Tempting the Player (Campus Wallflowers #4)

by Rebecca Jenshak

It’s only when Cam’s blurry body in front of me is pushed out of the way that I notice the dark head approaching me. I blink back what I now realize are tears in time to see my mystery guy reach up and grab me around the waist. I freeze under his touch, but then his voice is reassuring me as his big hands span out around my middle. “You’re okay. I’ve got you.”

“Do you always ask strangers in bars so many questions?” There’s the tiniest hint of a smile to tell me that he isn’t completely annoyed by me. “Sometimes,” I answer honestly.

He nods slowly. Neither of us says anything, but we continue to stare. He glances away first, giving his head a shake like he didn’t realize what he was doing.

Why’d you decide to come back?” “It was time.” “That’s not an answer.” He huffs out a soft laugh that turns his serious expression into a small smile. “My family is still here, and they needed me. Any more questions?” he asks, the smile growing a little larger.

“You know my name, but I still don’t know yours.” He hesitates, but finally says, “Hendrick.”

They think I’m in Valley crashing for a few months after a long, disappointing football season. They’re only partly right.

“Brogan is your brother?” she asks. He grins and tosses an arm around my neck. “I’m his favorite brother.” “He’s not my brother,”

“Booo,” Arch draws out the word. “You’re no fun anymore, Hen. No fun at all.” I bite my tongue. No, I’m not fun anymore. He’s right about that, but I don’t expect him to understand.

“But does it say, ‘I’m a serious runner but also interested in other physical pursuits with our clothes off?’” My friends exchange a look and then burst out laughing. I wasn’t kidding, but okay, it’s a little funny.

I’m looking forward to a short reprieve to catch my breath, except the light changes just as we get there, and Hendrick starts across. Why do people do this for fun? Every breath feels like fire.

“Do you run often?” he asks as I pant for air.

“Your brother is right. You’re not very fun.” “No, I’m not.” His jaw tightens and a little muscle flexes in his cheek. “Then it’s a good thing you ran into me because I am the epitome of fun, and I’m going to make it my mission to make sure you have fun tomorrow night.”

Not wanting to believe my eyes, I click on the last photo I shared (or rather my manager shared).

But it isn’t any of the comments that have my stomach churning with unease and fear stretching through my limbs. It’s a simple like from a guy I haven’t seen or talked to in years.

“You came? I mean, hey.” And then he does the craziest thing. He smiles at me.

I shouldn’t be here. There are things she doesn’t know, things no one knows, and my being here could fuck all that up.

The beer pong game in front of us starts back up and her friends pretend to stop staring at us.

You’re going to need to carry us to victory, Champ.” The nickname doesn’t annoy me so much when she says it.

He assesses the table like he’s remembering where we were, then looks up. “You should see your face. You’re awfully worked up over a game, Henny.”

“Oh yeah. Trust me.” “I do.” Her voice softens on the two words,

Every time they’re about to throw the ball, I repeat some tidbit that Hendrick has told me about them.

Archer sent Selena Gomez DMs every day for an entire year when he was twelve. She never replied. Brogan cried watching The Hunger Games.

“Nice and easy, Jane.” I look up and over my shoulder, locking eyes with him. “What if I don’t like nice and easy?”

“I think I’d prefer rough and hard,” I add in case he wasn’t fully appreciating my comment.

“Why don’t we just focus on nice and easy right now.” His voice is deeper than it was before. “I can be easy for the right guy.” “You’re killing me,” he mutters in an amused tone with another shake of his head.

“I demand a rematch,” Brogan says, breaking us apart with his words. “This time, no talking allowed.” “Oh no,” I say. “I could never stay quiet that long.”

“You did us dirty.” Archer points at his brother. “It’s just a game, bro. Don’t take it so seriously.” Hendrick isn’t even trying to hide his smug smile.

“Why do I get the feeling that most of that burden came down on you?” “It wasn’t a burden,” he says simply. “I just mean it must have been hard.”

“Right. I almost forgot. You lied to me.” I bump his shoulder with mine. He freezes and his mouth falls open like he’s about to offer an apology.

Relief washes over his features. “How did you figure it out?”

“You want to play a game?” His playful smirk has my heart beating wildly. “I don’t know if I can trust you. I saw your distraction technique.”

“Hey, it’s Hendrick. We have a situation at the house. She’s not harmed, but someone was in her room. They trashed it and left a nasty message on the wall in red paint.”

“Who is it?” He sighs quietly. “It’s your dad. He wants to talk to you and make sure you’re okay.”

I watch Jane’s expression morph from terror to confusion to shock to anger to betrayal in the span of a few minutes. I had two orders: keep Jane safe and be discreet. I’ve failed at both.

“You’re my bodyguard?”

“I almost kissed you!” “I wouldn’t have let it get that far.” But I don’t know if that’s true. I almost did.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Arch nudges him, and his lips pull into a small, knowing smile. “She thought he was into her and when she found out who he was, she realized she was just a job.” “She wasn’t just a job.” The words are out before I can pull them back. Arch’s smile just gets bigger. Fucker.

I’m fine. Better than fine. I’m also a liar.

For some stupid reason I feel like crying again. Stupid wine that gave me this stupid hangover. Stupid drama that has me all emotional and hypersensitive. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

“Favorite color?” He doesn’t answer right away, and I assume he’s not going to. He’s such a stickler. But just as a test paper is handed back to me, his voice is back in my ear. “Green.”

By Thursday, all my brothers are in love with Jane.

“Nothing. I’m not going to do anything. No matter how much I want to. I respect his decision to keep things between us purely professional.” “Wow, you almost sounded like you meant that.”

Hendrick is hanging back with Felix. Dahlia grins at me. “I think my boyfriend has a dude crush on Hendrick.”

But as soon as Flynn scores, she’s back on her feet. He scores often after that.

“None of you are. Actually, you’re all really hot.” He smirks around her at me. “But Hendrick is the hottest,” she quickly clarifies. His smirk falls. And I flip him off behind her back.

Eric dropped me off.

“I know, but he was driving right by the house anyway.”

“Dahlia said if I didn’t stop by to see them, they were going to report me missing.” He laughs. She was serious.

“To Jane,” Dahlia says. “The next twenty years are going to be twice as much fun as the first because now you know all of us.”

said I was your boyfriend because I wanted them to know that you’re mine. Bodyguard, boyfriend, friend, whatever you want to call me is up to you. I’m yours and that’s all that matters. But to everyone else, I want them to know that I’m the guy they have to answer to if they hurt you.”