Coach

COACH Copyright © 2022 by Devney Perry LLC All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-950692-63-7 No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations in a book review. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is coincidental. Editing: Elizabeth Nover, Razor Sharp Editing Proofreading: Julie Deaton, Deaton Author Services Judy Zweifel, Judy’s Proofreading Kaitlyn Moodie, Moodie Editing Cover: Sarah Hansen © Okay Creations OTHER TITLES The Edens Series Christmas in Quincy - Prequel Indigo Ridge Juniper Hill Garnet Flats Jasper Vale Crimson River Clifton Forge Series Steel King Riven Knight Stone Princess Noble Prince Fallen Jester Tin Queen Jamison Valley Series The Coppersmith Farmhouse The Clover Chapel The Lucky Heart The Outpost The Bitterroot Inn The Candle Palace Maysen Jar Series The Birthday List Letters to Molly Lark Cove Series Tattered Timid Tragic Tinsel Timeless Runaway Series Runaway Road Wild Highway Quarter Miles Forsaken Trail Dotted Lines Calamity Montana Series The Bribe The Bluff The Brazen The Bully The Brawl The Brood Standalones Ivy Rifts and Refrains A Little Too Wild Coach Holiday Brothers The Naughty, The Nice and The Nanny Three Bells, Two Bows and One Brother’s Best Friend A Partridge and a Pregnancy CONTENTS Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Epilogue Acknowledgments About the Author Preview to Indigo Ridge PROLOGUE FORD Millie slammed her textbook closed so hard it shook my dining room table. “I hate philosophy.” “It’s the worst.” The class, definitely. Having it with Millie? Not so bad. She groaned and, with a huff, blew a lock of smooth, brown hair out of her face. It fell right back across her cheek. I lifted my hand, about to tuck it behind her ear, but caught myself. Millie was . . . the best. The best of the best. She deserved it from the people in her life because that was what she gave them. She was my best friend. But damn, I wanted to kiss her. To say to hell with our friendship and see what we could make of this spark between us. Except I’d just come out of a long-term relationship, and I wanted her to know that if—when—we got together, it wasn’t a rebound thing. I’d kiss her. One day soon. Just not yet. So I kept my hands to myself and scanned the sheet of notes I’d taken in our philosophy lecture yesterday. Over half were to Millie and had nothing to do with the course. Want to get pizza after this? She’d circled the yes I’d written beneath. Think Professor Smythe owns multiple versions of that sweater vest? Another yes. If he says absolutism one more time I might scream. That one had earned me a muted laugh. Beyond that, my notes were a wreck. “None of these make any sense.” “I think if I can just manage a B, this class won’t entirely tank my GPA and ruin my collegiate career.” “I just want to pass.” I dragged a hand through my hair, leaning back in my chair. Then I reached toward Millie, touching the button at the base of her throat. “You have a stain on your shirt.” “What?” She gasped and looked down, just in time for me to flick the tip of her nose. I chuckled as she swatted my hand away, fighting a smile as she glared. “I can’t believe you fell for that.” “Shut up.” She shoved at my arm, her cheeks flushing. Millie was never more beautiful than when she blushed. And God, she was fun to flirt with. Whenever I’d tried playing with Sienna like that, she’d thrown a temper tantrum because she couldn’t take a fucking joke. “Okay, let’s finish this.” I sat up straighter, inching my chair closer to Millie’s to peer at her notes, hoping they were better than mine. The scent of her perfume filled my nose, citrus with a sweetness that was all Millie. I held it in, letting it sink deep, then glanced at her profile. Our gazes locked. Those pretty hazel eyes searched mine. “I, um . . .” Too close. We were too close. Best friends didn’t sit like they were seconds from crawling into each other’s laps. They didn’t find ways to touch. They didn’t stare at each other like they’d die without a kiss. What were we supposed to be studying again? But before I could back away, retreat to my side of the dining room table, she surged. Millie’s lips crashed onto mine so fast it took me a second to realize she’d kissed me. Was kissing me. It took my brain a moment to process that her lips were even softer than I’d imagined. I wasn’t supposed to kiss her. Not yet. Why was that again? Fuck it. I licked the seam of her mouth, earning a mewl. Then she opened for me, and with one sweet taste, I was done for. The fire I’d spent too long trying to tame coursed through my veins. So I leaned into it, kissing her until she was breathless. Until I knew if I didn’t stop, I’d take her to my bedroom. Not yet. I’d do it right this time. I’d do right by Millie. So I broke away, my heart racing, and took in the pretty color of her