perfect set of very American looking teeth. What’s more, he’s not old at all, more like my age.
He’s wearing a slim-fitting orange and white T-shirt that really shows off his tennis pro tan and more than hints at the muscular torso beneath. His legs are long and muscular, but not too bulky - not like one of those scary, over done bodybuilder types - and he has an air of confidence about him that is undeniably hot.
H e’s more attractive than any single person has the right to be. He is, what my friend Lindsay used to call, “the total freakin’ package”.
All right , Jess, time to breathe. I collect myself enough to straighten up, push my chest out to its best advantage - come on, I’m only human - and try to look as nonchalant as possible as he walks towards me, arm outstretched.
“ You must be Jessica. Taylor told me we might be getting a new girl today. Hi, I’m Scott. I’m the coach,” he adds, somewhat unnecessarily, as it’s pretty obvious he’s the one in control here. And not just of the tennis.
With an enormous effort I pull my eyes from his face and stare down at his hand, mesmerized by him. I know there’s something I should be doing with his hand right now. Oh yeah, that’s right, shake it!
“ Hi, Scott. Yes, I’m the new girl,” I stammer. Did I really just giggle? Get a hold, Jess.
“ My name is Jessica Banks. Pleased to meet you,” I continue in an attempt to appear cool and casual, as though I meet impossibly good looking men every day of my life.
I reach out and shake his hand, hoping my palms haven’t started sweating too much, and feeling I could me lt into a blob of human flesh on the spot.
Why didn’t I put on any mascara this morning? Or lip-gloss? Surely I could have managed a bit of lip-gloss, for the love of God!
“ Great!” He releases my hand, still smiling at me. “Before we start, can you tell me a little about yourself?”
He wants to know about me? Is he interested in me? My heart starts palpitating even faster and my tomato blush deepens to a deeply unattractive beetroot.
“ About me? Well, I’ve just moved to Wellington from London. I totally loved living over there and don’t really want to be here, but here I am, and I’m starting up a new business with my friend Morgan, which I’m really excited about, and... Oh.”
I stop myself rambling suddenly as I notice the amused look on his face. “You mean tell you about my tennis , don’t you?”
I wish the court would open up and swallow me whole. Right now.
“ Yes, kinda did, but it’s great to hear about your life too,” he replies, clearly enjoying my obvious discomfort.
“ So,” he continues, focusing on the task at hand. “How would you rate your game and your level of fitness? Just so I know how hard to run you today.”
I’ve recovered a little from my schoolgirl rambling but am still blushing profusely, hoping he doesn't notice but fully suspecting a malfunctioning heat-seeking missile would have absolutely no trouble finding me right now.
“ Umm, well, I’m probably about an intermediate player, although I haven't played for a few years. Probably average fitness? Yeah, probably about average, slightly better when I haven’t just got off a twenty-four-hour flight. But I already told you about that, didn’t I?” I ask with a cheeky grin, attempting to make light of my embarrassing faux pas.
“ Yeah, you did,” he replies, giving me a subtle but unmistakably mischievous smile in return.
There’ s that feeling again. Come on Jess, get a grip!
“ Right ladies,” he turns towards the group who I’ve barely noticed as we’ve been talking. “It’s time to get moving, so Jessica, why don’t you go and join Stacey, Kyra, Amanda, and Chris at my end of the court, and Jonelle, Tara, Lily, and Rhonda, you ladies go to the other end of the court. Let’s get started with some cross-court forehands.”
E xpertly he hits the first ball to Kyra, one of the athletic middle-aged