Julie said, and Jason grimaced at the phone.

“Forgot you were still on speaker, babe. Did you need advice on another outfit? You know you can call me for tips anytime. My number’s seven-two-six—”

“That’s it. I’m taking her off speaker phone.” Gavin gave a halfhearted kick toward the crowd. “Now, piss off.”

“Wait,” Julie said. “I do need to tell Jason something.”

A giant grin spread across Jason’s face as he moved closer.

“While we’re talking tips, you’ve really gotta stop celebrating before you cross the goal line. You’re gonna get the ball stripped at the one-yard line during a big game, and I don’t like talking to Gavin when he’s all crabby from losing.”

The guys laughed and jostled Jason. The wide receiver was a huge showboat, but half of it was playing to the crowd, who ate it up. Not that Coach Bryant hadn’t given him the same lecture about premature celebrations.

“Till next time, Jason.” Julie hollered out goodbyes to the rest of the guys. “Now you can take me off speaker, Gavin.”

At the tap of the button, her voice switched back to simply being in his ear.

“For someone who’s not your girl, she’s certainly got