Read Online Someone Like You by Jennifer Gracen - Free Book Online

images swirling around in her head. It seemed that Pierce Harrison had led something of a tangled life. The guy in the articles was strong, possibly boorish, and surly, on and off the pitch. But the guy she’d met that morning was charming, polite, and respectful. Which one was an act? Or, maybe somewhere, the two sides of his persona met? Well, she’d find out soon enough, if they had to work together now.
    She tore the elastic out of her now-dry hair and ran her fingers through it. She totally felt like a stalker now. A wave of self-recrimination washed through her, turning her cheeks pink. Pierce Harrison was gorgeous, sexy, charming, and from a different universe. No matter how primal her body’s response was to him, she had to keep sharp around him. She only had to coach the team with him a few times a week until the beginning of November. She could do that.
    Annoyed at herself, she turned off the laptop and decided to go get a quick manicure. Maybe a pedicure, too. She had a little bit of time to herself, so she’d make the most of it. And put Pierce Harrison right out of her head.

Chapter Five
    It took his cell phone ringing for Pierce to realize he’d dozed off. Fumbling for it, he grunted a hello.
    â€œSleeping in the middle of the day, huh?” Troy’s familiar voice taunted. “Man, you billionaires have the life, I tell ya.”
    â€œShut up,” Pierce growled good-naturedly. Troy was one of the few people in his life who could tease him about the money, because Pierce knew it meant nothing to him. He removed his sunglasses and scrubbed a hand over his face. “What time is it?”
    â€œOne thirty.”
    Pierce yawned.
    â€œSlacker,” Troy said. “Some of us work for a living. You suck.”
    â€œHeh. Slept in, went for a run, came back and jumped in Tess’s pool . . . that’s been my day so far.” Pierce smirked as he rubbed his scruffy jaw. “Guess I shouldn’t tell you I fell asleep in a deck chair by her pool, huh?”
    â€œUp yours,” Troy chuckled.
    â€œSo what’s up?” Pierce put his sunglasses back on and rose from the chair.
    â€œIs it true what I heard? You’re going to coach one of the teams in the Edgewater Soccer Club?” Troy sounded incredulous.
    â€œYup. This Sofia Rodriguez approached me about doing a clinic.” Pierce walked around the pool toward the glass doors. “We started talking. Next thing I know, I’m volunteering to help.” He slid the door open and walked into Tess’s kitchen. The coolness of the ceramic tiled floor and central air hit him and felt fantastic. “I figure, why not? I’m not doing anything anyway. It’ll keep me busy.”
    â€œIt’s more than that,” Troy surmised. “You miss the game.”
    Pierce went to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water. “Yeah, of course I do. I mean, I’m not playing, and it’s certainly not the Premier League. Very different. But yeah, it’s football—dammit, soccer. Like I said, why not.”
    â€œMm-hmm. Question. Why aren’t you helping, say, Stacey’s team? Why the Jaguars?”
    At the mention of Troy’s daughter, Pierce blinked. “Um . . . her team doesn’t need as much help. The Jaguars—have you seen them play? They’re like the Bad News Bears of soccer.” He shifted the phone between his ear and shoulder so he could open the bottle.
    â€œYeah, they suck. I don’t think they’ve won any games yet.”
    â€œNope. And they seem like good kids. So, I’ll help them out.”
    â€œHow nice of you. Of course, it’s got nothing to do with the fact that a young, cute blonde will be your partner, right?” Troy said, barely concealing the laugh in his tone.
    Just thinking of Abby made Pierce’s blood speed up in his veins. “Not a bad side benefit.”
    Troy burst out laughing. “Dude! Why give