My Aussie Guy - Liz Lovelock Page 0,2

pull her across the hall, out of earshot of the guys. “What did I just say? I couldn’t play if my life depended on it. I’m not a sports girl like you.”

She laughs, shaking her head. “Just say you’ll play another time and that you have an assignment to complete.” Addison starts to walk away then pauses, looking back over her shoulder at all the guys who are now staring at us. “What has gotten into you? Or should I say, who?” She waggles her eyebrows.

I take a few deep breaths. “Okay, I can do this. Seeing Aiden has me all frazzled, and I hardly know the guy.” The bouncing ball startles me as it echoes around the enclosure, and I look toward it. My nerves are jittery, causing me to jump at stupid sounds. Mr. Mancandy is taking shots with the guys. I watch his muscles flex with each move he makes.

“Wipe that drool you have coming from the corner of your mouth,” Addison teases.

“I’ve got to go.” She nods, and I take off, heading straight for the exit.

“Leaving so soon, Elsie?” Jimmy shouts.

I could kill him for trying to embarrass me.

I stop and turn toward him. “Yeah, I actually have an assignment that I have to finish. Sorry to disappoint. I’ll kick your butt next time.” I swear I hear him chuckling as I pull my shoulders back and strut to the door.

As I’m about to walk out, I look over my shoulder. Mr. Mancandy is watching me. He smiles and waves. I turn and attempt to leave, but instead, my forehead collects the doorframe, and I recoil.

“Ow, crap,” I curse, putting my hand to my forehead. I race through the door and away from that stupid court. Gosh, I’m such a klutz. My legs carry me as fast as they will take me while my head has a small throb. Can I crawl away and die now?

“Hey, are you okay?”

I stop and slowly turn. My breath is coming fast. That voice. It’s him. He saw the whole damn thing.

“Yes, I’m all good. Thanks for asking.” Act cool, Elsie. Don’t embarrass yourself further. I brush my hand over my already tidy hair and try to feign a chilled persona.

“Elsie, is it?”

I swallow and nod.

“Maybe next time you can join the game. I could give you a few pointers.” He steps closer. The air in my lungs evaporates. My eyes fall on his pink lips. I want to lean up and press mine to his.

His voice snaps me out of my trance. “Anyway, I guess I’ll see you around. Just wanted to check you were okay. I saw you hit your head.” He points to the same place I whacked the doorframe on his own head. He leans right into me. My chest constricts. I close my eyes to breathe in his closeness. Then, he steps back and turns to leave, and I’m left out of breath.

“I guess I’ll see you around, too,” I whisper as I watch his bare muscular back strut back the way he came.

“You good to go, man?” Parker asks as I walk back through the door to the basketball court. Images of the beautiful brunette imprint on my mind.

Nodding my head, I answer, “Yep, I’m good.” Parker tosses me the ball. I dribble it up to the three-point mark and take a shot. When the ball sinks through the hoop, I recall when I brought up the idea to study abroad with my parents.

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Mum said hesitantly. I’d wrangled my Aunt Wendy to take my side, and she suggested the trip.

“Give the boy a chance,” Aunt Wendy’s boisterous voice gave her opinion. “You’ve kept him under lock and key since he was little. It’s time to loosen the reins.” It’s true. My family is wealthy, and I’ve attended the best schools, played in excellent sports teams, and never gone without. I think my aunt was trying to not let me turn into a lazy sod and mooch off my parents for the rest of my life. I am, however, more than thankful to be away from family and enjoying life right now, though.

“Why did you run after Elsie?” Parker’s girl stands in front of me, her hand on her hip and a quizzical eyebrow raised. What is her name again? I wrack my brain, trying to remember. Parker pointed her and her friend out to me when I arrived, but I guess I was too distracted by Elsie