Page 18 of Cupid Games

Putting her head in her hands, Emily sighed. What made her take this job? Her love for the game. Maybe she should have just waited until everything blew over and then tried to find a team to coach. Right now, the score felt like the manwhore Michael Devans had twenty-one points while Emily had three.

Beverly would be benched. Maybe permanently.

A knock sounded on her office. She glanced up to see Brian standing there with a big welcoming smile.

“Can I help you?” she asked.

“You looked like you could use a friend,” the man said. “I’m a good listener.”

Oh no, she wasn’t going to fall for that line.

He had not spoken to her since they were introduced, but here he was offering to be her friend. After her last encounter, she felt nervous whenever a man came into her office.

“What can I do for you, Coach?”

The sooner he got out of here, the better.

“A group of us are going down to the Cupid bar and we thought you might like to join us. We’ll drink a few beers, dance a little, and then go home,” he drawled.

There was something about the way he hesitated betweenthenandgo home. She wasn’t trusting. Maybe it was innocent, but she had to be careful.

“Thank you for inviting me, but I’ve already got plans for tonight,” she said and it wasn’t a lie.

The man frowned. “Well, we go there quite often. You’ll have to join us.”

He leaned over her desk and ran his hand down her arm and she jerked back a trickle of fear spiraling down her spine.

Oh no, she was not going to get anywhere near this guy.

“Excuse me,” she said. “I know you’re married, and contrary to a popular misconception, I’m not into married men. Get out of my office or I will hit the panic button beneath my desk.”

He jerked his arm back. “I was just trying to be friendly.”

“Well, I’m not. Now leave,” she said in a very fierce manner.

After the last attempt, she’d taken some self-defense classes and knew being stern and direct was the best way.

Brian turned and walked out the door, but she feared what he would do next. She’d hurt his male pride and men like him got even.

Immediately, she sent an email to the principal.

Her desk phone rang.

“Miss Martin, you are becoming quite the challenge,” Mr. Townsend said.

“I’m sorry, sir, really I don’t want to be,” she replied.

“I had just hung up with Mrs. Anderson,” he said.

“Oh, no,” she replied. “Well, she said she was going to get me fired.”

The man laughed. “Her daughter, Beverly, stays in trouble. I should have warned you. Her mother and I have weekly conversations.”

“So I don’t need to pack up my desk,” she said.

“Not yet. But let me know if Coach Brian becomes a problem. He’s been written up once before. A second time will get him fired. Are you going to file a harassment report?”

She sighed. “If I did, it would only confirm what people believe about me. No, sir, but I wanted someone else to know in case this got out of hand. Honestly, I just want to coach or play basketball. That’s all.”