Read Falling for the Backup (Novella): The Assassins Series for Free Online Page A

her.
    “So I have to tell you something,” she said softly  
    Jordan looked up at her beautiful face. He wished he could reach over, take her hand with his, and kiss her knuckles before smothering her mouth with his. She had the most kissable lips he had ever seen. He could tell by the way she looked at him that she wanted it too, but he knew he couldn’t chance it. Because if their lips met, he wasn’t going to be able to stop.  
    “Okay?”
    “So I Googled you.”
    He raised an eyebrow as he asked, “You Googled me?”
    “Yup, and before you think I’m a complete stalker, I’m not…yet.”
    “Yet?” he said with a chuckle.
    “If I didn’t see you today I was going to show up at your practice next week.”
    He smiled.  
    “You stalker, you,” he teased with a grin.
    She laughed as he watched her face turn red. He loved when she blushed. She was so beautiful. It made him feel good that she wanted to see him again, because he wanted the same thing, but again that was bad, very bad. He needed to walk away, tell her that nothing could ever come out of this, but she would smile, and for some reason, he would start to forget the reasons why he couldn’t ask her out. Good God, it’s not like they were going to get married, what was wrong with him? They could date, have fun, and when he knew what his future was, he’d leave. It could just be for fun.  
    But when she met his gaze, he knew it wouldn’t be that easy.  
    “Anyways,” she said hiding behind her coffee cup, “You’re a hockey player, huh?”
    He paused. She gave him a nervous smile and he nodded his head.
    “Yup.”
    “That’s cool, I went to my first game last night.”
    His grin fell as he looked down at his cup. If she went, he knew that she saw him on the bench.  
    How embarrassing.  
    “It was fun, confusing, but fun. I saw you, I even waved but I’m pretty sure you didn’t see me.”
    He shook his head. He had even looked for her and still missed her. That sucked -   but not as much as it sucked that she saw him warming the bench.    
    “Sorry, I didn’t,” he said looking away as he began to pick at the paper sleeve around his cup. “I don’t play much.”
    When he looked up at her, she nodded, “Your knee, right?”
    “Yeah,” he said quietly.  
    Jordan felt like a loser. Suddenly the great time they were having was dimmed by his bitter mood. He hated feeling like a loser. He wanted to be a man that was worthy of her, but he wasn’t. He was a washed up goalie that was begging teams to take a chance on him. Aynslee deserved someone better.  
    “I’m not what I used to be.”
    She eyed him, holding his gaze as she ran her hand up and down her cup. She looked like she was looking for words, but there was nothing to say. He nervously looked around the room, feeling completely stupid. Why did he even talk to her? He should have just let her walk away when she ordered her coffee. Of course, she looked him up online; she probably read that he was worthless now, that his own team wouldn’t play him unless they were desperate. That some twenty two year old had taken his spot.  
    None of that mattered though, because he was leaving and it was for the best. Like he had been telling himself from the beginning, he couldn’t start anything with her. He just couldn’t. Standing up, he looked down at her welcoming, sweet face.  
    “I have to go.”
    “What?” she asked as she stood up too, confused. “Why?”
    “Cause I do, I gotta catch a flight and stuff, so yeah, bye.”  
    Jordan turned then, rushed out of Starbucks, not stopping even when he thought he heard her call his name. Once in his truck, he started it and drove out of the parking lot. Even though his heart was pounding telling him he was a complete idiot, he knew it was for the best. Reaching the exit before he headed out onto the road he glanced in his rearview mirror and saw her standing outside, with her hands on her hips. He wanted to roll down the